Comments on: Which tool to use? http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:16:35 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: michael chalk http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-161 michael chalk Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:06:38 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-161 i'm sure you'll have seen this by now: good news for ppt + audio online? http://cogdogblog.com/2007/07/24/slidecast/ i’m sure you’ll have seen this by now: good news for ppt + audio online?

http://cogdogblog.com/2007/07/24/slidecast/

]]> By: Beth Kanter http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Beth Kanter Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:30:22 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-150 I have covered this topic in depth in a screencasting primer - the link above wasn't correct You can find it here: http://screencastingprimer.wikispaces.com How technically comfortable are the people you are training? While Camtasia isn't free, it is the easiest one to use. If you are using free- there is wink and camstudio. I'm not a natural techie, so I found these difficult to use - but then again I tested them when I was first starting out and I wasn't comfortable with the "grammar" of the interface for video editing and audio software. If your trainees comfortable, it should not be a problem. There is also the problem of CPU drain, lag, screensize resolution when you pull it into moviemaker, and other fun problems. So, for something free, you might use: -screencapture software - no audio - capture it with wink or camstudio (snagit is superior for this purpose and there is a free version you can download) -pull the .avi files into moviemaker -narrate in moviemaker -export into .avi -import into quicktime pro -export into your mp4 One thing that you will need to test an notate is the exact screen resolution, size, and those settings. It's tricky. Another way you could do this so the file isn't so mega huge and you don't have get into the difficult screensize/resolution crap - is skip the screencasting software. -export your powerpoint as jpegs -import the jpegs into moviemaker -narrate your slides in moviemaker -export as .avi (i have settings for this someplace in my flickr screen) -import into quicktime -export from quicktime into your format I have covered this topic in depth in a screencasting primer – the link above wasn’t correct

You can find it here:
http://screencastingprimer.wikispaces.com

How technically comfortable are the people you are training?

While Camtasia isn’t free, it is the easiest one to use.

If you are using free- there is wink and camstudio. I’m not a natural techie, so I found these difficult to use – but then again I tested them when I was first starting out and I wasn’t comfortable with the “grammar” of the interface for video editing and audio software. If your trainees comfortable, it should not be a problem.

There is also the problem of CPU drain, lag, screensize resolution when you pull it into moviemaker, and other fun problems.

So, for something free, you might use:
-screencapture software – no audio – capture it with wink or camstudio (snagit is superior for this purpose and there is a free version you can download)
-pull the .avi files into moviemaker
-narrate in moviemaker
-export into .avi
-import into quicktime pro
-export into your mp4

One thing that you will need to test an notate is the exact screen resolution, size, and those settings. It’s tricky.

Another way you could do this so the file isn’t so mega huge and you don’t have get into the difficult screensize/resolution crap – is skip the screencasting software.

-export your powerpoint as jpegs
-import the jpegs into moviemaker
-narrate your slides in moviemaker
-export as .avi (i have settings for this someplace in my flickr screen)
-import into quicktime
-export from quicktime into your format

]]> By: michael chalk http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-148 michael chalk Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:44:25 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-148 oops, the links all broke, sorry Sue (i was trying to convince your interface that i'm not a spammer, no really .. ) anyway i typed it all up with links, over at http://elearnala.wikispaces.com/screencast kind regards, michael oops, the links all broke, sorry Sue (i was trying to convince your interface that i’m not a spammer, no really .. )

anyway i typed it all up with links, over at http://elearnala.wikispaces.com/screencast

kind regards, michael

]]> By: michael chalk http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-147 michael chalk Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:27:10 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-147 hello Sue, thanks for your summary :) what about a combination of slideshare for the PPt, and eg odeo for the Voiceover (odeo lets you embed individual mp3 files with a player eg <a href="http://conversationsinace.wikispaces.com/openingDayOne" rel="nofollow">Conversations in ACE</a> .. you've probably seen <a href="http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2007/03/screencasting_p.html" rel="nofollow">Beth's coverage of the topic</a> Leigh is a screencasting expert, and has suggested <a href="http://teachandlearnonline.blogspot.com/2005/05/screencast-creative-commons.html" rel="nofollow">a portable version involving PDF and mp3 files</a>. His <a href="http://screencasting.blogspot.com/2005_05_01_archive.html" rel="nofollow">early versions were similarly low-tech</a>. there's also a <a href="http://debugmode.com/wink/" rel="nofollow">free software called wink</a>, which i think allows voiceover (though it could be a bit clunky) thanks again, michael hello Sue, thanks for your summary :)

what about a combination of slideshare for the PPt, and eg odeo for the Voiceover (odeo lets you embed individual mp3 files with a player eg Conversations in ACE

