Aubrey

I think my final presentation went alright overall. I believe I could have spoken more clearly in some phrases but I think it was decent enough for the audience to understand. It's always a learning experience, and I'll aim to improve my public speaking skills for future presentations. Exciting news! I've created an outro for my YouTube channel (yay!). I'm not entirely sure if it matches the channel's overall aesthetic vibe, but it works for now. The audio used in the outro is a bit outdated since I wasn't sure what audio to incorporate initially. However, I'm ready to upload my videos to YouTube and officially launch my channel! As I've been going back and forth, making multiple adjustments to my videos, I noticed a couple of minor issues with the clips and recordings of my voice. Some clips were placed in the wrong spots, and my voice wasn't always loud enough, clear, or confident (hesitant in certain parts). To address these issues, I needed to delete and change some of the recordings. One frustrating aspect of using the CapCut app is that when I delete one recording, the other recordings get moved into a completely different clip. This process is time-consuming and can be frustrating, but unfortunately, I cannot change CapCut's features. I'll have to make the best use of what I can. To make my videos more engaging, I've added text and arrow animations, along with sound effects. These elements should help capture the viewer's attention and enhance the overall viewing experience. Despite the challenges, I'm excited about the progress I've made and can't wait to share my videos with the world!

Presentation progress: I was struggling with the script for my presentation. I had no idea how I should introduce the topic of it. I attempted to hook my listeners with a broad statement. I thought of adding a question but it would be hard to execute well and might be awkward. I also thought of a joke but if no one laughs or understands it it would be awkward for sure. Another idea I came up with was a story, which I thought was a good idea. However, I had no idea what to write about and couldn’t think of a particular event. If I think of something I might change the introduction. I already edited my introduction to say how ice skating benefits me instead of how it benefits people in general. It states my feelings toward skating rather than just a scientific fact. I think this is better because it connects more to the audience and shows them my experience with ice skating. The connection should be more engaging and give the viewers an idea of how skating has impacted my life. This is important for them to become drawn to the topic of skating and possibly want to start it. If they start ice skating they’re more likely to watch my videos and subscribe to my channel. Getting viewers is crucial in order to make a successful channel and ideally do well on this 20% project. Additionally, I don’t want my speech to sound like a lecture since that’s very dry and boring. The listeners will not want to watch my channel if they’re not interested in my speech or if they feel like sleeping in the middle of it. I hope to find more ideas on how to make a better presentation.

Update: As I continue to brainstorm ways to get people to watch my videos, I've thought about the idea of creating QR codes and posting them at a local ice rink. These QR codes will serve as a convenient way for individuals to access my videos and enjoy my content. I believe parents will use my resources as important tools in improving their children’s ice skating skills. Additionally, I think distributing flyers in many public spaces around those interested in ice skating will be helpful in gaining viewers. This idea aims to get the attention of potential viewers who might not find my video content otherwise. Moreover, I will engage with people I know including family, friends, relatives, etc. and highly advise them to watch, like, and subscribe to my videos. They can definitely make an impact on growing my channel. Ultimately, my goal is not just about gaining viewership numbers. I want my channel to become a source of inspiration and education for beginner ice skaters of all ages. I aim to guide kids through the fundamentals and help them refine their techniques, creating a supportive online environment where they can improve and thrive.

Thumbnail process: I start my thumbnail by selecting a photo to use, then I use Phonto to add overlay text, apply filters, and experiment with frames. I typically use the "vague" font for my main text on my thumbnails and a cursive style font for text below the main one. Once I’m satisfied with my editing, I export the edited image to Picsart for further revisions on my photo. Here I use the "noise" filter and add stickers or other additional effects to elevate the visual impact of my thumbnail. When my finishing touches are complete, I save my finalized thumbnail to my camera roll.  My thumbnail is now ready to appeal to viewers to click and explore my videos. 

Listing the benefits of skating may be helpful to draw my audience into starting the sport and using my videos to encourage them. 

