NOTE: You may use any movie editing software of your choice. Resources are provided for iMovie but you are not limited to using this software.
iMovie -- What is it?
"iMovie is a powerful and highly engaging tool for students to share their knowledge and express themselves in the form of digital movies."1
Samples of using iMovie in the classroom
"[S]tudents can use iMovie to create video reports to demonstrate abstract science concepts, documentaries to deepen their understanding of social issues, or a video podcast on classroom activities. Their iMovie projects can include digital video, photos, music, and even voice narration."1
"Social studies students feel connected to historical events when they use iLife to produce powerful video documentaries, photo books, and slideshows to share their knowledge. With the ability to combine Internet and CD resources, scanned images, and their own photos, music, and narration, there’s no limit to what they can create."2
SchoolTube is a site where both students and teachers can post videos they've made about their learning or their lives. Check out some of the student-made movies.
How do I use it?
Apple Inc. has many video tutorials on all aspects of using iMovie--from importing your video out of the camera to how to add voiceover and titles.
Additional tools and resources
If you want to use a youtube.com video (or teachertube or googlevideo or...) in your iMovie, it's possible but there are a few steps. Internet videos are often in Flash Video format (with an .flv extension). Currently, iMove does not import .flv format, it only accepts audio and video formats compatible with QuickTime. An additional hitch is that you can't directly export video from youtube.com (or similar Internet sites), but you can get it. Download the video from the Internet (this website gives you three different approaches to accomplishing the download) and then use conversion software to change it from .flv to a suitable format.
References
1. quote from Apple Inc.'s website about iMovie in education retrieved November 4, 2007 from http://www.apple.com/education/digitalauthoring/imovie.html
2. quote from Apple Inc.'s Social Studies Gallery on their education website retrieved November 4, 2007 from http://education.apple.com/education/ilife/subject_template.php?subject_id=1
Credits
iMovie logo from http://www.digitalcamcordernews.com/posts/2007/06/imovie-logo-tn.jpg