.. you’ve probably seen Beth’s coverage of the topic

Leigh is a screencasting expert, and has suggested a portable version involving PDF and mp3 files. His early versions were similarly low-tech.

there’s also a free software called wink, which i think allows voiceover (though it could be a bit clunky)

thanks again, michael

]]> By: dswaters http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-146 dswaters Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:29:39 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-146 Hi Mar I thought I better point out that podomatic converts all audio and videos as you upload so that they will play better in their flash player. Reality is this is probably an issue for most podcast sites that use flash players. PROBLEM While podomatic states you can upload a range of formats - it is better to get it right because it can cause problems to the file when it is played in their flash player or downloaded to an ipod. AUDIO Ideally record your audio at 44,100 hz. If this is not possible when you edit with audacity change the Project Rate (bottom left hand side). E.g. I use HotRecorder to record Skype interview - it records at 24,000 hz if I upload to Podomatic it then sounds like a chipmunk when it play in the Flash Player. So before I export as an mp3 I change the Project rate to 22,050 and then I don't have a problem. VIDEO I have found with my videos that .wmv will upload however when it is downloaded onto a video ipod the sound does not play. I convert all my videos to .mp4 format and then upload. <a href="http://aquaculturepda.wikispaces.com/podcast6" rel="nofollow">Here is how I convert</a>. Hi Mar
I thought I better point out that podomatic converts all audio and videos as you upload so that they will play better in their flash player. Reality is this is probably an issue for most podcast sites that use flash players.

PROBLEM
While podomatic states you can upload a range of formats – it is better to get it right because it can cause problems to the file when it is played in their flash player or downloaded to an ipod.

AUDIO
Ideally record your audio at 44,100 hz. If this is not possible when you edit with audacity change the Project Rate (bottom left hand side). E.g. I use HotRecorder to record Skype interview – it records at 24,000 hz if I upload to Podomatic it then sounds like a chipmunk when it play in the Flash Player. So before I export as an mp3 I change the Project rate to 22,050 and then I don’t have a problem.

VIDEO
I have found with my videos that .wmv will upload however when it is downloaded onto a video ipod the sound does not play. I convert all my videos to .mp4 format and then upload. Here is how I convert.

]]> By: Marg http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Marg Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:49:21 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-145 As a novice at videocasting I posted .wmv files generated by Photo Story (as you say - free and easy suits our teachers) on Podomatic http://pinrpod.podomatic.com/. Although not large files (4 MB and 3MB) they never open from the site on my computer nor download to portable player. Converted to .swf using free xilisoft and uploaded - they open right away from the site but a colleague had only squels instead of commentary. File formats for video are too many!I continue looking for solutions ... As a novice at videocasting I posted .wmv files generated by Photo Story (as you say – free and easy suits our teachers) on Podomatic http://pinrpod.podomatic.com/. Although not large files (4 MB and 3MB) they never open from the site on my computer nor download to portable player. Converted to .swf using free xilisoft and uploaded – they open right away from the site but a colleague had only squels instead of commentary. File formats for video are too many!I continue looking for solutions …

]]> By: Tama http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Tama Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:06:45 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-144 CamStudio is easy to use and good for the basics. For conversion I'd recommend the freeware program SUPER which converts almost anything that's a movie file into any format you can imagine! Links for all of these are in the last section of the Podcasting etc. Biblio wiki (which you're most welcome to add stuff to) here: http://edu20.wikispaces.com/Podcasting+Bibliography CamStudio is easy to use and good for the basics. For conversion I’d recommend the freeware program SUPER which converts almost anything that’s a movie file into any format you can imagine! Links for all of these are in the last section of the Podcasting etc. Biblio wiki (which you’re most welcome to add stuff to) here:

http://edu20.wikispaces.com/Podcasting+Bibliography

]]> By: Philip http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Philip Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:51:38 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-143 Yes, Slidestory - that was simple here is my test: 15 mins from reading the comment above so pretty quick to pick up)- I would still go for Photostory because it's got more editing and other features, but for simplicity. this is tops. I like the way the caption is under the slide and not over it as in Photostory, making it difficult to read. there must be a way to export it... Yes, Slidestory – that was simple here is my test:
15 mins from reading the comment above so pretty quick to pick up)- I would still go for Photostory because it’s got more editing and other features, but for simplicity. this is tops.
I like the way the caption is under the slide and not over it as in Photostory, making it difficult to read.