Skating can provide many benefits that will improve your overall well-being. Skating is an amazing form of exercise that can relieve stress and increase your physical and mental health. Studies show that the act of maintaining balance and control on the slippery surface helps develop better body coordination and stability. As you power through the skating motions, you'll also strengthen the major muscle groups in your legs, glutes, and core, giving you greater strength for daily activities like climbing stairs. Importantly, skating is an aerobic exercise that gets your heart pumping, providing cardiovascular benefits that support long-term heart health. The sustained effort required also builds endurance, while the low-impact nature of skating is easy on your joints compared to high-impact sports. Skating is very beneficial to weight management and overall fitness as well. The advantages of skating go beyond just the physical aspect. It provides enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment from mastering new skills that can boost your self-confidence. Skating gives you opportunities to socialize and meet new people, while also enhancing your mental and emotional well-being. If you're looking for a way to get in good shape, relieve your stress or anxiety, or simply just have fun, investing your time to do ice skating is great for your health and wellness.

Update: I am almost done with editing all of my videos. I think I should be done on time but am not exactly sure. I’ve made good progress on thumbnails for my videos. I need to figure out how to upload the thumbnails and make sure the sizing is correct. I definitely think that uploading my videos to youTube and getting viewers to watch them will be a struggle.

One struggle I had throughout my editing process was recording the audio of my voice. I had to redo my voice recordings multiple times due to background noise, my hesitant speaking, or mumbling/missing pronunciation of words. My family members would also occasionally make noise while I was recording, which was annoying. However, I finally think I’ve gotten my voice to sound clear and professional in the videos. I do think that some of my recordings still seem a bit mumbly but I think that they’re decent overall. I tried to memorize a small portion of my script but also put my computer in front of me with the document open as I recorded. This helped me speak well without having to remember all of the scripts I made.

I started adding effects to most of my videos. This includes text, stickers, sound effects and more. I hope these visuals will help my viewers understand my videos better. My goal in the videos is to give my watchers a clear understanding of the skill I am teaching them. I want to make the skill feel easier by giving them techniques and tricks to help them master it. I also want to help skaters save money and present another opportunity for them to learn these important skills besides private lessons or expensive classes. Although, having a coach to guide you with your progress is probably the best way to improve as a skater, not everyone can afford one. I suggest practicing by yourself most of the time and having a private lesson once a week if you want to start skating but have a low budget. 

Thankfully I was able to find ice time in the morning and record many clips needed for my videos. I will try to keep more of an update on my progress with importing clips, editing, etc. 

The steps to making an intro: First, I searched for audio by looking up popular aesthetic music for intros on both YouTube and Tiktok. I found exactly the type of music I was looking for on YouTube and imported it into one of my capcut projects. The music was upbeat and joyful, it reminded me of popular audios in 2020ish. After I picked my music, I looked at free overlays, backgrounds, and stickers found on YouTube. I couldn’t find an ice skating themed one but I used a strawberry one I really liked. I included a green screen search browser cover as well. I made the strawberry animation clip an overlay over the browser in the intro. The colors compliment each other so well and I was happy with the result of the intro base. I thought the intro ended up being very cute and aesthetic. However, I hope that the intro isn’t too off topic or misleading to my viewers because it does not include anything with or about ice skating in it. I think it will look fun and entertaining in the videos I made, making people more likely to finish watching my video and subscribe to my channel. Additionally, I thought about making a cover for a possible outro myself with picsart or phonto. This way I can customize it to have a little figure skating logo. The last step to making my intro was adding some text. I decided to make the text says “Aubrey Skates” because it will probably be my channel name instead of the figureskatingblogs channel name. I think a shorter name that introduces my actual name is better (Although I don't know how to feel about putting my name on the internet). I ended up just using capcut to make the text rather than a fancier text app like phonto. I used a coolvetica font and added a shadow under the text. I also used an animation effect on capcut, which was a typewriter for the “Aubrey skates” text and a slide right effect for whatever the video name will be. I am also thinking about making a channel banner for my youTube account.

Tips on how to start figure skating or improve your skating (if you’re interested)

-Find a local ice rink. The rink I recommend is the Sharks ice skating rink. 

-Make a schedule for ice time. (It can be after school, during free periods, on the weekends, etc.)

-Find a good pair of ice skatings (I’ll recommend some down below)

-Watch my beginner friendly videos or other videos you can find on skating skills.

