Group Dynamics: Fitness Classes at UF
I think this soundslides presentation is not a real story. Although it is interesting to hear about the different fitness classes at UF, there is no real climax here. Maybe an explanation from the subject in the audio about what teaching UF fitness classes does for her might have helped. The beginning drew me in but more through the first photograph than the first line of the audio. I think the first photo does a good job of setting up the story and making the viewer want to see more. The first line of audio is just an introduction to the person, and so it is not that interesting. However, I think this is the way most people tend to begin their slide shows. It seems more like a natural tendency than a mistake. The ending is a little abrupt because it leaves you feeling like there is something else that needed to be said. The story itself is about 5 percent a profile of a fitness instructor at UF and 95 percent about the actual fitness classes. I like this distribution because you are made aware of who is talking to you and why, while the more important details about the actual classes are explored more at length.
This soundslides could be improved by having the speaker tell us what she gets out of teaching these classes and what it means to her. There’s a good variety of photos. I would just suggest using more close-ups of faces than things. For example, more close-ups of the students’ or instructor’s faces and less of the bikes and legs.
Finally, my favorite part of this story are the photographs. They are very crisp and sharp. They vary nicely to keep the viewer interested, and they go very well with the audio during the majority of the presentation.
I totally agree. It wasn’t a story at all. Part of the problem is I didn’t answer enough of those questions that explain why she does it, etc. The other part of the problem was the fact that I edited out a lot of things that would have exemplified tht perspective. I filled the 90 seconds with background factuals instead, which is relatively useless.
I also agree ending was abrupt. Again, it was a timing thing. I had edited everything down except the end, and then crap! I had to end it quickly. She did, in fact, have more to say about how group fitness was motivating factor in people’s lives. That would have been a better ending.
I also want more close-ups. That’s one thing I’m definitely working on. But you’re spot-on. They were tough to get, and I think I just got intimidated.
I agree with Sonia that the photographs in this Soundslides were very good. They were not boring and they went well with the accompanying audio. I also agree that I would have liked to have seen more close ups of faces; maybe a couple of the students’ faces really sweating it out would have been cool. Overall I liked the project though.