Top+Ten+Tips+for+Using+WMM+in+Your+Classroom

**Top Ten Tips for using Window's Movie Maker Successfully in Your Classroom:**
 * 1) Make your own movie first! Fool around with the program- explore the features, make sure you know how to add text, import images, finalize, etc... You can try making one with pictures from your summer trip or film footage from your kids birthday party- it doesn't have to be educational.
 * 2) **PATIENCE! PATIENCE! PATIENCE!** Some of your student's will have a tough time at first, some of the computers will crash, there may be a few tough times when you first get started, but push through it with some patience and the outcome will definitely be worth it!
 * 3) Save/Download all pictures or video clips into **one folder** on your computer or flashdrive. That way, they will be easy to find when needed. Also note that your pictures will not be saved into Movie Maker until you **FINALIZE** the movie. If you try to show the movie on another computer without the images saved, all you will see is big red x's and you will be very depressed.
 * 4) **Music** is a must have!!! I allow students to choose school appropriate music for their projects. If they are having a difficult time getting music from their mp3 player, cd, itunes, etc- have them go to this website http://www.freeplaymusic.com/ It is Free, easy to use, won't infect your computer, and you don't have to make an account or anything. With this website, there is no excuse to have a presentation without music. (Students can also record themselves talking as a narrator.)
 * 5) **SAVE FREQUENTLY!!!** I recommend that my students save their project every five minutes or so. Sometimes my school's computers get a bit overloaded and they can be prone to crash. If they save often, then it is no huge deal.
 * 6) Give plenty of time for the text to be read. I tell students when in doubt, leave it up for too long. I also strongly recommend they peer review each others projects. Also use contrasting colors- don't put pink font on a red background.
 * 7) The higher the pixels- the clearer the picture will be. (600 x 600 = good pic, 95 x100= bad pic)
 * 8) When the project is completely done- **FINALIZE, FINALIZE, FINALIZE!** If you don't finalize, your movie will not work!!! End of story.
 * 9) Begin with a simple, short class project- I begin with one where they only use text and images. Later in the semester, they use the skills they have already established with the easy project to incorporate and edit video.
 * 10) Again, the most important things I can tell you... **HAVE PATIENCE, BE SURE TO FINALIZE AND TRY TO HAVE SOME FUN!**

**Need a bit more info???** DO NOT hesitate to email me if you have any questions. I am more than happy to help you with anything you need... **courtney.delahunt@sccboe.org**

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