Among many users, multimedia has been replaced with video, so video editing has increased in importance as an education technology in recent years. Whether teachers are creating video to supplement instruction or students are creating video to demonstrate learning or student performances are captured on video, there are situations in which the original footage needs to be edited. Many approach video editing with an underestimate of the time needed to produce acceptable video, and many also overestimate the need for professional-quality editing.
There are multiple web-based options for editing video. For example, YouTube provides some capacity to edit video that has already been uploaded to the platform. Two challenges that arise from using web-based video editing platforms are the limitations imposed by the applications and the need to transmit video to the platform for editing.
On devices with full operating systems, video editing software with far more tools and features than web-based editing platforms can be installed. iMovie is a video editing application that is installed by default on Macintosh computers, and it is widely used by that community of computer users. Especially in high schools, there is often interest in teaching students how to use professional video editing software. This software allows for sophisticated editing and can incorporate multiple video and audio tracks, filters, and other sophisticated features.
IT professionals in schools must be prepared to support whatever video editing capacity is necessitated by the curricular goals of the school. Considering the range of instructional goals and the needs of educators, a single video editing tool is unlikely to meet the needs of all users in a school. Middle school students, for example may be able to meet their video editing needs through a web-based platform, but the theatre department in the school may need a professional application to produce video version of their performances.