Application & What I did

[Micheal]

Have you discovered an innovative and effective way to utilise a specific ICT to meet your educational objectives? Give it up here.

[Micheal]

Have you discovered an innovative and effective way to utilise a specific ICT to meet your educational objectives? Give it up here.

Time Lapse Video: Compressing an hour into one minute.
Basically you set up your digital video camera on a tripod.
Start recording. Do not move the camera. Do try to film where someone cannot walk directly in front of the camera.

At the end of December 2003 I set up a camera in Picton on a day with fluffy clouds in the sky and a strong breeze. I caught the action of a ferry pulling in, clouds meandering across the sky and the odd bird.
I filmed for 60 minutes.

60 minutes was then time lapsed into 1 minute by:
Downloading all the footage to imovie. Clicking on the Timeline Viewer and using the Speed slider to speed up the footage.
You then need to export the imovie back to your camera and repeat the above steps until your time lapse video is at the speed that you desire.

Ideas
- Shadows
- General observation of people, animals, plants etc.
- Special effect as part of story telling movie.
I'll place a copy of the footage on a website in the near future.

[ICT Online Editor]

Hi Michael

Thanks for your contributions, and willingness to try out this message board.

This time lapse video technique is great to know about. I assume this is the same effect that is sometimes seen in nature programmes, for example, where a plant's growth cycle is sped up and shown in a short period of time.

Do you know if this effect can be created using Microsoft Movie Maker (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker/default.asp) editing software?

Can you use the same effect for situations where the camera is also shooting different scenes?

If so, it could be a good visual language effect to emphasise the busyness of someone/something over a certain period of time. For example, In Social Studies - looking at someone's job over the period of a day, or Visual Arts - condense a long process into a shorter timeframe to give a clear overview (for instance, weaving/raranga).

If anyone can think of other curriculum related ideas for using this technique then please feel free to post a reply to this thread.

Kind regards

Sarah

[Cyb_ed]

Possibly a similar effect of sped up timelines can be achieved by the following means.
a) Video effects for each photo. There is an affect that is "Double speed". This effect can be added up to 6 times per photo.... and the effects are cummulative.
b) Under "Tools. Options" there is a setting for picture durration and transition times. Set transition time to "0" and picture time to a shorter time.
It should give the same general outcome as already mentioned. ( I am using MS Movie Maker V5.1)

[Micheal]

Sorry that it has taken me a so long to track down a copy of the Time Lapse video I that had created.

You will need Quicktime to view the video.
http://www.mpaschools.com/ict/timelapse/

I'll add more information about Time Lapse as I get more time.
In the meantime I have been looking at how to use PowerPoint to create rich colourful animations.
I'll post something about that here soon. However until then here is a link to an example. http://www.mpaschools.com/ict/video/georgesm.mov

[ICT Online Editor]

Hi Michael

Your examples look great!

It would be really helpful if you did have time to explain how you did the powerpoint animation... you have obviously combined ppt with movie editing software, I'm just not sure exactly what you have done. Please enlighten us :-).

Here is one ICT Learning Experience that has used PPT for animation purposes (without combining with movie editing software):

Self-Portrait Slideshows - ICT Learning Experience
This ICT Learning Experience involves a school-wide professional development unit where students created a series of self-portraits that portrayed a variety of feelings, using Windows Paint. The self-portraits were presented as an animated slideshow in PowerPoint. Instructional help sheets and examples of student work are included. Developed by Glen Eden Intermediate Cluster as part of the ICT Professional Development Clusters Project.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/selfportrait_slideshows_e.php

Has anyone else done anything similar to this in a different context? Let us know....

Thanks once again Michael for your interesting contributions.

Sarah

[Micheal]

PowerPoint Video Animation
Digital PVA

There are a number of reasons for using PowerPoint as the base tool for creating animations.
+ Thousands-millions of colours are available in the JPEG file format.
- PVAs consist of PowerPoint slides saved as JPEGs
- The GIF (256 colours) file format could be used also.

+ The gradients in fill colours for WordArt, slide backgrounds and drawn objects provides rich colours and a perception of depth in an animated scene.

+ All objects are moveable and layered – Drawn or inserted objects can be easily rotated, copied and pasted and moved to the in front of or behind other objects.

