Reflection 3: Too much flashing lights! Experimenting with Camtasia

 
photo taken from http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/6/Y/u/U/M/spot-light-hi.png
When we think of film making we think of expensive cameras, A-list actors, and high-end computer programs.  Film making use to be something that was out of reach unless you were living in Hollywood.  Youtube, Vimeo, and imovie are programs that have made film making accessible to the masses.  This week, our class discussed and played around with a film making computer program known as Camtasia.  An animation or transition can be added by a simple point and drag process.  There are so many flashy effects that you can add by using Camtasia but how can we simply choose one?  My professor suggested that the effect or animation should serve a purpose, especially for instructional pieces.  A zoom or spotlight can be effective in pinpointing a specific idea within an image or video clip.  The goal of instructional designers is to teach and adding flashy effects will overshadow the instruction.  The last thing we should think about is whether our film is visually stunning.  In fact, that should be the last part of the film making process.  The best strategy for developing a great film for a digital storytelling project or an instructional video is to take a minimalistic view.  A "less is more" mentality is the best approach for instructional designers.  We must always ask "Why" and "What is the purpose for each effect" when designing an engaging and effective film.
I cannot wait to try out Camtasia and create my first digital storytelling piece using the insight I learned from my class!