there must be a way to export it…

]]> By: Alex Miller http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Alex Miller Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:20:01 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-142 Just a thought. Have you heard of Slidestory yet? It's is a free Web2.0 tool that allows you to create presentations online, and add your own narration. It gives you the option to embed the presentation into your blog/ wiki, but I don't think you can export as media content. You could do all of that in Windows Movie Maker, which all of our Institute machines have, and export as a media file. But it's Windows and Mac's rule! Have a look at these examples (just click the first slide to run them)… Learn French - http://www.slidestory.com/?page=detail&cid=162 Learn how to make a wiki - http://www.slidestory.com/?page=detail&cid=277 There must be some web2.0 tool out there??? We use Captivate, but that costs. Just a thought. Have you heard of Slidestory yet?

It’s is a free Web2.0 tool that allows you to create presentations online, and add your own narration. It gives you the option to embed the presentation into your blog/ wiki, but I don’t think you can export as media content.

You could do all of that in Windows Movie Maker, which all of our Institute machines have, and export as a media file. But it’s Windows and Mac’s rule!

Have a look at these examples (just click the first slide to run them)…

Learn French – http://www.slidestory.com/?page=detail&cid=162

Learn how to make a wiki – http://www.slidestory.com/?page=detail&cid=277

There must be some web2.0 tool out there???

We use Captivate, but that costs.

]]> By: Philip http://suewaters.com/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Philip Thu, 12 Jul 2007 03:19:37 +0000 http://aquaculturepda.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/which-tool-to-use/#comment-141 <b>To continue</b> An additional factor is the overall usefulness of “how to do something on the computer” how to videos. I do not feel they necessarily teach what is intended and I partly draw this conclusion from my experience of “Skillsoft” – the Canadian online computing teaching application available to TAFE staff. At the beginning I was enthusiastic and even led a few workshops at West Coast on how to access the activities. However, after a time I found my enthusiasm palled because I wasn’t actually able to PRACTISE meaningfully what I had learnt. You are shown (sometimes with animation) how to proceed, but as you are watching it on the computer, you don’t actually perform the actions. What is that old adage of learning by watching = 5% retention but learning by doing = 80% (%ages nominal)? A non-enthusiast anyway finds it tricky to have the Skillsoft and the application windows open simultaneously. If the process is short (e.g. check the volume control) you can view a screencast video and probably retain the info long enough to do it, but if you are learning something more complex like how to use layers in Photoshop, then I don’t believe screencasting helps. Unless you make notes, (which defeats the object of the system), it is difficult to apply your knowledge later. Witness the great initial enthusiasm for Skillsoft and the resulting non-completion of units. To continue
An additional factor is the overall usefulness of “how to do something on the computer” how to videos. I do not feel they necessarily teach what is intended and I partly draw this conclusion from my experience of “Skillsoft” – the Canadian online computing teaching application available to TAFE staff. At the beginning I was enthusiastic and even led a few workshops at West Coast on how to access the activities. However, after a time I found my enthusiasm palled because I wasn’t actually able to PRACTISE meaningfully what I had learnt. You are shown (sometimes with animation) how to proceed, but as you are watching it on the computer, you don’t actually perform the actions. What is that old adage of learning by watching = 5% retention but learning by doing = 80% (%ages nominal)?
A non-enthusiast anyway finds it tricky to have the Skillsoft and the application windows open simultaneously.
If the process is short (e.g. check the volume control) you can view a screencast video and probably retain the info long enough to do it, but if you are learning something more complex like how to use layers in Photoshop, then I don’t believe screencasting helps. Unless you make notes, (which defeats the object of the system), it is difficult to apply your knowledge later.
Witness the great initial enthusiasm for Skillsoft and the resulting non-completion of units.

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