-Learn how you should move on the ice (forward stroking)

-Get use to the feeling of falling on the ice. As a skater you will ALWAYS fall, you cannot be afraid and need to face your fear sooner or later. An exercise to help you is to practice getting up on the ice. 

-Learn how to glide on the ice 

-Learn how to stop on the ice. (I have a video on stopping!)

-Find a coach to help you improve. Coaches can help set you up for competitions if you’re interested. Private lessons are also a great way to improve your skills.

-Take classes or group lessons. I find private lessons more helpful for improvement on skating. However, group lessons are more affordable and can help you improve your skills too! They’re a great way to meet new people as well. 

-Reach out from others and thrive for improvement

-Take your time. Often people will become frustrated or upset with their slow progress. It is important to note that skating takes a lot of time and dedication. You will not get better overnight and if you want to improve at a faster pace I recommend going at least 4 times a week or more. 

What I needed to do 

-Record more clips I need to include for the videos I am still working on

A problem: I went to a Sunday public session but the rink was very very crowded. Sadly there was no space to record and I ended up not making much progress for the videos. I also couldn’t find another good time to go to the rink. Something else is planned on my normal recording times and the public sessions are very crowded. 

Possible solutions: 

-Record the clips in a morning ice session that will fit in my schedule

-Find a time to go on a day I have off of school

-Change schedule 

Notes to make my videos better

-Include sound effects 

-Make voice recordings more clear

-Add background music

-Add minor details

-Include good tips and tricks 

-Answer questions most people will come across

-Better quality

-make it entertaining

-Better lighting

-Customize thumbnails 

-Angle videos better

-Experiment with different editing styles

-Add text 

-Plan 

My editing progress: At first I struggled to find ways to make my videos entertaining and draw people to my videos. Now I’ve successfully made an upbeat intro for my channel to entertain watchers. I still need to make an outro for my videos as well. I’m worried that some of my videos will be too long to upload to YouTube and am praying that this will work out okay. I think that I should make a channel banner to advertise my channel to viewers. 

What to do

-Make a youtube channel

-upload videos to youTube

-Make thumbnails

-Import thumbnails

-Make channel banners 

Description for video #7:

Welcome to my channel! I make videos for beginner skaters or basically anyone who wants to try skating. Have you ever wanted to start skating but didn’t know where to begin? Follow along my videos to help you get started. If there is also a skating skill you want to learn, be sure to comment it down below.  

In this video I’ll be explaining how to do a Mohawk turn on the ice. In a mohawk you’ll make a turn by changing your feet while your edge stays the same. Just like the three turn, Mohawks are used to connect your movements and also can be used for some jump entries as well. They’re often done before skaters jump for momentum and are included in many step sequences. So what are the differences between three turns and Mohawks? During a Mohawk turn you stay on the same edge but switch your feet. For a three turn it’s the opposite, your standing leg never changes during the whole turn but you switch your edge from outside to inside. Both turns move in a circular motion and go from a forward direction to a backward direction. If you struggle to do the full Mohawk turn I suggest practicing the exercise I mention above in my video. 

Key mentions 

-What Mohawks are in figure skating

-How to do Mohawk turns 

-Tips for improving your Mohawk turn 

-Importance of the Mohawk turn 

Description for video #6: 

Welcome to my channel! I make videos for beginner skaters or basically anyone who wants to try skating. Have you ever wanted to start skating but didn’t know where to begin? Follow along my videos to help you get started. If there is also a skating skill you want to learn, be sure to comment it down below.  

In this video I’ll be demonstrating and teaching you how to do forward outside three turns. This three turn is a turn performed on one foot that starts off with a forward outside edge and ends with a backwards inside edge. Even though you switch the edge you’re on during this turn, you do not switch your feet. You remain on the same foot during the whole turn. Three turns are important because they’re used in many figure skating skills and play a role as transitions in programs. They are used as entries on any spin (except 2 foot spins) and some of your figure skating jumps, such as toe loops, salchows, and flips. 

