Do you have a story about your business, or your favorite cause, you'd like to tell the world—with sound and graphics? There are several excellent, free software tools you can use. This presentation will cover the use of several, including—

• Audacity, a free audio recording and editing program
• PowerBullet, a free PowerPoint-like Windows program for creating Flash slideshows for the Web
• OpenOffice Draw, a free vector graphics program

Using these programs enables you to tell many kinds of stories online—stories related to your business, your advocacy, your interests, your hobbies, and so forth.

This presentation will also demonstrate and explain the process of creating screencasts—narrated explanations of software or Web sites. You can create excellent screencasts using Camtasia Studio (for Windows)—it's not free, but speaker Phil Shapiro reports it is well worth its $300 cost. Before long you'll also be able to create narrated screencasts using Wink, a free software tool for Windows and Linux. As much as possible, this presentation will be platform independent, for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.

We've allowed an extra hour for this program and encourage attendees to share information and ideas about online storytelling. If you've had experience in this area, bring Web links to share. We can learn from each other.

Speaker: Phil Shapiro works for the Takoma Park, Maryland, Public Library, training the public in using computers on the 28 public access Linux computers in the library and adjoining community center. He has presented workshops on digital storytelling at various regional and national venues. Previously Phil worked for Arlington Public Schools, managing 200 Macs at two elementary schools and training teachers on integrating computers and video production into their teaching.

Additional information about Phil Shapiro can be found at—

http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/pshapiro

Web Links

View and hear some of the multimedia to be explained:

Flash Slideshow

http://www.archive.org/details/banneker2005

Click on the link HTTP on the left of this Web site. Then click on the file banneker2005.htm to view a Flash slideshow from the FIRST Robotics Team at Banneker High School in Washington, DC. (CPCUG's Robotics SIG supports the Banneker Robotics Team.)


Screencasts

http://simplesokomind.blogspot.com
http://numbersquares.blogspot.com

These are QuickTime screencasts created using Camtasia Studio. The file sizes are large (about 90 Mbytes each).


Photo Appended With Audio Narration as a Way of Saying Thanks

http://www.writersforliteracy.org/pat.hymel.thanks.mov


Audio Essay

http://www.writersforliteracy.org/momanddad8b.mov


Video Interview Conducted Over the Internet Using iChat Software (Mac)

http://www.wap.org/imovie/videochat.html


Audio Interview Conducted Over the Internet Using Skype

http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=378

The interviewee was in Trinidad and Tobago, while the interviewer was in Arlington, Virginia.


Digital Storytelling Presentation at Maryland Apple Corps (2004)

http://mytvstation.blogspot.com/2004/11/digital-storytelling-at-maryland-apple.html


Wink Screencasting Software (Chosen for Noble Piece Prize)

http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/03/2354211&from=rss

Location: One-half block south of the Cineplex Odeon Uptown movie theatre on Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. (There are many restaurants suitable for pre- or post-meeting gathering/networking/refreshment in the block north of the library.) 

Parking: Very small lot, off Macomb St., to left of library. 

Metrorail--Cleveland Park Station on the Red Line (on Connecticut Avenue, just 1.5 blocks north of meeting site) 

Free and open to all 

Several times a year a smaller group (usually about 8 to 12) goes to Nanny O'Brien's (directly across the street from the library at 3319 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 202-686-9189, open 2 pm Saturday to 2 am Sunday) or another local establishment for continued conversation, networking, and refreshment following the meeting. (Participants pay for their own beverages and food.) 

Join us! 

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