Group Leadership Project

Our group originally decided to create our tutorial in Camtasia becase I was advised that it was en easy program that works well with Powerpoint.  I downloaded Camtasia and began working on my section.  In the meantime, Jeannine was the first to complete her section using Camtasia.  Through email, she communicated that she was finished, but she was having trouble transferring it to us because of the size of the file.  Because of these difficulties, Jeannine suggested we use PowerPoint and Audacity instead.  At that point, I created my PowerPoint and script with no problems.  Then it was time to record the audacity file.  Having a script did help, but various stimuli interrupted my recordings.  From someone eating cereal in the other room (beyond a closed door) to my kids constantly needing something in the middle of my three minute recording to my own stumbling on a word or two, it took several tries before I produced a near perfect recording.  Next it was time to insert it into my PowerPoint which was supposed to be simple.  In fact, when I listened to the final project, it was great.

Unfortunately, when I sent it to Jeannine and Gary, they could not hear my audio.  It turns out it wasn't "in" the PowerPoint for some reason.  I could hear it because the audacity file was on my computer.  So...after advice from Jeannine through emails filled with steps and even a screenshot, and Dr. Plair over the phone, I finally was able to insert my audacity into my PowerPoint.  To be honest, I am not sure how I finally got it to work.  I had so many copies of the file on my desktop and on my external drive.  Dr. Plair thought that maybe the fact that I was trying to pull the mp3 file from my external drive instead of my computer might be causing the problem, so I moved both files to my C drive. 

From all of this, I learned a few lessons.  First, I can not record when there is anyone else in the house.  Second, I am much more familiar with PowerPoint and audacity.  Third, I really should write down instructions when I learn knew technological applications(i.e. putting audacity into PowerPoint and sharing it all on the web).  And, last, the more I use these technologies, the better I get.  I must force myself to go back through the new tools I have been exposed to in 811 and 812 in order to remember how to use them in the future.

If I develop a similar product again, I will definitely create a script and storyboard.  I will do my recordings at school after everyone is gone. Also, I might try to use Camtasia because of the great things I have heard about it from classmates and instructors.

Here is a link to our tutorial:

Livebinders Tutorial