I'm working on a How to... page, but in the meantime.

Instructions for creating your first PowerPoint Video Animation - PVA.

+ Open PowerPoint.
+ Make your way to a blank fresh slide.
+ If there are text boxes on your canvas…
- Click on the slide, but not inside the text boxes...
- From the keyboard: Ctrl+A (Apple users, just replace Ctrl with the Apple key) and then tap Delete.
+ Check that you have the drawing toolbar.
- Click View: Toolbars and tick Drawing (if is not already ticked).
+ Pull out the Basic Shapes and Lines Palettes
- Windows users: Click Auto Shapes on the Drawing toolbar
- Apple users: From 2000 upwards: Click the AutoShapes button and then Lines button.
- Drag (by grabbing the top of the palette) the Basic shapes and Lines palettes onto your window for easy access.

+ Click on the Oval button (Basic Shapes palette).
+ Draw a circle.
+ Colour the circle by using the Paint Bucket (Fill Colour) – The upside down triangle next to the bucket provides options).
+ Increase the line thickness from the Line Style button to the drawing toolbar.

To animate the circle:
+ Click on Slide 1: in the right-hand side panel.
+ Copy the slide (Ctrl+C)
+ Paste in a copy of Slide 1 (Ctrl+V)
+ Click on the circle in Slide 2
+ Move the circle (I prefer to use the arrow keys on my keyboard, three or four clicks up and the same across).

Repeat and Rinse:
+ Click on Slide 2 and then repeat the steps above.
+ Ten slides should be enough to get you started.

Format Background;
+ Click Format: Slide Background: then the Selection Button
+ Choose your background colour and then apply to all.
- Usually I make this my sky colour (Fill Effects: Preset: Ocean or Day Break).


Convert Slides to JPEGs:
Set Options: Do once:
- Set you dpi or dots per inch to 1600 dpi
+ Click Save or Save as.
- Change the File Type to JPEG - Joint Photographic Expert Group.
+ Click Options - Set dpi to 1600

+ Name the file then, save (choose a location for the file... which will be actually a folder full of JPEGs, someplace where you can find them).

Import the JPEGs into imove or Movie Maker etc...
Set your photo time length to as short as possible.
Movie Maker 2 can set the time to less than a second which is great: Click Tools: Options and then the Advanced tab. I'd set the time to half a second. I do not know if the same options are in Movie Maker 1.

imovie users may not be able to import clips shorter than 5 seconds.
You may need to manually split clips (Apple+T) to the desired length.
In Movie Maker 2 to split a clip: Crtl+L (it may be the same in MM1).

Update: In iMovie 3 & 4 the best option for getting images into an iMovie is to import your images into iPhoto. Open iMovie click the iPhoto button and there you go. Turn off the Ken Burns effect, and set the timing for how long you want images to hang around. Drag them down. See the next page of this Thread for a greater explanation.

Update: In iMovie 3 & 4 the best option for getting images into an iMovie is to import your images into iPhoto. Open iMovie click the iPhoto button and there you go. Turn off the Ken Burns effect, and set the timing for how long you want images to hang around. Drag them down. See the next page of this Thread for a greater explanation.


Two new examples:
God's Window (Inspired at Wairau Primary)
http://www.mpaschools.com/ict/powerpt/pwrani/spball.mov
Bug
http://www.mpaschools.com/ict/powerpt/pwrani/buglife.mov
The Making of Bug
http://www.mpaschools.com/ict/powerpt/pwrani/makebug2.mov

Digital PVA allows you generate a final product of high quality.
I’m still figuring out the possibilities.
Micheal

[Micheal]

http://www.timelapse.com/

Stock footage (Quicktime files) - You don't have to buy.
Just press play.

[Micheal]

Graphic Art
Relevant for all versions of PowerPoint (Mac/PC from '97 up).

If your graphic art requirements are somewhere between minimal and not so minimal then I suggest that you go no further than PowerPoint. The digital art achievable with PowerPoint is actually pretty cool.

PowerPoint Graphics: PVAs, Web graphics, generating clip art, editing & messing around with photographs, slideshow art etc...

