Instructional Media Support Center

Our Department has been working over the Summer on a new web area called the 'Instructional Media Support Center'. This area was created to offer on-demand support resources for faculty who are wanting to get started working with instructional media that supports their courses at LLCC.

We are excited to see an increasing number of our instructors wanting to incorporate screencasts and other instructional media into their teaching and curriculum materials. It's also great that our faculty are offering students innovative assignment alternatives that incorporate instructional media and web-based resources. We hope that this site will support instructors by giving them information on the technical "how to's" and make that part easier so that they can focus on the important educational aspects of the media.

Specifically, we have focused on screencasting and media creation with Jing, Screencast-O-Matic, and Powerpoint2013's new media options. For editing, we have resources on Windows MovieMaker, and we focus on YouTube as our primary method of hosting and sharing finished videos with students. Again, we are trying to focus on tools that are simple to learn and use, inexpensive, and easily accessible (provided by the college or free online).

It's important to mention that copyright must be respected when searching for and using media created by others. We have included links to our library's pages which have library guides on copyright, open educational resource, the Alexander Street Press Video Collection, and other resources that can assist instructors who are searching for copyright-friendly media and materials to use in supporting their courses.

Unfortunately, time constraints are simply a reality in higher education. We hope to have the time to add more information in the future on using apps and mobile devices to create instructional media and links to more great resources that can be easily integrated into instructor's teaching and student's learning. This site is not 100% done and you may find typos or errors. (If you do, please let me know so that I can fix them - I'm kind of crowd-sourcing my editing here!)

Below is a link to the site created in Google Docs. https://sites.google.com/site/itdeimsc/home

Next is a Prezi that contains an overview of the main links in the site based on what you want to do. After clicking "Start Prezi", I recommend clicking the 'full screen' button in the lower-right corner of the Prezi to view. I look forward to any feedback or suggestions.

Keep Calm and Barry On!

Using Powerpoint's Built-in Tools to Create a Movie

Microsoft PowerPoint contains some built-in tools that allow you to export your presentations to a video format which can then be enhanced further in a program like Window Movie Maker or uploaded to YouTube to be shared with students. In addition to simply exporting an existing a PowerPoint presentation recording, you also have the options to add additional narration and elements (such as a virtual laser pointer or ink annotations) to your video. Please see the  information below about the two primary options for creating a movie from your saved PowerPoint using the program's built-in features. Method #1: 'Export Movie' option The "export movie" options is appropriate for simpler movies based on your PowerPoint. Use this option if you want to: export your PowerPoint as a video (with no additional changes) Method #2: 'Record Slide Show' option The "record slide show' option is more appropriate if you want to add additional interactivity, annotations, and/or narrations to your PowerPoint before saving it as a movie. Use this option if: You want to add a voice-over annotation to each slide before exporting the movie file You want to annotate with PowerPoint's built-in laser pointer, pen & highlighter in your finished movie while narrating  See the videos and links below for more information on saving your PowerPoint presentation as a movie Exporting a PowerPoint as a Video - with no additional changes to the PowerPoint Link to Microsoft's support site Recording a PowerPoint Presentation with Voice-Over Narration - and saving it as a Movie file Link to Microsoft's Support Site Recording a PowerPoint Presentation with Annotations - using PowerPoint's built-in laser pointer, pen & highlighter Link to Microsoft's Support Site

Screencasting with Jing and Powerpoint

Wow! It's been awhile since I've visited "Keep Calm and Barry On!" I guess things got a little busy towards the end of the semester.

Today I wanted to share some videos on the topic of screencasting with Powerpoint and Jing. We often get asked, "How can I narrate over my PowerPoints and save them as a movie to share with students?" One easy way is to record them with Jing. In an effort to make accomplishing this task easier, I've created the following videos.

These videos show two different ways to setup an existing PowerPoint so that you can then easily record it with Jing. Below are a summary of two different methods with video instructions. These assume you are familiar with Jing.

