Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Don't turn out like this guy!


He tried to use Divshare to host a slideshow project he created with Soundslides.
It doesn't work. Divshare doesn't let you unzip files.
Never fear, old man.
Soundslides offers free hosting.
I've created an account.
Go to host.soundslides.com/admin
The account name is danielwms
The password is Lyndon

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Audio Slideshow Project 1 Spring 2012

Due dates:
March 5: Post 200-word synopsis on blog.
March 7: Post completed project on blog.

Guidelines:

Create a 2- to 3-minute audio slideshow using Soundslides.

Tell a story with this project.
Consider it a journalistic narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
Include sound from an interview with someone outside of your team, family and love life.
You can mix the sound with your own voice(s), or just use the interview sound.
You can include a music bed as long as you are using the music with permission, or the music is rights-free. (Give credit in the text component of the project.)
Figure out how to identify the project at the top so the viewer will understand what is going on.
Change photos every 4 to 5 seconds.
Embed the slideshow on your blog.

Write a 400-word feature story to accompany the slideshow. Use web-writing techniques: Simple sentences, short paragraphs, search-engine optimized headline. The story should not be simply a transcription of your audio slideshow. They should complement each other. Include a credits paragraph outlining what each team member contributed, like this:
Photos: Martin Zook
Photo editing: Ken Miller
Audio: Cordelia Smith
Soundslides editing: Mort Glassner
Text: Ken Miller and Cordelia Smith
Music: “Flickering Butterflies” by The Griff Wexler Band, used with permission


Synopsis: Post a 200-word summary of your project on your blog. Explain what your slideshow will be about, which sound sources you plan to use, who the intended audience is, and what makes this an interesting story for that audience. List each team member and his or her responsibilities for the project.

Evaluation:

If you want credit for this project, post every element (synopsis, slideshow, story) on your individual blog.


Narrative: 50 points
The slideshow and the accompanying story engage the intended viewer. The photos are an interesting mix of wide, medium and close-up shots that exhibit good composition.
Mechanics: 30 points
The audio approaches professional quality; the writing is free of grammar, style, and spelling errors.
Format: 20 points
The project is posted correctly and meets the guidelines for length, sound sources, shot changes, etc.

A missing synopsis loses 10 points, a missing story, 40; and a missing slideshow, 50. Late work is assessed a penalty of 10 points per day (including the synopsis).

Ideas:
Offices of messy professors
Sports:
Intramurals, hockey game, softball practice
Campus tour
Cooking lesson
Concert or performance
Public meeting
Interview an LSC band
Follow a Public Safety officer on his/her rounds

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Assignment for Feb. 27

Due on the Monday you return from break:
Find two slideshows and one photo gallery on separate Web sites and critique them on your blog. One of the slideshows must have audio; the other should not. Photo galleries don't ordinarily include sound.
Include the URLs so we can find them.
Address the following in your critique: Do the slideshows and photo galleries function well as storytelling tools? Which does the better job? Why or why not? What difference does sound make?

Here's a slideshow created in about 5 minutes (and it looks it!) using Photobucket.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Test

Blah blah blah.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Podcast team project

- Create a 5- to 10-minute audio project and make it available on your blogs as a podcast.
- Use at least two voices.
- Write a 400-word story to accompany it. The story should complement the podcast rather than regurgitate it. Grammar and spelling count.

Deadlines:
- Submit project outline via blogs February 13
- Submit project via blogs February 15

Some ideas:
- Restaurant reviews
- Dorm cooking tips
- Interview
…a professor
…an athlete
…an interesting student
…students (plural) about a topic
- Review an LSC band
- Advice
…relationships
…easiest classes