Software such as MS Paint is useful, but seriously limited.
The benefit of using software such as Photoshop for your art is that elements added are layered and can be rearranged or deleted at anytime.
This software comes with a price tag and/or a learning curve that might not match your budget or fit in with your expendable leisure time.

Since PowerPoint is already on your desktop (otherwise why would you be reading this?) why not use this software to be creative?

+ Open up PowerPoint (select blank slide if asked)
Click View : Toolbars :
Check that Standard, Formatting and Drawing are all Ticked (checked)

The drawing toolbar sits on bottom of the window in Windows and on the left side on Macs.

Lines and various shapes can be found on the AutoShapes button (Macs have a separate lines button). I suggest pulling the Basic Shapes and Lines palettes onto your working area (Just place your mouse at the top of the palettes and drag it out).

The biggest hassle that I found with drawing was that when I selected a tool such as Scribble (pencil), once I finished drawing an element I had to go back and click the Scribble button to reactivate it. Recently I learnt that if you double click on any of the buttons it stays active until you tap ESC(cape).
Big time saver!

+ You cannot fill a line with colour (at this stage in PowerPoint you cannot draw four separate lines call it a box and fill it).

Once you have created your masterpiece...
Options:
- Show it off in full screen glory in a PowerPoint slideshow
- Save it as a JPEG, GIF, PNG or whatever format you want (Click Save and change the file type, under options you may want to increase the dpi - Dots per inch).
- Open MS Paint/Photo Editor/iPhoto or whatever image editor you have and crop/resize/etc.

Clip Art largely fails miserably to capture the essence of what I’m trying to communicate so I draw.

I will add a few more examples as I have time.

[Micheal]

Mac Office is put together by a the fine people at Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU). As a self confessed PC Junkie, it does not pain me too much to admitt that I wish that several features from the latter Apple versions of Office would appear in the Windows versions.

No.1 on my list would be the additional cropping tools in the Picture toolbar(see image). I hope to look at Office 2003 soon. However it appears that Office 2002 lacks the ability to cut out unwanted content in an image.

The ability to cut my head off a photograph and paste it to a young Arnie's shoulders is something I'll miss if Office 2003 or later version don't cut it.
If 2002/3 can, let me know. I know I can do things manually using MSPaint, but it's messy. I don't want to buy a image editor when Powerpoint or Word can do the basics for me.

Arnie's body is just the start... cutting out frogs to bounce across lilly pads, placing George on the moon, building a magazine cover...

On the otherhand, here is hoping that Mac Powerpoint takes up Motion Paths in their animations. Multimedia story telling gets a neat little boast (more on that later). Update: Mac Office 2004 does not include Motion Path. Although there are a whole lot of new animation effects. With a bit of creative thinking it is possoble to generate some interesting effects that may help tell a multimedia story.

[ICT Online Editor]

Thanks Michael for the detailed and very helpful information regarding using PowerPoint to create your own graphics. It sounds like a more user friendly way for students to design and edit their own graphs, photographs etc. Especially since it is a programme that most classrooms have and are quite familiar with - as oppossed to finding their way around a new type of software.

What image editors do you feel are best - to carry out simple changes to a image or photograph?

Like the example too!

Nina






Graphic Art
Relevant for all versions of PowerPoint (Mac/PC from '97 up).

If your graphic art requirements are somewhere between minimal and not so minimal then I suggest that you go no further than PowerPoint. The digital art achievable with PowerPoint is actually pretty cool.

PowerPoint Graphics: PVAs, Web graphics, generating clip art, editing & messing around with photographs, slideshow art etc...

Software such as MS Paint is useful, but seriously limited.
The benefit of using software such as Photoshop for your art is that elements added are layered and can be rearranged or deleted at anytime.
This software comes with a price tag and/or a learning curve that might not match your budget or fit in with your expendable leisure time.

Since PowerPoint is already on your desktop (otherwise why would you be reading this?) why not use this software to be creative?

+ Open up PowerPoint (select blank slide if asked)
Click View : Toolbars :
Check that Standard, Formatting and Drawing are all Ticked (checked)

The drawing toolbar sits on bottom of the window in Windows and on the left side on Macs.

