Resources

= Resources = ==

//These are some resources that I've created to aid in the creation of digital stories://
=Audio Tutorials= //The following audio tutorials, found by clicking on the musical note/clapboard icon below//, were created as part of my work for ISTC 787. I found that one of the foundations of an effective, professional looking and sounding, video is the quality of the audio recorded narration. Faculty, staff and students were approaching me for my advice in how to make better audio recordings and this series of videos was my answer to their questions. I wrote and designed them at an introductory level for an audience new or novice users. I also kept the focus on recording voice for narration, not musical performance which would require more detail and not necessary be relevant to digital storytelling. I was lucky to have the UMBC TV studio and some student production assistants at my disposal for the studio portions of the video. I'm very happy with the final product and because of a blog refererral the video on microphone tips and tricks has accumulated over 1,000 views on Youtube so far.



= = = = =Seven Elements in Four Minutes= This project was produced for ISTC 655. I was fortunate to have my instructor, Amy Martin, allow me to extend this video to the four minute mark, as the required digital story was to be no longer than two to three minutes. Normally, in a face-to-face class situation, I take approximately 45 minutes to teach these seven elements so it was a challenge to condense it to this short format. But it is my hope that because of the short format it will be used by me and other teachers in the future to concisely teach this content. I also planned the video to be an example of using a mix of self-created images and material from the Creative Commons. The credits also serve as a model for students to see required citations. This was the first video where I tried to make a transitional fade between two matching images-the drama masks and the faces of two women emulating them. This transition always gets a humorous reaction from viewers when I show it in a live setting. This particular video was also the first time that I used a screen recording as an incorporated clip. I first had to record the narration in Audacity, then I played back the recording using Camtasia Studio software to record the audio and screen movement. Afterwards I exported it to a Quicktime movie for import into Final Cut Pro software. So, for this, my latest video production, I learned some new techniques and am very pleased with the result. media type="youtube" key="NipDAd3_7Do" height="385" width="480"

= = = = =//Notes on Constructive Critique Guidelines for Digital Stories and Story Circles//= These constructive critique guidelines, written by me, are an extension of rules that I developed for song circles at the Baltimore Songwriters Association. When I first attended a digital story workshop given by the Center for Digital Storytelling I was amazed at the similarity of their story circle guidelines to my song circle guidelines. So I re-worked the song circle guidelines into the document displayed below. I've also incorporated these guidelines as part of my syllabus for MCS 101 at UMBC. Students are required to use them when they give peer critiques in class and online. I've received compliments and comments from people who have said they were very helpful and inspiring to those new to the creative critique environment where you need to balance criticism and respect.

// On giving criticism: // Open with a compliment. Find something positive to say about the work. Everyone is at a different place in their development and needs to be supported. Ask questions about the work. Do offer suggestions for improvement instead of just saying "it’s not good”. Open suggestions with the qualifier “If it were my piece, I would…”  NEVER slam or destroy someone’s work. Every product/creation is a risk and should be treated with respect.
 * Constructive Critique Guidelines **by Paul Iwancio

// On receiving criticism: // Listen, listen, listen! It's fine to disagree with someone (feeling he/she doesn't understand your creation) but if you hear the same comment repeatedly about your work, listen to that. It may need some additional work. You are welcome to ask questions about your own work. If a critique isn’t clear, ask the critiquer to clarify. If you don't agree with anything anybody says, then that’s OK. Be polite and respectful of the comments. You may receive what seems to be an avalanche of different comments on your work. Remember, in the end, it's still your product and you can take or leave the suggestions made to change your work.

// The bottom line // is RESPECT. Respect for the work, the producer and respect for the listeners and critiquers. Have RESPECT for every presenter, respect for everyone's time, respect for your classmates and the moderator. Be polite and considerate. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Hurtful language is not tolerated. Help us keep a positive, supportive atmosphere as we try to produce better work and nourish our community of learners.

=Links to other Digital Storytelling Resources and Tools=

Web page created by Paul Iwancio
Last edited May 2010 ISTC 633, Towson University, Spring 2010 Semester

Contact Paul at:
piwancio at g mail dot com