Using the Flip Cam in the Classroom The Ins and Outs of Filmmaking as a Teaching Tool

Introduction Using filmmaking as a teaching tool We will be covering the use of the Flip Cam, Windows Movie Maker and related software, as well as the timeline and procedure used in the Portuguese 101 class semester project – making a short film in Portuguese

Overview The purpose of this project: To motivate the use of Portuguese creatively To level the playing field among students To make students think in Portuguese and incorporate concepts recently acquired in the classroom environment in a concrete manner To teach the important skill of pre-visualization – the filming itself only begins when all the relevant details, locations and lines of dialogue are completely fleshed out

First Step: The Pitch! Presenting the concept to the students Emphasis will be on the Portuguese, not on the technology Grading rubric for final – reducing techno-anxiety –60% of the grade is for content of final piece –25% of the grade is for entertainment value –And only 15% is for technique – use a tripod and make sure the Portuguese is clear and easy to understand -- although anything else is appreciated! Presenting the Flip Cam – brief in class demo Every step will be scheduled and receive a grade!

Second Step: The Script Treatment and initial concept All topics accepted from serious to frivolous, as long as they are in Portuguese 1st draft of script, subtitles and production notes Mandatory meetings to pre-visualize production issues and/or problems – locations, effects, camera angles, etc. Portuguese is corrected – script returned to students for final tweaking Recording an MP3 of the dialogue for practice Through MP3 recording software, for use on Ipods/players The Mid Term – Grade Distribution Lines recited from memory, properly pronounced (25%) Final version of script, subtitles and production notes (25%) Plus subject matter from textbook through Toolkit (50%)

Third Step: Film Production The Flip Cam Codecs and viewing raw footage Meetings to discuss problems with Codecs and file sizes – (using Gspot) also to check problems with sound or stability Editing with Windows Movie Maker or iMovie Special sessions with individual groups to teach them how to effectively use editing software Delivery as an AVI or MOV file Delivery on a disk or memory stick (20% of final grade) Compilation into a final DVD for everyone Using commercial DVD publishing software The “Premiere” Final validation of the results of each group’s labor

Where to Get the Software G-Spot – Codec information software (free) Audio Recorder Pro (mp3 recorder -- not free) Audacity (mp3 recorder -- needs plug in -- free) LAME mp3 plug in (needed for Audacity -- free) Windows Movie Maker (comes with XP) Adobe Products – Encore DVD Publisher

Summary Students produced a film in Portuguese above their level of fluency Students are motivated and excited to do the project and utilize the language in a concrete manner by telling an original story The DVD validates the experience and gives them a concrete memento of their experience

Many thanks to Jama Coartney and the Digital Media Lab The Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese The Department of Systems Engineering The students of the Portuguese 101 class