Lines and various shapes can be found on the AutoShapes button (Macs have a separate lines button). I suggest pulling the Basic Shapes and Lines palettes onto your working area (Just place your mouse at the top of the palettes and drag it out).

The biggest hassle that I found with drawing was that when I selected a tool such as Scribble (pencil), once I finished drawing an element I had to go back and click the Scribble button to reactivate it. Recently I learnt that if you double click on any of the buttons it stays active until you tap ESC(cape).
Big time saver!

+ You cannot fill a line with colour (at this stage in PowerPoint you cannot draw four separate lines call it a box and fill it).

Once you have created your masterpiece...
Options:
- Show it off in full screen glory in a PowerPoint slideshow
- Save it as a JPEG, GIF, PNG or whatever format you want (Click Save and change the file type, under options you may want to increase the dpi - Dots per inch).
- Open MS Paint/Photo Editor/iPhoto or whatever image editor you have and crop/resize/etc.

Clip Art largely fails miserably to capture the essence of what I’m trying to communicate so I draw.

I will add a few more examples as I have time.

[Micheal]

At this stage I cannot see any new image editing built into Office 2003. I spent ten minutes looking around Office 03 today.

A work around that would enable you to do an element of graphical editing is to multi-task between MS Paint (Under Accessories) and PowerPoint.

Open your photograph in MS Paint.
Use the star shaped Free-Form Select tool on the toolbar to draw around the elements in the photograph that you want to keep.
Ctrl+C to copy
Open PowerPoint
Ctrl+V to paste

From the Menu bar: View: Toolbars: make sure Picture is ticked.
Make sure that the pasted image is selected
From the picture toolbar - Use the Set Transparent color (Wand) to set the white around the picture as transparent. The picture is pasted in a square shape.

Right-click on elements to change the Order.

In the image below I have used an photograph of a city, a photo of a boy and a photo of a hat. The fake beard was draw in Paint and the Glasses drawn in PowerPoint (Note transparencey in lences).

PowerPoint files can be saved as JPEGS and then resized using MS Paint or Photo Editor (Free with Office).

The only real issue with this type of editing is that white elements in the photograph that you want to keep (such as skin) may disappear. An easy fix is to draw a white blob in PowerPoint and send it behind the image missing white.

It is low end editing, but it is fairly easy and costs nothing.

Maybe Windows PowerPoint Next will follow the lead of the next version.

[Micheal]

Thanks Michael... What image editors do you feel are best - to carry out simple changes to a image or photograph?
Like the example too!
Nina

Hi Nina,
You'd be surprised what tools can act as effective image editors.
KidPix for example allows you to import an image and snip things up like you would with a scissors and a magazine. Unfortunately like MS Paint it doesn't work in layers.

I recommend MS Photo Editor for basic image editing.
It comes free with Office from version '97 up. It hasn't change since '97.
I rate the Photo Editor because it does what you need: Rotate, Crop, Contrast and brightness adjustment. It is easy to use and is not clutter with option overkill. For XP users if installed, it becomes your graphics editor from the Photo Preview window on your images (Check the buttons on the preview window, have you tried the one that looks like a Projector screen?).

If it not installed grab your office CDs an bang it in (Office '97, copy the Photo Ed folder from the CD to your hard drive to install).

Most image editing software that comes with Cameras I tend to find just pretty, but not well designed in terms of ease of use.

Adobe Photoshop Elements (Previously LE) is just about all you could want in an Image Editor. Your average user will have plenty of scope for growing with the software. If the paper and glue style is not quite cutting it for you I'd take a look at Elements (some scanners and digital cameras are bundled with it, otherwise $270 from Noel Leeming).
There is definately a learning curve the LE addition, I haven't used it's replacement Elements yet).

Gimp is a freebie Photoshop like editor. http://www.gimp.org/
I't is likely to have steeper learning curve, but an attractive price. I have only tinkered with GIMP. Gimp has a O/S X version, I didn't manage to get it to work.

[Micheal]

Have you discovered an innovative and effective way to utilise a specific ICT to meet your educational objectives? Give it up here.

