This course will become read-only in the near future. Tell us at community.p2pu.org if that is a problem.
This course will include an overview of techniques and strategies that research has shown to improve learning outcomes using multimedia and graphics for learning. The role of graphics will be explored to move from the use of graphics from decoration to those that truly foster deeper learning. We will also discuss classroom delivery of multimedia. Participants will apply these concepts to improve and design instructional multimedia.
This course is not on how to create multimedia. Participants should use multimedia they already know how to use.
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Hopefully, some participants are working on multimedia projects as part of this course. Post your multimedia here in completed or draft form.
The P2PU platform offers a few options for sharing your work.
If you have something that is hosted through youtube, vimeo or slideshare, you can embed your multimedia using the tool indicated below:
A complete list of services that can be embedded can be hound here.
If your multimedia is an image, use the button below to insert the image of your multimedia.
All other multimedia may be to be linked so that participants can either view them online off the P2PU platform, or downloaded.
Of course, you will need to put the multimedia on a public server, so that others can access it. One popular way to do that is to use a public folder in Dropbox. You can set up a free account with up to 2 GB of online storeage. Of course there are many other options. If you have any problem, email the file to me and I can post it on my server.
Posting multimedia has its challenges because we all have different software and platforms. If you are using proprietary software, consider exporting your multimedia to a common format or even posting in multiple formats. For example a Keynote User might export to PowerPoint that most people can open using MS Office or Open Office.
Well, I don't love this but I did finally get it done. After trying to rework this old video I'd done, I ended up wishing I'd just redone the whole thing. Oh well, maybe in December.
At any rate, I learned a lot doing this and it gave me a good opportunity to think through the practical application of what we learned in this class.
I received this article through 'Faculty in Focus' that may be of interest to those in this course.
Enjoy! ~ Chirstina
Teaching with Technology: Tools and Strategies to Improve Student Learning
Teaching with technology isn't just about staying current on the latest tools, it's about knowing how to successfully incorporate the best tools into your teaching when and where it makes sense. This article series looks at the benefits of using technology, as well as potential stumbling blocks.
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Wikipedia in the Classroom: Tips for Effective Use
Blogging to Improve Student Learning: Tips and Tools for Getting Started
Prezi: A Better Way of Doing Presentations
Save Time and Teach Better with Screencasting
Using Polling and Smartphones to Keep Students Engaged
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http://dl.dropbox.com/u/49061082/Mapping.tutorial.revised%20-%20Shortcut.lnk
Here is the dropbox link of my first video, you can hear the loud mouse clicks. This video was made in February or March of this year. I have since purchase the headphones to help with the background noise. The headphones didn't make any difference. After several attempts I have decided to give up on the Jing video and I tried another version just recording directly into the powerpoint recorder. I do not hear the background noise so I think the idea of the web-based recorder vs. the desktop recorder may be correct.
Here is the link to the deskop PowerPoint recording.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/49061082/Mapping%20Project.powerpoint.pptx
This 2nd recording was done this week. I tried to make some changes that we discussed in this course. I made some changes with the mouse so it wasn't distracting. I used arrows that were placed on the document instead. I also tried to make some changes in the color so it was more clear. I do think the 2nd production is better. However, I believe Steve made the comment earlier in the course, the hours in editing don't always make a difference to the student's comprehension. Looking back at the first video, I think the main point, which is to teach them how to draw a topographic map, is just as clear in the first video as the second.
I did learn so many valuable things in this course.
Thanks so much!
Patty
I have tried to produce a video and I have had some difficulty with the sound. If I use my microphone on my laptop I get a lot of feedback and static. I purchase a headset and it didn't help. Do I need to purchase a more expensive microphone and headset?
I am also having trouble with the mouse click noises on my video. I have no sound selected on my PowerPoint but I still hear a sound when I replay the video even though I don't actually hear a sound when I click the mouse.
Moving from the laptop mic to a headset should make quite a big difference. That being said there is quite a range of quality. I'm happy with Plantronics DSP 400 that I bought years ago, but I understand the current incarnation is not as good. It purports to have noise cancelling. I certainly wouldn't buy the cheapest models--I went for a couple steps up to a moderately priced model. I'd love to get something more top end, but those can cost $100 or more.
If you are getting feedback, try turning off the sound output and see if that makes a difference.
I'm not sure what you mean by the mouse click noise. Can you record the sound after creating the video portion?
Steve
Out of curiosity, how does the audio compare with my videos in this course?
I think the audio in my ppt is scratchy. Your audio is clear. Sounds professional. I certainly have a lot to learn. I know I would change so much in that ppt looking back on it.
