I decided to make this video over one of the topics we recently covered in my AP World History class - early European exploration. Of course, this topic is very nuanced, but I wanted to focus on big ideas because the video had to be approx. 2 minutes in length.

To create my video project, I used Microsoft Clipchamp which appears to be the Windows 11 equivalent to Moviemaker. For the images, I relied almost entirely on iStockphoto and Worldhistoryencyclopedia.com – the script and content comes from my own time as a world history teacher. For the audio narration, I recorded my script in sections using the record feature in Clipchamp and then added the track to the media editor. Once the audio was set, I applied the synchronization principle to match the pictures with the appropriate time in the narration.

I used a variety of video effects on images to add movement and visual interest, including “slow zoom,” “rotate,” and “pulse.” To create an animated effect, I layered additional images on top of the main picture (Will work for food and 8-bit sunglasses) and timed their fade in/fade out after the main image had appeared. Transition effects used include “blinds” and “checkerboard.” To signal important locations and dates, I added in animated titles and text using the “Text” tool. The background music was added from the free library included with the Clipchamp program.