Beginner


 * //Starting Out// ...**

Try to keep these three basic ideas in mind:

 * If you can put together a **PowerPoint presentation**, you have the skills to make a digital slideshow or film.
 * Trial-and-error, experimentation, and patience are keys to success. It's okay--and necessary--to make mistakes.
 * Figuring out how to overcome obstacles as you work is an essential part of the experience.

Here are some good options to begin your experimentation...

= = =**Turning a plain PowerPoint into an "Enhanced PowerPoint**"= We're all familiar with PowerPoint presentations, but did you know that you can set up a presentation to run with **automatic slide transition, accompanied by narration or music?** Take a look at this example (requires a headset): [| Introduction to Poetry Crovitz.ppt]

1. Begin by creating a PowerPoint as you normally would. 2. Once the slides are complete, you can add narration or music. Adding narration is simple: all you need is a microphone. Plug the microphone/headset into the USB port, and the computer will automatically install the headset software. 3. Once you begin narrating, click the left mouse button to advance the slides in the presentation. The links below provide detailed, step-by-step instructions. 4. Once you've successfully added narration, **why not turn your slideshow into a movie?** This [|short video] explains how to do this. You can even upload your movie to YouTube or TeacherTube!
 * //The Process//**
 * A very easy [|guide for recording narration] in PowerPoint.
 * [|Video] instructions for recording narration in PowerPoint 2007.
 * More elaborate directions for including [|narration and music] in PowerPoint; another tutorial [|here].
 * This site shows you how to add [|background music] to your presentation.

= = = = =**Using Photo Story to create a multimedia slideshow**= Photo Story is a free program from Microsoft that allows you to create slideshows with images, text, and music of your choice. Take a look and a listen (use a headset) at some sample Photo Story projects: [|here] (Elvis), [|here] (Greenland), and [|here] (desert hiking).

To get started exploring Photostory, **click Start, Program, Photostory**. If you don't have Photostory on your computer, you can download the program [|for free]. This [|tutorial] will walk you through the steps in creating a sample slideshow. There also several video tutorials located on [|Youtube], including [|this one].

You'll need some sample images and music, which we've provided for you in a folder on your desktop (or, you can use you own, or browse for free images on these sites). You can use your microphone/headset to record narration.

=Trying out Movie Maker= Movie Maker is an easy-to-use program that allows you to combine images, narration, video, and music to create a digital film. It's much like Photo Story in its layout, but it allows you to create a more sophisticated product. Here's an [|overview] of what you can do with the program, along with a [|video tutorial] (headset required). Here are two sample films:
 * = media type="youtube" key="0M7ibPk37_U&hl=en" height="234" width="279"  ||=   ||=   media type="youtube" key="wU15krf-HVU&hl=en&fs=1" height="234" width="279"   ||

To get started exploring Movie Maker, **click Start, Program, Movie Maker****.** If you don't have Movie Maker on your computer, you can download the program for [|Windows XP] and [|Windows Vista] for free.

This site offers a [|complete guide] to using the program, including with tutorials and troubleshooting.The tutorials below will guide you through specific Movie Maker features:
 * create a [|basic slideshow] with images, sound, titles, and transitions.
 * [|add transitions and titles], including a [|transitions how-top video] (requires a headset).
 * add [|video clips]
 * add [|music]
 * add [|narration]
 * use [|PowerPoint slides in Movie Maker] (video tutorial, requires a headset); [|second part]of the tutorial

Here's a good [|resource] for using Move Maker in the classroom, including a complete tutorial for students.

Remember that part of the trick in experimenting with these programs is figuring things out as you go, including ways to overcome obstacles. If you're having trouble with something, try doing a web search for that particular problem--often someone else out there has come up with a solution.