On a bigger note, I am kicking around ideas for an "instructional media support center" which would make tasks like this one easier for faculty to accomplish and could also support student assignments involving screencasting and other instructional media. What are your thoughts-would this be beneficial? What kinds of tutorials would you like to see in such a center?

Thanks for reading - Keep Calm and Barry On!

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Method #1 - Record your PowerPoint in 'Editing' Mode (4:03)

• allows speaker notes to be visible during recording
• allows you to rezise PPT window to match desired recording size
• no access to PPT built in pen, highlighter, or laser

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Method #2 - Record your  Powerpoint in "Individual Window" Mode (5:35)

• can not see speaker notes during recording
• allows you to rezise PPT window to match desired recording size
• no access to PPT built in pen or highlighter,
• PPT laser pointer is available in this mode (CTRL/Left Click on Mouse - PC)

Emerging Technologies and the NMC Horizon Report

Last week I facilitated  a workshop called  "Emerging Technologies: What's on the Horizon?" It's an interesting topic which always evolves into some great conversations about emerging technologies and implications for current and future students, learning and instruction. I also really enjoy it because it has a lot of demonstration and "hands on" time.

We designed this workshop based on the New Media Consortium and the Educause Learning Initiative's yearly "2014 Horizon Report" which examines "the key trends, significant challenges, and important technological developments that are very likely to impact changes in higher education across the world over the next five years." If you are unfamiliar with this yearly publication, I highly recommend that take a few minutes to peruse it. (The 2015 Horizon Report report was just released a couple of weeks ago). Whether your an instructor, an administrator, or a member of your school's IT staff, the information in the Horizon report will be pertinent to teaching, learning, and planning for what's ahead in the name of what's best for our students in relation to emerging educational technologies.

Below is a summary of the three key areas that the report addresses:

1. Key Trends Accelerating Technology Adoption in Higher Education
2. Significant Challenges Impeding Technology Adoption in Higher Education
3. Important Developments in Educational Technology for Higher Education

In the workshop, I tend to focus more on #3 above, which are the actual tools/technologies that the report sees being widely adopted in the next 1-5 years.While all three areas are important, I like to get people engaged with the tools/technologies whenever possible. Below is a list of links to the presentations I used and some of the various tools that were discussed or demonstrated.

• Main Presentation/Introduction:
  http://prezi.com/smw_wfmftszo/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
•  Demonstration Presentation:
  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CcJbGZS8L0muKwMzYd9k1gK6vbZxZ3ZYazoRp0OV_7Q/edit?usp=sharing

Additional Links to some of the technologies that were demonstrated or used during hands-on time:

• iPad Mount to mount iPad on a tripod http://www.makayama.com/moviemount.html
• YouTube Capture App: https://www.youtube.com/capture
• Plickers Student Response App: https://www.plickers.com/ 
•  Leap Motion Controller: https://www.leapmotion.com/product
•  Augmented Reality Apps: Aurasma, Layar, LearnAR
• Thinglink interactive images

Again, I encourage you to read the free 2015 Horizon Report. It is a publication that is both interesting and valuable as we in higher education try to stay aware of "emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry in education."

Click here to open a larger version of this graphic

Summary of the Key Areas of the 2015 NMC Horizon Report

Keep Calm and Barry On!
Barry

Fair Use Week 2015

We are fortunate at LLCC to have a very knowledgeable and helpful library staff! This week I am passing on some information from Amanda Wiesenhofer who (among other things) is in charge of Electronic resources at our library.

Amanda also keeps current on the issues of fair use and copyright in this digital age, and has always been there to help faculty and staff with questions on this important topic. Last week she alerted me to the fact that it is "Fair Use Week" and passed on some great resources.

Please see the resources below about "Fair Use and Copyright" and let Amanda know if you have any questions regarding using materials with your students.

