Learning Technologies: Design & Applications

Module 2 / Unit 5

DVD Authoring

First of all, educational and the web are not synonymous.

The web is a tool. I teach digital filmmaking and, yes, we put our movies on YouTube (without credits for safety) and students have E-portfolios. However, these features are NOT necessary. They are great to share the films, but the films are done with cameras; microphones; lighting; and most of all, a great story.

The message is vital. From what I hear, you have a very important message to convey. That is most important. Your DVD will be useful for the members of your community. So, the time and energy you spend on videotaping the content and making it available is well spent.

Focus on the clientele. As your neighbor, I encourage you to go ahead with your project. What’s important is to focus on your clientele. English is not their first language, so you might want to have subtitles to allow reading and hearing at the same time. Also, you might want to speak slower than usual to ensure comprehension.

A visual medium. Make sure to include vivid examples that will visualize what you are saying. A video is a visual medium, so use the images well and creatively.

Sound is linked with emotions. Don’t forget the sound! Many amateurs think that the sound is secondary in a film. Remember this: sound is linked with emotions, and strong emotional references help you understand and integrate the material being presented. Think of a horror film… without the sound!!! Is it scary? Not that much. The audio component is as important as the visual aspect of your video.

DVD technology. In terms of transferring the digital film to a DVD, you might want to ask my daughter. She is in high school and is taking a digital film course where they learn all about DVD authoring and moviemaking!!!

The great thing about filmmaking is that it can reach so many people and it’s so much fun! Good luck! 🙂