Despite earlier setbacks, I have almost completely finished the project! My wife found a couple of things to quickly fix up in one video segment and in the DVD menu. Once I get those finished up, I’ll be sending it in.
I can’t say I’m completely happy with the final product. When I watch it I find so many things that I could do better. Such is the nature of instructional design, I suppose - given an infinite budget and an infinite amount of time, we would tweak and fine tune until someone put copper coins over our eyes.
One major thing that I would change, if I had time or were starting it all over again. Instead of a DVD, I’d produce the guide (The Educator’s Guide to Using Digital Audio if you want to be formal, or just EGUDA for short) as a CD. As I was doing the editing I realized that most of the DVD was me talking, with very few parts that required visuals. It would only make sense to create a digital audio guide in audio format instead of video. As it was, I spent most of my time editing video. In fact, I edited it twice but the second time was much nicer and faster since I was using Final Cut Express instead of iMovie. Editing audio would have been a lot more fun, not to mention faster!
Hmmm - perhaps a podcast version of EGUDA? I’ll have to think about that.
But, enough navel gazing. Time to get back to the last edits!
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April 15th, 2007 at 20:29
Glad that you’re in the final stretch.
I believe that it was Rick who once told me that one of the hardest things an instructional designer does is letting go of a project. Given the chance we really would tweak stuff forever. I’m here if you need withdrawal support.
April 15th, 2007 at 22:20
Absolutely true. And I’m already thinking about what I want to do for my next project. I know that the academic requirement is no longer there, but I’ve got some great ideas on where to go from here.
Now I just need to get some funding.
April 17th, 2007 at 21:40
Congratulations on pulling this out of the fire, Rob. Now you have an excellent story to tell your grandkids some day, and a good way to draw sympathy from instructional designers around the world.
Just picture yourself walking across the stage in cap and gown.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:30
Thanks Rick. It’ll still be a while before I get to do the walk - there’s still a 3 credit course to work in, then I get my parchment. After that … well, I guess I’m going to need to decide what I want to do when I grow up. ;^)