What I’ll mention in this video:

-What three turns are

-How to do three turns 

-Tips for three turns 

-The importance of three turns 

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Update on my editing progress: I’ve completely finished editing my very first video and it is ready to be posted on my YouTube channel! I’m also very proud of how clear and well I’ve spoken in the video. I am starting to feel like I’m not only getting better at editing, but also speaking and projecting my voice. I think I also described and demonstrated the steps to doing the skating skill fairly well. I hope to continue to make good progress on editing my videos. 

Description for video #5: 

Welcome to my channel! I make videos for beginner skaters or basically anyone who wants to try skating. Have you ever wanted to start skating but didn’t know where to begin? Follow along my videos to help you get started. If there is also a skating skill you want to learn, be sure to comment it down below.  

In this video I’ll be explaining how to do forward crossovers. What are crossovers? Crossovers are a skill performed either forwards or backwards, in a circular movement to help skaters gain more momentum and speed while skating. They’re used on your outside edge and are done by both figure skaters and hockey players. I’ll be showing you the steps and technique in order to do forward crossovers. Be sure to watch the whole video for tips on how to improve your crossovers and common mistakes most skaters make. You must know how to do stroking and edges before learning crossovers. If you don’t know how to, I have a tutorial on both of them which I will link down below. It takes a longer time for beginners to do crossovers than most other basic skills because they are one of the trickier skills and require a lot of practice in order to perfect. Crossovers are important in figure skating because they’re used to connect your movements, making them flow and look effortless. Skaters use crossovers before going into a spin or jump because they give them power. They’re an important skill to have in order to pass tests, if you want to skate more competitively. They’re also a commonly used skill for both beginners and more advanced skaters. You can impress your friends with this fascinating trick! 

What I mention in the video

-What crossovers are 

-How to do crossovers 

-Tips to improve your crossovers

-Common mistakes in crossovers 

-Why crossovers are important 

Forward stroking tutorial: 

Forward inside and outside edge tut: 

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Description for video #4: Welcome to my channel! I make videos for beginner skaters or basically anyone who wants to try skating. Have you ever wanted to start skating but didn’t know where to begin? Follow along my videos to help you get started. If there is also a skating skill you want to learn, be sure to comment it down below

 In this video I’ll be explaining how to do forward inside and outside edges and covering why they’re important. These are one of the moves you need to have in the pre-preliminary moves in the field test (Along with backwards edges as well).  You ideally want to do 4-6 edges on each foot depending on your height (If you’re really tall do 4, if you’re really short do 6). You need to have a strong outside edges in order to do many skills such as crossovers, stops on the ice, 3-turns, and more. Your inside edges should be strong for certain skills as well. Edges are a really important skating skill you should learn if you want to do skating professionally and competitively. Strong edges also help you develop more speed and power on the ice. 

*Must add explanation on what edges are, how to tell them apart, and why they’re so important 

Difference between the edges: 

 Inside edge: The blade that’s between or on the inside of your skates. 

Outside edge: The blade on the outside of your skates. Outside edges play a role in outside three turns which are crucial to spinning. 

In this video I will cover:

-The difference between inside and outside edges

-How to do the edges 

-Tips and tricks to master the edges 

-Why the edges are so important 

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Blog 10: Description for video #3:

Welcome to my channel! I make videos for beginner skaters or  basically anyone who wants to try skating. Have you ever wanted to start skating but didn’t know where to begin? Follow along my videos to help you get started. If there is also a skating skill you want to learn, be sure to comment it down below.  

In this video, I will be teaching you 3 different methods on how to stop on the ice. These skating stops are: the T-stop, hockey stop, and snowplow stop. Please note that there are many other different ways you can stop on ice as well. I am just explaining how to do the most common stops I know. 

Stopping is important because it prevents you from falling down and colliding with someone else. In addition, certain stops such as the T-stop are used for tests like Moves in the field. (Which is a technical skill test used to help you find what level you’re at as a skater.) The T-stop is a formal stop used during certain occasions. Most skaters don’t traditionally use this stop when they’re just practicing their jumps, spins, or most skills in general. In my opinion, the hockey stop is the best stop and the one mostly commonly used. I also think it's most fascinating to show off to your friends. I love the amount of snow I can scrape off the ice while doing this stop! The snowplow stop is the one I’m least familiar with. It is the easiest to learn for most beginner skaters. 

Stopping is definitely one of the skills you should learn in order to be a good skater. 

