CNN Video Experience

We are honored to have CNN as the host of an exciting Video for Learning Experience at Learning 2011. This year, Lisa Pedrego, Ben Coyte and their team, will be teaching 2,000 learning colleagues how to make "short and simple" video segments, using the camera in a mobile phone (iPhone, Android or other). At Learning 2011, they will provide short tutoring and assignments, which will give each participant an opportunity to create one or more video stories. The experience starts with this first video - which was shot and edited right on Ben Coyte's cell phone. Start your learning now with a few tips and perspectives:

If your cell phone has video capabilities, bring it along to Learning 2011. If not, you can either borrow a colleague's device for a few minutes or optionally bring along a small video camera that you already own. We will provide additional tips and "Flip Lessons" in the days before Learning 2011. Your first assignment will be provided to you at the Opening Session on Sunday night.

Tips For Shooting & Editing On An iPhone

Shoot in the camera app, not directly in the edit app. In iMovie for example, even your bad takes will be put in the edit and will have to be deleted. If you shoot in the camera app you can select the takes to include and also bring them to the edit when you need them.
Shoot to the edit. Set up your shooting so you follow your story board sequence. This makes it easier when sorting through your shots to find the ones you want when you need them. Especially useful if your shots look similar.
Take a new shot for each take. If someone flubs their lines, stop the camera and start a new shot for the next attempt. It makes it easier to trim the shot in the edit. You can also delete the bad takes and save file space on the phone.
Mind your fingers. When shooting make sure your fingers are not covering the lens or the microphone. Know where they are on the device.
To avoid shake put the phone on a solid object when taking your shots. A camera tripod works well as a way to getting the camera to the right height, even though you are just using it to support.
Consider a bean bag as a way of supporting the camera on desktops or other objects (the top of your tripod), but be careful it doesn’t make noise if moved slightly as that noise will be picked up on the phone mic.
Pressing the roll button on the phone screen can cause you to jiggle the phone, so start the camera rolling, wait a beat then shout ACTION. Wait another beat after the take to stop the camera for the same reason.
In the edit start at the beginning and work to the end. As you hopefully shot in sequence, this will make the edit easier. When you have mastered your edit app, you may do this differently, but first time out this is easier.
Bring the shot into the edit, then trim it to size. Do all your shots, play the whole thing and see how it paces.
In iMovie, when you track you do it to the video. Have your script in front of you and read it to the shots. It may just work first time, but if it doesn’t, shorten or lengthen the shots in the areas you need to then re-track.
If the video is long, consider tracking in sections, not in one go. It will save you from reading a whole page and then blowing it on the last line.
Graphics can help explain things or act as foreign language subtitles and therefore help your video reach more than one audience.
Narration is also an explainer, but should not be redundant. Don’t say “the cat ran across the road, chased by the dog”, if the video shows that. Say something like “dogs and cats are not naturally friends” to explain the video and to add more information to the story.

Using Vimeo iPhone app

We have also set up a vimeo page for all these videos you shoot to live on.
You can download the FREE vimeo for iPhone app.
Login as This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with a password of learning2011.
You can record, edit and upload your videos right from within this app.
They will then show up on our Learning 2011 video page.