First Year Seminar
Sustainability Video Contest
This web site provides resources for the First Year Seminar Video Contest. Each student should read the syllabus and then watch the video tutorials before starting to work on the project.
Download instructor instructions
If you don't have video editing software, you may use Windows Movie Maker (PC) or iMovie (Mac) in any of the WMU's computer labs.
Keep in mind that you are only allowed to use copyrighted music with permission from the artist or royalty-free music (including music you make yourself.) A good resource for royalty-free music is http://freemusicarchive.org/
Video 101 Tutorials
- Storyboarding from Mark on Vimeo.
- Video 101: Shooting Basics from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.
- Video 101: Editing Basics from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.
- Video 101: Editing with iMovie from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.
- Video 101: Editing with Windows Live Movie Maker from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.
Final video submission
File formats and physical media
You must submit your video to your instructor in .avi, .mov, .mp4, or .wmv format on a CD-R, DVD-R, or USB flash drive*. If you need help using the export function in iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, contact the Technology Help Desk.The Help Desk is located on the second floor of the University Computing Center and may be reached at (269) 387-4357 (HELP), option 1 or by email to helpdesk@wmich.edu.
*Flash drives may be picked up from the Office for Sustainability after judging if they are clearly identifiable, but we will not deliver them back to students.
File names
File names must contain the date, group number, and section number. For example, a file could be named:
"water-conservation-112912-group1-section12345.avi"
Submission to the Office for Sustainability
Instructors are responsible for delivering all final video discs to the Office for Sustainability. Materials may be sent to mail stop 5286 using campus mail or hand delivered to the front desk at the OFS. Disks should be clearly labeled with the video's title and the names of the students in the group. It is acceptable for instructors to consolidate all videos onto one disc as long as video titles and student/group names are easily identifiable.