Sunday, September 28, 2014

Held Down By The Man – And By Man, I Mean File Extensions



Aftermath reflections of double-wide personal learning theory trailer:

The trailer assignment presented a number of new issues that I had to confront.  First, I shot the video with a Sony Handycam but I didn’t check the settings and the video was stored internally instead of on the video card so I could put it on my laptop. 

Next, I had to convert this format into WMV so that I could use Windows Movie Maker with the file (interestingly movie maker will bring the file in as it is, although only the sound of your recording is usable- none of the video…).  Bummer.  After having ‘fun’ with that madness, I started crafting the way I would use the footage and design a trailer.  When I was done editing and was set to upload it Youtube, I got an error telling me that the file type - .WLMP - was a project type (and was unusable until I converted it to a format that Youtube liked).  AWESOME!!  I really was begging for another 15-27 minutes of troubleshooting and internet searches to figure out what was wrong and then how to convert it!  Subsequently, I found a freeware converter to put the clip into MP4 file type and let ‘er rip.

That was great fun!!  Nonetheless, I learned a long lesson in file extension evil-ness and learned to work with disparate software outputs.

Since I have already covered some of the learning aspects or rather the hurdles that I encountered making my short ‘Personal Learning Theory Trailer’, I thought perhaps I would cover some of the points that I brought up in the trailer.  

The ‘Cell Block 17 Productions’ was selected to set the tone of the clip; specifically, to denote that the following may be criminal-minded in nature and the 17, well that was a tribute to our MALT 17 class.  I followed this with some silly references to past fictitious projects of the production company.  Incidentally, there is a John Dewey High School located in Brooklyn, NY.
Regarding the rest of the footage; I did not have a slate (that I could find in time for shooting,) so I opted to use a mini-white-board to denote the date, name of the project and some fictitious doctors who were researching for a documentary, on the learning methodology of criminals.  The Doctor’s include names taken from my God father, Clarice the name taken for Jody Foster’s character in Silence of the Lambs, and the last doctor listed is Esmerelda Villa Lobos a steal from the female taxi-cab driver character in Pulp Fiction.

In the footage that followed, I was hoping to take a surprising approach to demonstrate my personal learning theory.  It was difficult to demonstrate all of the ways I believe learning takes place, or all of the ways that I learn.  In addition, it was hard to narrow the most specific points.  For me; it starts with curiosity, interest, followed by study through reading and research, internet use to tap into other intelligent insights, collaboration with others on topics, practice at the application of what is learned and repetition for further learning.

What I didn’t note among a great number of other things is that I personally learn a lot by committing things to long term memory.  Many of the things that I learn day in, and day out (and apply subsequently,) are through memorization.  Additionally, I learn from the subsequent application of those memories, repetition of that data, and build upon them and modify them as I learn from new facts, concepts, and information presented to me.

Lastly, I used Freeplay Music (thank you again to Larissa for some of the intel you floated out to us!) (name of clip was ‘Paid Assassin’).  

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