There are some basic steps to creating a digital story in iMovie.

First, you need images.

  • Add your own pictures (via iPhoto)
  • Use online sources to gather images (remember to cite sources)
    • FlickrStorm
    • Creative Commons images
  • Move images into iMovie with the "picture" icon (it looks like a camera)
Second, you need to add audio narration.
  • What's your story? (Write out your script. Try not to wing it.)
  • Use the built-in microphone on your Mac.
  • Click on the microphone icon and then click on the image you want to add voice to.
  • Speak. Listen. Revise.
  • You may need to adjust and re-adjust the length of the image to coordinate with the length of your narration
Third, you need to add background music.
  • Use music from your iTunes library
    • A hint: don't use a song with singing. It is too intrusive.
  • Download songs and/or sound effects from a site like Freeplay Music
    • Add the song to your iTunes library
  • Use the music icon in iMovie to find your song and drag it into your file
Finally, you create the video itself by using the "export" command.

Here is a great visual tutorial created by Sylvia Rosenthal Tolisano, whose blog is entitled Langwitches.