Thing 5 - Finished! (Maybe)

I think I have a finished product.  Only problem is I don't know how I managed to create said finished product.  I drafted Dear Daughter into helping me.  


The conversation went like this:


Me : "How did you turn those pictures into a movie?"
DD: "I clicked around."
Me: " But, where did you click around?"
DD: "I don't remember. I just clicked till I got it"
Me: " I saw you check a site on the internet - where did you go?"
DD: "It wouldn't help you, all it did was confirm that iMovie 09 sucks. And iMovie does suck.   The older version is much better". 


I  do know how to add text,  transitions and how to import music into iTunes so that I can add a musical background.   I also know you stretch the music to fit the pictures.  Oh, I can upload it to Youtube - that part is easy. 


Things I Learned regarding iMovie

1. The program is not very intuitive. 
2. A mouse is essential.  Not just any mouse but a good, designed for precision work mouse.
3. In addition to the mouse you need excellent finger finger motions and the patience of Job.
4. If you are doing a booktrailer you had better LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the book you are trailering   because you and said book are going to be spending a lot of quality time together.
5. It takes a lot of time to make an iMovie.  I would say I spent about 12 hours creating a 2 min. clip

Observations regarding iMovie

1. After making 1 movie I am so NOT ready to teach anyone else how to make an iMovie. I need another class and / or some more experience.
2. One either loves makes videos or one doesn't. I fear I am in the latter camp.
3. I'm not sure if young elementary age children have the necessary fine finger motion skills to use this program.  
4. iMovie is something that needs to be taught to a small group of about 4, who then teach another 4 and so forth.  It's to complex to be presented to an entire class of 3rd graders at once.
5. iMovie is ideal for the older G/T child with computer smarts - they will putter with it for for hours, leaving the teacher free to work the rest of the class.  Instant differentiation 
6. I think Animoto is much better for elementary school children. iPhoto might work too. The students could make their slides in Keynote and then save them as a jpeg and move them to iPhoto.