I use a very inexpensive headset mic (about $10) with good results. I also have a large expensive (> $100) USB mic that I got when I was doing a lot of podcasting, and frankly there isn't a huge difference.
The mouse click noises may be because you are recording system sounds in addition to the mic input. Depending what software you are recording into, there should be a setting for that.
Wanting to change things means we're all learning! :)
I think that audio quality is also dependent on the software you're using. For example, recording into a web 2.0 tool like VoiceThread yields much worse audio quality than recording into a desktop tool like Audacity. (Another example: the audio quality on Skype is superior to any other similar tool I've used.)
For those of you having recording issues, you might want to download Audacity (free, open source -- http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) and record a short snippet to see if it is a mic issue or a software issue.
I often like to record in Audacity and then import into PPT or whatever just because there is a lot more editing control.
Steve, did you record right in Keynote or in something else first?
Yes--I hear the background hiss and it is pretty loud. Out of curiousity, does your microphone have a usb connection or audio jack in/out? I do think a better microphone will make a difference. What are you using?
There are other variables though like the quality of the soundcard components (probably integrated). I'm not sure that applies so much with usb connections.
I wish I could reliably recommend the Plantronics headset, but I have read reviews saying that the one currently sold is not the same as the one I bought.
I use Audio Hijack Pro for all my sound capture. I originally bought it to record streaming audio from the source instead of through system sound. The sound in my videos was totally unedited.
Audacity is a great tool whether or not it solves this problem. You might be able to reduce some of the backgound noise by tweaking the sound a bit.
I might try recording audio directly into Keynote so I can offer other end user options anyway. I'll see if I hear a difference.
BTW--I feel there is a lot to change about almost every piece of multimedia I've ever made. Creating sound educational multimedia is not easy.
I have a plain 'ole headphone audio jack. ($20) I think Karen might be right about the SW as I am using the same setup during our webinars and there is no background noise. We record our staff meetings & virtual sessions with students and I haven't heard the same scratchy sound from my mic. I am thinking it is due to the embedded 'sound recording' option offered in MS ppt that I used for that video. Any thoughts?
I think you're right, Christina. I'd try Audacity. It isn't hard to use but if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask. I also posted a quick start guide here: http://p2pu.org/media/uploads/files/kfasimpaur/2011/10/23/audacity_quick_start.pdf
The only tricky part is exporting mp3 files, only because you have to install the LAME encoder the firs time. After that, it's super easy.
If you're on Windows, you could also try the Sound Recorder app as a test, but it doesn't allow much if any editing.
I made a file in movie maker but am unable to upload it. Any suggestions?
Did you try to upload it to P2PU like Karen suggested, or did you do something else? Did you try Dropbox?
How big is the file?
You can also email me directly steve at wellsny dot com.
I tried to do as Karen suggested. The presentation is 6 minutes. Do you think that is too long? Since there are a couple of components I can easily break it down farther.
If the file can be emailed, email it to me and I'll put it up on my server and provide a link. Whether or not it can be emailed depends on the size of the file in MB. I think I have my email acc't set to a pretty high limit.
Will do, thanks a lot.
Did you first export the file as a WMV file (File -> Save Movie File)? The source project file (.MSWMM) won't be viewable to anyone but you and probably won't upload either.
If that isn't the problem, is the problem in uploading to P2PU or something else?
It's a WMV. I was able to upload it to my server and it does upload here too.
/media/uploads/files/steveoc/2011/11/04/peru memories.wmv
It probably would be helpful if there were some feedback to the user that the file is being uploaded.
So Steve, do you think that it really was uploading for Sam and he just didn't know it?
(Sam, if want to try this, after you click Upload to server, then just click ok to have the link to file display in your edit window.)
At any rate, I could see the video, Sam! It was very small. Fyi, to my knowledge there is no limit on file upload size at this point if you want to make it larger. How was Windows Movie Maker for you?
Yes. There is nothing indicating that the file is being uploaded (like a progress bar or a phrase "file being uploaded). I wasn't sure until I looked at the network activity on my computer.
Sam--could you post a bigger file?
You can actually post multimedia files, such as movies or PPTs, right on P2PU. Just to go the Link button and use the Upload tab to upload your file. Then click OK.
This is a relatively new feature at P2PU.
I'm practicing my graphics. :) What do you think?
P.S. Just recropped to get rid of extraneous info.
Thanks Karen! I think it looks great. What software did you use? On the Mac I use Voila screen capture utility with handy quick editing tools. As has been pointed out efficient workflows are key for busy people!
I used Photoshop. I like the GIMP too, but Photoshop is a little faster for me.
