Commentary+on+the+Process



__ **Planning** __

** The first thing that was needed for this task was to think about what topic I wanted my interview on. The reasoning for my choice of a 4th year university student studying teaching was that I am about to move into my 4th year next year and so are alot of my other class members. So it will help us get an understanding as to what is evolved and what things there are to think about. Once I had this topic chosen the next was to find a student willing to be interviewed, this part was rather easy as we are already friends and she was very willing to help. We decided on a time and place to record the interview and informed her that I will email her the questions prior to the interview so that she is able to get an understanding of what will be asked. **

Next step was to actually prepare the questions before emailing them. I planned 10 base questions which would be the majority of the interview but there would also be questions asked that would help carry on the conversation. Fortunately I own a MacBook therefore I was able to just record it straight onto the laptop and use Garageband to edit it. Prior to meeting with Lauren I had a play around with Garageband so that when she came I knew what I was doing. Before using the program I watched several tutorials on the program and even throughout the editing process I had to refer back to them. Click here to view tutorials

While conducting the interview I ensured that we were in a quiet room so that she could be heard easily without any interruptions. This made the editing process a lot easier.

__Editing and Processing__
Before editing the file, I listened to it and ensured that I was happy with all the questions asked. I then created a transcript of the interview. By doing this it helped me to choose what part of the file was going to be kept and what needed to be cut out. It also allowed me to see if the interview without the questions would run smoothly like a conversation. This process was done in Microsoft Word several times to get it sounding exactly how I wanted and to ensure the time limit was met.

To edit the recording I used a program on my MacBook called Garage Band. The first part of editing that was done, was removing all the umms and ahhs as much as possible and all the parts where my voice was. This then cut the interview down to around 5 minutes. A lot of the interview wasn't used, this was because the interview went for 8 and a half minutes where as our requirements where to make a recording for 1.5-2 minutes. I found it extremely hard to choose what parts of the interview would be used, this was because I found that a majority of it was very useful information. When I was happy with all the sections that I wanted to use I then rearranged them to make it sound like a normal conversation. Once the recording was all edited and put back together I then went through the background tones to try find a suitable noise. Firstly I recorded a 'room tone' but I felt that this didnt help enhance the interview, so I ended up choosing an acoustic guitar playing very lightly in the background this just added extra noise for when she paused. I also played around with the volume of Laurens voice and tried to make it the same level as much as possible.

Once I was happy with my final product I then uploaded it in itunes which created a mp3 file and then uploaded it onto my wikispace. For me to do this I watched a tutorial explaining this process, this made it easily done.

=__Improvements__=

If I was to do this assignment again I would try and get her to speak a little slower. The reason for this is that I found it hard to edit out some parts of the interview without making it sound like I chopped her voice off (for example at the very end). I would also research ways to make the speakers voice not to echo, as after I had finished the interview I realised this was a minor problem which I did manage to improve using Garageband but it didn't go away all together.

**__What was learn't__**

The whole process of editing the recording was new to me and I really enjoyed this assignment. The whole editing process was something that I had never done before, so this whole assignment was something new and I loved the challenge. I have only just recently purchased my MacBook so it was a good chance for me to use the program GarageBand and become familiar with it. I have found the use of Garage Band will be very useful within the classroom, MacBooks are also excellent because they have the built in microphone. I would use the program for children to conduct interviews or even record their oral presentations rather then doing them in front of a class. It could also be used to digital story telling and also for the students to play around with to make their own Radio Cut, and this is only a few ways that this program could be used. Within a classroom children easily get bored of completing similar tasks, so getting them to use programs such as Garageband to edit recording or to make recordings, it will help engage them as its something new and interesting. I feel as though you would most definitely have to have a written component as students are all different and some may struggle having to only use a editing program. I definitely feel as though this assignment has been very beneficial for me as an upcoming teacher and also something that will help me with the next assignment.

__The Final Product__
Overall I am happy with the final product. The only disappointment to me is that there are a few areas in the final recording where it sounds like I have cut it too early and cut her off as she is speaking but this was due to her speaking rather fast in some areas. I would also consider looking into ways to prepare the room to enable the best recording possible. Other then this I am happy considering it is the first time I have ever recorded and edited a file. I also now know that Garage Band is a excellent tool and I would confidently use it in the classroom.

Click here to hear the final product