• For further information and resources:
  http://fairuseweek.org/
  
• Here is a PDF file of a really well-done infographic that explains what fair use is and why it is so important.
  http://fairuseweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ARL-FUW-Infographic-r4.pdf
  
• Fair Use Tweetchat Next Week... copyright tweetchat on Twitter. On February 25th from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern), legal expert Brandon Butler will be our primary “chatter” on fair use.
  http://www.districtdispatch.org/2015/02/tweet-questions-fair-use-media-resources/
  

The tweetchat will address concerns like the following:

1. Can I make a digital copy of this video?
2. When is a public performance public?
3. When can I break digital rights technology on DVDs?
4. Is the auditorium a classroom?
5. How can libraries preserve born-digital works acquired via a license agreement?
6. And my favorite: What about YouTube? What can we do with YouTube?
7. Ask Brandon Butler your media question. Participate in the Twitter tweetchat by using #videofairuse on February 25, 2015, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST.

Thanks again Amanda!

Keep Calm and Barry On!

BL

Internet of Things / Internet of Everything

Today I'm trying to wrap my around the Internet of Things and implications for education. The Internet of Things IoT has a variety of definitions. A simple definition might be A physical object that...

• has network connectivity
• can send/receive data
• can communicate with other smart devices

The Internet of Things (IoT) is also known as The Internet of Everything (IoE), which CISCO defines as 'the intelligent connection of people, process, data and things.has a variety of definitions.' I tend to think of the IoT as the smart objects themselves, whereas the IoE includes the bigger picture of what can result from the combination of these smart objects with connectivity-automation, data collection, decision-making, convenience, cool toys, more efficient homes and cities, etc. Just know that the terms are often used synonymously.

In the good old days, the internet was found only on personal computers. It's been fascinating to see things go to mobile devices and now moving to smart objects. I had to get a new garage door a few years ago-I recall reading the documentation and being amazed that there was an option to connect my console to my router. At first I was like, What? Why? but then it began to make sense. I could get a report of when the garage door was opened (what time time did my teenagers get home?), I could let the UPS driver into the garage to make a delivery by pressing a button on my phone app, then close the door after he leaves, etc. Other recent examples I recall are smart thermostats like NEST, and smart door locks which will recognize people and only let authorized people in, send reports of who came in and when, and can even take and send a picture of who is at your door through your phone.

I'm also amazed at the automation that is possible with connected objects and smartphones. An example is the If This Then That (IFTTT) website which lets users set up automation based on their phones, smart objects in their homes, and commonly used web site. For example...

• If the weather forecast calls for rain, then send me a text reminding me to grab an umbrella
• If I get near my workplace, automatically silence my phone
• If I leave for work, then turn off my lights (or down my furnace)
• If a player on my fantasy baseball team gets hurt, send me a text

You get the idea-some are downright silly and for fun, but some of these automatons can provide you with valuable instant information or result in a more efficient energy bill.

The data collection can also be incredibly useful. Think about the data that is collected from a fitbit and how it can help someone monitor their own health. I have also read recently about a smart bra that can help detect breast cancer and using smart objects to reduce traffic congestion.

As far as education, I can see some interesting implications. Could you easier collect data on students to better personalize their education? Could a student with low vision have the words on a computer screen automatically enlarged? Monitors in PE class? Checkout this CISCO article on IoE in Education.

There are several new smart object products that could be valuable in teaching critical and higher order thinking skills, support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math goals, and equip students with the skills necessary for their future workforce in an engaging way. Think of Lego Mindstorms, Littlebits CloudBit Module, and the product in the video below, and Mesh (video is a little silly, but hopefully you can see the potential).

As with any technology, there are concerns. Immediately I think of privacy, security, what happens when the wi-fi goes down, and someone (like an insurance company) using data in a punitive way. Things to consider.

