Literature and Media

This is an open-ended assignment designed to accomplish two things: 1.) increase your ability to read and discuss poetry, and 2.) learn to make your computer a performing/composing space using screencasting software.

Because these are the key outcomes for the assignment, what you create can be quite flexible. You might

• Use screencasting software to "read" a poem, using highlighting and other effects to interact with the text of the poem while adding narration to articulate your interpretation,
• Develop essay-like support materials using screencasting to help readers understand a poem,
• Compose your own poem, using the screen to deliver it to the public
• Create an on-screen performance poem using images, videos, or other materials from the Web.

There are likely many other possibilities as well. [Note if you have difficulty with the screencasting software, you can create an alternative project using a video editor.]

You will need to decide whether you will work with an established poem or compose a poem of your own to get started.

You will also need to experiment with screencasting software. You will most likely want to use the 30 day free trial of Camtasia. 

There are also some free options: for PC there is Camstudio. For Mac there is IshowU. And you can always try the Web screen recorder Jing. (There may be others; if you find good ones add them as a comment to this posting.)

Depending on the recorder you use, you may end up doing some postrecording work in a video editor. It might be easier to add your voice to a Mac recording by importing the file into iMovie, for instance. If you use the PC version of Camtasia, you can use the Camtasia Studio for editing.

When you are finished, you will export your screencast as a video file and then upload it to YouTube to post to the class Web site.

You should download the screencasting software next week, but you can start planning the project right away. A good strategy is to use a storyboard to sketch out what you would like to have happening in the screencast.

The screencast is due on November 17th,