A review of software tools for E-learning videos: Using a combination of Microsoft Movie Maker and Blueberry Software to produce an E-tutorial
The purpose of this blog is to describe the process of making an E-learning video using Microsoft Movie Maker and Blueberry software. In this blog I intend to shed some light on the following questions:
1. What am I trying to do in my video? What features do I need? How do the multimedia principles align with the reality of making a video?
2. Why do I need 2 different types of software to produce this video?
3. What are the properties and features of each tool? What are the limitations of each tool?
4. What do you need to know to get started?
5. What is the degree of difficulty in the process? What are the issues in the process?
There are many features I would like to have in my video to make it successful. I would like the audiovisual presentation to be informative and engaging to the viewer. In order for the video to be effective I would like to align the presentation with some of the principles learned in the Clark and Mayer text. The first principle being used is the multimedia principle, which is effectively using words and graphics in my instructional video. (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 67) This will obviously increase learning in this case as the presentation will be informative and audio visually engaging. I would like to use the contiguity principle which is aligning words to corresponding graphics. (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 91) I will have a picture in picture visual during instruction. There will be a webcam image of me giving instruction inside the main screen where there will be a screen recorded demonstration. I would like to take advantage of the modality principle which is presenting the words as audio narration rather than on-screen text. (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 115) I would like to incorporate the personalization principle, which is using conversational style and virtual coaches. (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 179) I will be speaking conversationally to put the listener at ease and at the same time engage the concentration needed throughout a personal interaction. I will also be using the segmenting principle which is breaking down a lesson into parts. (Clark & Mayer, 2011, p. 205) I plan on breaking down the 5 standards into its parts, concentrating on 2 videos – 1 for Standard #1 and 1 for Standard #2.
The reason I need 2 different types of software to produce this video is because neither one of these 2 programs allow me to do all of the above. A couple of the features I wanted to use was screencasting and webcam. The Microsoft Movie Maker that is already installed on my desktop does not have screencasting and webcam capabilities. In searching the internet for a free download that allows for both these options, I found Blueberry software. This is a British company that has a free version that will suit my needs. Among the features is screen recording and webcam recording. You can also use picture in picture webcam and screen recording at the same time for a more personal touch. (Blueberry Software, 2015)These features will allow me to show you what is on the screen and be able to provide a visual of me speaking into the webcam at the same time. It is very easy to use and compatible with Microsoft software.
The Microsoft Movie Maker has other features that are needed to complete the presentation. Microsoft Movie Maker allows for text and annotations. The free version of Blueberry software doesn’t have the capability of adding sound files, adding text and annotations. In order to use these features, you have to purchase the Blueberry standard or professional edition. Microsoft Movie Maker begins by asking you to add a title and text. The user has the control to present the title and texts in different manners. You can choose the lettering; have the text fade in and out, among other simple, yet eye catching features. These features will not distract the student from the learning as it will remain simple. It is important to introduce the title of the video and list the objectives. This will bring focus to the video and the learner will know what to expect from the learning module. The Movie Maker is extremely useful in producing the video from the “big picture” point of view. I will also be using the Movie Maker for the closing credits where I will put a short review of the major points of the presentation. This may violate the redundancy principle, but in this case I believe that the repetition will ensure that the intended learning is transmitted. In this way Movie Maker is like a “frame” for this project. It will provide the opening and closing texts for the video. Microsoft Movie Maker also has a storyboard and timeline. Within the framework of the opening and closing credits, I will insert the Blueberry video I described above. I can edit and cut within the storyboard of Microsoft Movie Maker and keep track of the timing. (Microsoft, 2015)
Getting started was not difficult. Microsoft Movie Maker is already installed on my desktop. The Blueberry software needed to be downloaded onto my computer. This is just a click of the mouse. The only issue is in choosing which Blueberry program you would like to download. I wanted the free download so I chose Blueberry Express. Blueberry Express has limited features, but combined with Microsoft Movie Maker, the free version will be sufficient for my purposes. Once you enter the Blueberry program, the company has many video tutorials on how to use their various features. The introductory video tutorial was helpful in introducing Blueberry Software’s capabilities. They use a screen recording of a videogame as a demonstration in the video. It was very helpful in that I was ready to produce my own combination of screen recording and webcam to produce an E-learning video. Once you click into the desired mode, screencast, webcam or combined picture in picture. Then with a click of the mouse and a countdown, you are recording. Once I produce my Blueberry segment of the video, I can simply insert the video into the storyboard of Microsoft Movie Maker. All of the editing, splicing are done in Microsoft Movie Maker’s storyboard and timeline. This is somewhat clumsy going between programs, but I can make it work.
The most challenging part of putting this multimedia presentation together is the editing and re-takes. If you are a perfectionist, this could take some time. The re-takes of screencasting and webcam are done in Blueberry. I might speak too quickly in one take or possibly stammer. Maybe I am not looking into the eye of the webcam. These are good reasons to re-take the video. But at some point I must stop and pick the best video take that will deliver the instruction to the learner. Then I insert the video into Microsoft Movie Maker and there I can edit. The free version of Blueberry doesn’t allow edits once it is recorded. A typical edit will be the extra time in the beginning or end of a Blueberry video that I would like to trim. The trimming will be done on the Movie Maker timeline.
Works Cited
Blueberry Software. (2015). BB Flashback Express. Retrieved from
http://www.bbsoftware.co.uk/bbflashbackexpress/home.aspx
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-Learning and the science of Instruction. San
Francisco, Ca: Pfeiffer.
Microsoft. (2015). Getting started with Windows Movie Maker. Retrieved from
Microsoft Windows: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/getting-
started-with-windows-movie-maker