Now if only there was a smart object that would make my lunch when my stomach growled...Sorry for the long post! Keep calm and Barry On! BL

Blackboard Support Center

The Blackboard Support Center http://www.llcc.edu/bbsupport provides you with on-demand support to common questions on the use of Blackboard at Lincoln Land Community College. There are areas of support for both faculty and students. Below is a "Blackboard in Under a Minute" video showing where to access the support center and a quick overview. Hope this resource is helpful!

Top Five Ways to Use Screencasting in the Classroom (Article)

An interesting article from the Techsmith website. I've summarized the main points with examples below, and you can read the entire article here....http://blogs.techsmith.com/for-educators/screencasting-in-the-classroom/

1. Live Screencasting 
     http://www.screencast.com/t/ulvX17F72W

2. Online/Hybrid/Blended Learning

     http://www.screencast.com/t/2kSUcEZG
3. Student Created Content

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcxcsHjk8cE&feature=youtu.be
4. Professional Development

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_bYqK-wBQg&feature=youtu.be
5. Screencasting & Grading

     http://www.techsmith.com/education-video-how-to-feedback.html

Below is the video from #4 above:

Google Earth Pro Is Now Free

I read recently that Google Earth Pro is now free. Here are some of the most obvious differences that I can see between the free and pro versions (taken from this link):

• Print images at 4800×3200; non-Pro is capped at 1000×1000.
• Automatically import a few thousand addresses at once to be pinned on a map
• Capture HD videos of what’s on screen.
• Measure distances/areas using lines, paths, polygons, circles, and more. Non-pro can only handle lines/paths.

Your average user probably doesn't use most of these advanced features or many of the free ones for that matter. I could, however, see an immediate use for printing the hi-res images and capturing the HD videos of your screen to create interesting fly-over or street level tour videos that can be used in instruction or in the creation of other instructional media or presentations. Below are some links with more information:

Google Lat/Long blog, with information on accessing the free download:

• http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2015/01/google-earth-pro-is-now-free.html

Keep Calm and Barry On! BL

Student View in Blackboard

While you can toggle the edit mode button in blackboard to get "sort of" a student view, the only way to get a true student view of your course is to use the "Student View" feature that is found in your Control Panel under 'Course Tools.' Clicking this button will actually create a demo student account in your course that is a true student view. As such, you will see this demo account show up in your course list and you must actually log out of Blackboard and log in as yourself to access your instructor editing functions. See the video below for a quick overview of the Student View in Blackboard.

Qwickly (Blackboard Tool)

Today I'm going to give you a quick overview of Quickly, which is a tool in Blackboard that allows you to perform common tasks in multiple Blackboard courses at once. This should save instructors a lot of time while preparing and maintaining courses in Blackboard.

Screencastify (Chrome Browser Extension)

Screencastify is an interesting Chrome browser extension that allows for Screencasting that will save your screencasts directly to your Google Account for sharing. Other noteworthy features:

• 10 minute time limit with the free version
• can capture system audio
• can publish to YouTube
• can save screencasts to your computer
• can capture a web browser tab, desktop, or web-cam only. 

There are not as many features as some similar paid programs, but it is pretty good for free if wanting to do a quick screen capture to share. Below is a link to the extension and a short demo of it.

Screencastify extension link in the Chrome Web Store https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/screencastify-screen-vide/mmeijimgabbpbgpdklnllpncmdofkcpn?utm_source=gmail

Screencastify Test Run - The screencast below was made with the Screencastify Chrome browser extension on a PC with a webcam.

Keep Calm and Barry On!
BL

Welcome!

Welcome to 'Keep Calm and Barry On!' In this little corner of the web I hope to:

1. Share helpful tips and ideas about using Blackboard, SoftChalk, Web-based sites, apps, or any other instructional technologies that might be interesting to people at the college where I work
2. Spread the news about new instructional technology trends, apps, or web-sites that look interesting
3. Occasionally irritate my readers with bad puns for my own amusement (you've been warned!)

I hope to keep things light-hearted, useful, short and to the point. Thanks for reading and I look forward to any comments and suggestions for future posts. Keep Calm and Barry On! Barry