PE3_iMovie

Kari finished training in iMovie 11!

I think I am a fan of Lynda.com

as a form of instruction.  It was mere curiosity when I first logged in with my special membership code and was overwhelmed with the vast selection of topics.

In particular there were two items I always wanted to improve upon. Guess what? They were listed! Photography and Illustrator were now within reach. So I did some sneaky peeking until it became obvious I had to get cracking on my actual class assignments.

But it didn’t stop there, oh no! I wasn’t in the iMovie 11 tutorial for half an hour before they started dangling other programs that can be used with iMovie or imported to augment my projects.

So I took the bait. No, not right away like a trout. No, I waited.

My curiosity knows no bounds and Lynda.com knows it.

See I had already gotten started on a few other areas of study and new I had to finish what I started. So the minute I finished the last training video for iMovie, still flush with a sense of accomplishment and pride, I dove into iWeb, iDVD and GarageBand.

I haven't finish photography or Illustrator, yet.

And "dove" might not be the right term. More like sticking my pinky toe in to see how the water felt.

Strictly welcome and introduction videos.

I am definitely plunging with GarageBand.  Or maybe iWeb.

Crap. Who am I fooling? I have to go with iDVD so I can share my videos and pictures with my parents, who are digitally challenged and prefer DVD over YouTube.

But first, I am off to finish creating my fantastic iMovie experience on MindMeister, which I will post on this blog tomorrow.

If you have any tips, tricks or resources that relate to iMovie, please do not hesitate to share them in the comments below!

PE2_iMovie

I am using Lynda.com to learn iMovie.

Help me. I am drowning in two-minute video snip-its. My mind is numb and my eyes glazed over.

When will it end?

What? I’ve only gotten as far as how to import in iMovie 11. And I am 30 minutes in. How many freaking ways can it be done?

Forget I asked. Every stinking camera, digital file and hard drive is covered.

But that’s a good thing. Right?

My training is taking FOREVER!

Yes, that was me about 3 hours ago. And I wasn't really 30 minutes in, only about 20.

Needless to say, I had to make some changes. Quick.

As a result, I now have some important Lynda.com training video viewing techniques that will help you improve your retention, comprehension and attitude toward learning. Check it out.

Tip #1. I know you want to finish quick, but limit yourself to 2-3 videos followed with a break. Go get a glass of water. Try five squats. Do 15 jumping jacks. Who knows you can lose weight while you learn! Just don’t expect to sit through these straight across. Your mind can’t handle it, and the way they break the videos into bite sizes is somewhat hypnotic – at least it was to me.

Tip #2. I know you have a mind like a steel trap, and your brain is incredibly talented. Give your eyes a break! This is especially true if you are viewing using the iPad app. The backlit screen in a dark room will cause pain, pain that is subtle but will keep you from comprehending what you are viewing on the screen. So after 10 – 15 minutes, put the device down and look around your room. Blink a few times. Bend over and let the blood flow to your face. This was very helpful to me.

These tips really helped
me move through the material. I am
confident I will finish in time.

Tip #3. Try it once you’ve watched it. They give you exercise folders for a reason. I had to go back and re-watch some sections because, even though it is really simple to use, I couldn’t remember how to change things from universal to individual. Doh!!

Tip #4. Don’t try to share mental bandwidth with other devices/programs while training. Yes, I tried to answer a text and send an email during a “boring part.” If it’s boring, it is probably important or they wouldn’t have included it. For the most part these guys are bright, charming and snarky. I like that.

Let’s hope I can make it to the end without losing too much knowledge and skill.

If you have any tips for keeping alert through training videos, please share them in the comments below and get the conversation started.