Snapshot of learning for Audacity

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These screenshots were taken from learning sessions with year 7 students using Audacity freeware, during an integrated unit of work looking at New Zealand disasters and how they affect different people.

The students looked at several disasters, including the sinking of the Wahine. One of the concluding assessment activities was to create a radio report, set at the time in history, to demonstrate students' understanding of the effects of this type of event on people. The students wrote a script and recorded it using Audacity.

• Screen shot 1: Recording the script

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  Recording the script
  Using a microphone, students recorded their pre-written script in Audacity. The blue wave form in the main window represents the recorded sound.

• Screen shot 2: Recording sound effects

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  Recording sound effects

  The script was written as an eye-witness account. After recording the script, a discussion was held about the sounds that would have been heard at the time. Using headphones and a microphone, the students recorded a second track of sound effects.

• Screen shot 3: Adding "echo" to the sound effects track

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  Adding 'echo' to the sound effects track
  Digital effects were added at the appropriate place. This screenshot shows 'echo' or 'reverb' being added to the sound effects tracks. Each wave form (track) is able to be edited using cut, copy, and paste - as with a word processor.

• Screen shot 4: Exporting a WAV file

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  Exporting a WAV file

  The completed recording was then exported (saved) as a WAV file and used in MovieMaker, along with accompanying images. The class recordings were also burned to CD, to be shared with the class and taken home.

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