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Blog 9: Description for video #2：

Welcome to my channel! I make videos for beginner skaters or  basically anyone who wants to try skating. Have you ever wanted to start skating but didn’t know where to begin? Follow along my videos to help you get started. If there is also a skating skill you want to learn, be sure to comment it down below.  

In this video I’ll be going over a figure skating skill for beginners called swizzles. Your feet should be placed in a V-shape position in order to start your swizzles. If you’ve never done this move before, do it to learn something new and impress your friends. If you enjoyed this video please consider liking and subscribing. Don’t forget to check out my other videos for beginner skaters. Thank you for viewing my channel and I hope you enjoyed this video. :) 

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Thank you for watching this video! If you enjoyed it, be sure to like and subscribe! View my channel for more daily updates and videos :D

My progress this week: I’ve made some improvements with my editing and am now starting to add effects into my videos. I may record more video clips at the local ice rink soon in order to make the tutorial more clear. I want the people watching the video to understand how to do the skill I’m teaching after they’ve finished the video. A good video should also have clear thinking and a detailed explanation as well. This is why I've been editing my script a little bit. I want to make my videos more clear and precise. I’ve also decided to create an intro and outro to make my videos more interesting and engaging to my audience. 

Blog #8: Editing and Creating the videos 

Channel name: Aubreyonice 

Apps used: YouTube, Capcut, Phonto, Picsart

Recorder: My Sister, me

Recording time: Around ~3:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays 

Place: San Jose Sharks ice 

The tutorials I am including on my channel for starters: 

Stroking 

How to stop on ice

Forward swizzles 

Forward inside and outside edges 

Forward crossovers 

Forward outside three turn

Forward mohawk (typically done on an inside edge) 

Steps for youtube channel: Plan what tutorials I will be making, create scripts of the tutorials, Record clips of my skating, take screenshots for thumbnails, Edit thumbnails with Picsart and Phonto, Start importing recorded clips to capcut, begin editing (adding text, shortening clips, etc.), Finish editing and upload videos onto YouTube

What I’ve done: I’ve recorded most clips needed for my videos. Added the clips into capcut (my editing app) and started editing them. One struggle was recording my voice because I had to re-record it multiple times till it was just right. I had to also organize all the clips in order and make sure they matched with my recordings. Overall, I think the editing is going pretty well.

Description for video #1: Hi guys, welcome to my channel! I’ll be mentioning how to do forward stroking in this video. If you don’t feel comfortable skating without the wall I would recommend you get used to the feeling on skates before you try stroking. Some suggestions and tips mentioned in this video is to keep your back straight, extend your arms, and point your toe in your pushes. 

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Script: *intro* Hi guys, welcome back to my channel! Today I’ll be teaching you and giving you tips on forward inside Mohawks. Just like three turns, a mohawk is also a fundamental skill that is used for MIF tests. However, unlike a three turn, in a mohawk you will make a turn by changing your feet while your edge stays the same. If you start the mohawk on your right inside edge, you will end on your left inside edge. I will begin my mohawk turn by keeping my right foot in front of me and left foot behind me. Additionally, my right arm will be in front and my left arm will be behind me. Now I’m going to push my left foot. Practice bringing your foot off the ground and move it in front of your body in order to give you a feel for the mohawk and make the turn feel easier. After I let my foot glide, I’m going to bring it closer to my standing foot and exchange feet, switching my weight and making a swift turn. When I am shifting my weight, my feet should be on the ground. Keep in mind that I switch my arms as well. Lastly, I’ll bring the standing foot off the ground and hold my backward left inside edge till I’ve come to my stopping point. Something that I should mention is that you don’t want your foot to be directly behind you when you’re holding your backwards edge. Instead, point your foot in a crosswise position. These are all the steps for doing a forward inside mohawk. All you have to do now is practice the same steps of the mohawk on your other side. You’re going to push your foot, switch the feet, and glide all over again. Avoid stepping straight when you begin your mohawk, keep your shoulders back, and make sure to have good back posture. Remember my tips and suggestions while doing this and you’ll be fine. I hope you know all the steps  to do a mohawk now. Thank you for watching this video and remember to like and subscribe. Bye!