Writing using Windows Live Movie Maker in the Elementary Classroom

By: Justine Sheehy

What is Windows Live Movie Maker?

Windows Live Movie Maker is an application that allows an individual with the ability to create their own personal movies and slideshows. It is a simple, easy to use application that enables the user to effectively make top notch videos using music, webcam video, text, and photos. It is through the use of this program where written stories can come to life through animations and special effects.

Here is the website to download the software: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-live/movie-maker-get-started

Why use this technology tool?

There are several different reasons why it would be a good idea to use a tool like this in an Elementary Classroom. This program is structured yet it also leaves plenty of room for individuality and uniqueness across settings and across students’ varying backgrounds. When using this technology tool the students can express their creative side in their writing to another extreme. This is a treat for your students because you are allowing them to bring their story to life! Many children view literacy class as a place they need to use paper and pencil and writing to express their thoughts. Through the use of this program students are brought to the realization that writing can be used in a variety of different forms and settings. I strongly believe that our main purpose as teachers is to expand our students’ minds to think in creative and abstract ways. By using this technology tool that task is accomplished.

How do I use this technology tool?

The following section includes some of the how-to’s when working with this technology tool. There is some flexibility as to the order in which you should accomplish these tasks but I have personally found it easier to finish these steps in this general order.

How to start a new project: Open Windows Live Movie Maker application. Click on the “Movie Maker” tab button (which will be in the far upper left side of the window). Scroll down and click on “New Project.”

How to import pictures and videos: Click on the “Home” tab at the top of your window. Several different icons will appear all across the top of your window. Search for the icon that says “Add videos and photos.” Click on that and then browse for the photos or videos you want on your computer and select “Open.” Your photos and videos will show up in the section on the right hand side of your window. (On the left hand side there will be a preview section where you can see how your video will run from beginning to end).

°          How to take a video with your computer’s webcam through Movie Maker: Click on the “Home” tab. Search for and click on the icon that says “Webcam video.” This enables you the record a webcam video while still in the Movie Maker application. Record the video by clicking the “record” icon and then when you want to stop the recording press the “Stop” icon. When you press “Stop” it will ask you to save it to your computer. When you click save it will then automatically insert the video just taken into your movie.

How to add music:Click on the “Home” tab and search and click on the icon that says “Add music.” This opens a window that enables you to browse for audio files on your computer. Find the audio file you want and click open. You are also given the choice in the dropdown menu (the button directly under the Add music icon) to add music at a specific starting point in your video. *Note: Music cannot be added before you add photos or videos and the music only runs for as long as you have videos or photos imported.

How to add a movie theme:Click on the “Home” tab. Search for the section in the taskbar labeled “AutoMovie Themes.” Scroll your mouse over the movie themes offered to preview what that theme would look like with you video before clicking on and selecting a specific theme. If you find one you like, click on it and the theme will be applied to the entire video/slideshow.

How to add text to the movie (title, captions, credits at the beginning and/or the end, etc): In the “Home” tab there are several different buttons in the section labeled “Add.” Click on “Title” and it will insert a text box at the beginning of the video that you can type in and change/edit at any point in time. This is true for the captions and credits options also.

How to add animated special effects and transitions (from picture to picture or video to video):Click on the “Animations” tab. From there you can search for and find a specific transition you may want for a specific slide or multiple slides. You can change the duration and the transition type at any time using this tab.

How to add visual effects: Click on the tab that says “Visual Effects.” Here you can make pictures look differently (sepia, black & white, etc.) and you can change the brightness of the photos.

How to edit videos:Once you have added video to your movie project, an extra tab shows up called “Edit: Video Tools.” Click on that and you are able to do a number of things such as manage the video volume, fade video in and/or out, choose a background color, split and trim video, and set a start and/or end point for the video.

How to edit music:Once you have added music to your movie project, an extra tab shows up that says “Options: Music Tools.” Click on that tab in order to edit music volume, fading in and/or out, splitting music, and setting a start and end point (the tab only shows up if you’re stopped at a point in your movie that has music background).

How to share with Facebook, YouTube, etc.:Click on the “Home” tab and near the right hand side of that tab is a section labeled “Share.” There you can find several different ways you can share your movie directly from your Movie Maker application to Facebook, YouTube, etc.

How to save project as a video file:There are two places you can go to do this: 1) Click on the far upper left tab in your window (it’s just a picture and doesn’t say anything). Scroll down and click on “Save movie” and the best choice to use is the one that says “Recommended for this project.” 2) Click on the “Home” tab. Search for and click on the icon that says “Save movie.” (It’s far to the right side of the tab).  It then takes a few moments to save depending on how long your video is and how much detail you put into the music, video, and photos. Your video now is a movie file and can be found in your videos folder in your computer.

For a short tutorial about using the simple functions of Windows Live Movie Maker go to the following URL address:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZZij3NNyVg

Here is a tutorial showing visual aids which can help visual learners understand the steps easier: PDF Tutorial for Teachers and Faculty

Here is a website for Windows 7 users that goes into more details and specific questions people normally have when working with this tool:http://www.7tutorials.com/windows-live-movie-maker

How can I use this technology tool in the classroom?

There are a variety of different ways that teachers can use Windows Live Movie Maker in their classroom in every subject area (mathematics, social studies, history, music, art, science, etc.) but I am focusing specifically on how students can use this technology tool in a literacy class.

Here are some examples of things that you, as a teacher, can do to implement this technology tool into your lesson synopsis for literacy class:

Writing a story and then making a video out of it to share with the class and/or family. The student can type out their story using the captions in Movie Maker. He/she can go frame by frame using pictures and or video in order for the story to be told (this means the viewers would be reading the story frame by frame). The student could also make a voiceover or webcam video of themselves reading their story aloud (this means the viewers would be listening to the story).

Writing a script to a play and then video the students acting it out to turn that into a movie.This is a wonderful way to get your kinesthetic learners engaged in the lesson! Have the students first write out their script. Remind them to keep in mind how long it might take for them to act it out and what costumes/props they may need. Then help them plan out how they will video their play frame by frame (this can even easily be done using the computer’s webcam). Once they have video of their play, add the video to Movie Maker and have them finish any edits or additions they need to do (title, voiceovers, credits, etc.). Save the movie as a movie file and now they are officially movie stars!!

Retelling a popular children’s story in your own unique way. This is a great idea for students who love to use their imagination. One way a student can do this is by finding a series of pictures that they believe most effectively represents a specific event within the story they chose. They can then put those pictures in order on Movie Maker and find a song or series of songs that best helps them tell the story. This activity not only assesses a student’s retelling abilities but it also helps them practice sequencing within a story.

Writing poetry and then making a digital story out of the poem. The student can type out his/her poem and have the words go across the screen or make a voiceover of themselves actually reading his/her own poem aloud such as one student did in the following example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGgZuwz69CM

For more examples of how this technology tool can be used in the classroom go to the following URL links:

http://staff.fcps.net/koverstr/presentations/KYSTE2012/moviemaker.htm

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/teacher39s-guide-making-student-movies

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/mytube-changing-world-with-1069.html

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan02/banaszewski.htm