Voice mail
Give your little ones or even not small kiddies the opportunity to express ideas or make statements beyond their written ability.
There are other products out there, however I recommend Handybits Voice mail & it's junior version Handybits for kids (Handybits is Windows only - anyone know of any Mac voice mail?).
It is compatible with all e-mail software, can be easily dragged and attached; file size is very small due to GSM compression. There are no significant issues with sending Voice mail with Handybits. The files are Wav, which can be listen to on virtually any computer. Compression is great, check the file size before you hit send.

You will need a microphone if one is not built in to your computer.

http://www.handybits.com/voicemail.htm

Jen from CP School used Handybits in a lab environment. Initially students shared jokes via voice mail. Students then surveyed each other with voice mail to gather statistical information.

It would be helpful if the person being e-mail was willing to reply in a voice mail format: Send them the address to download the software.

Uses for this tool are endless: Starting with sharing a joke is a fun way to learn how to drive it voice mail.

[Micheal]

e-Books are basically books that can be read on a PDA or your computer screen. Windows will even do it's best to read it back to you.

You need to download a reader and then some books.
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/default.asp
http://www.mslit.com/default.asp?mjr=FRE

Microsoft is not the only player on the e-book market. The reason why I'm mentioning them at all is because using Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2002 or Microsoft Word 2000 and a plug-in you can create e-Books.

http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/downloads/rmr.asp

You can include your own art work etc. Basically create your Word Doc and then click the appropriate e-reader button.

A great way to share student stories, articles or a student magazine.

[innesk]

Michael thanks for the quality information you posted on time lapse and amnimation applications. Just to add a couple of points for others.
If you are using a Mac for timelapse photography there is an application called BTV Pro (shareware) that lets you connect your camera to your computer via the Firewire cable and then set it to take 'snaps' at set times. You could, for example set it up to watch the monarch butterfly and take a shot every minutes or looking at the playground during morning interval and take one every 20 seconds. The images get sent to a folder of your choice and then you use BTV Pro, Quicktime or iMovie to turn it into a video sequence - takes less that 30 seconds to do it. I then use iMovie to bring in audio, titles and music.
BTV Pro can also be used to capture stills. I am sure there will be a PC equivalent.

You mention setting frame rates for your animations and note you are unsure how to do it in iMovie. iMovie gives you enormous control over the length of stills. In iMovie 2 you set it in the preferences option and with iMovie4 (the lastest) bring your photos into iPhoto and then click on the Photo tab in iMovie, select the time in the little dialog box above your photos, click Apply (turn Ken Burns off!!) and then just drag your photos in. They will all come in at the length you have set. You can set them from 1 frame (00:01) which means it will play for 1/24th of a second which is the frame rate for full motion video and LOTR type animations right up to many seconds. the fully integrated nature of the iLife tools makes all this a breeze and kids revel in it.
Innes

[Micheal]

Michael thanks for the quality information you posted on time lapse and amnimation applications...
You mention setting frame rates for your animations and note you are unsure how to do it in iMovie. iMovie gives you enormous control over the length of stills. In iMovie 2 you set it in the preferences option and with iMovie4 (the lastest) bring your photos into iPhoto and then click on the Photo tab in iMovie, select the time in the little dialog box above your photos, click Apply (turn Ken Burns off!!) and then just drag your photos in. They will all come in at the length you have set. You can set them from 1 frame (00:01) which means it will play for 1/24th...
Innes

Hi Innes,
Thanks, yeah I really should update my PVA post. I'd only previously used iMovie 2 for animation when I'd posted that bit.
The problem with iMovie 2 is that within preferences, correct me if I'm wrong, you can't get still clips short enough to create fluid animation. The best option I could find was to drop the length down to a second in prefs and then physically split it in half or less, then delete the unwanted bit. As you have explained, iMovie 3 - 4 with iPhoto is soooo easy.

BVTPro sounds like a great option, definately less time consuming than manual TimeLapse. It would be interesting to compare Video vs what would be in effect a collection of stills - in creating a timelapse. Also shorter vs longer time intervals. If I was looking for fluid movement, such as filming clouds I'd probably stick to a video stream. But it would be interesting to compare.

I certainly have enjoyed using GarageBand recently. I'd love to see a tighter intergration with iMovie, I'm not sure how they would do it. Maybe visual markers (preview images from a selected imovie) in GarageBand, so that you
know at which point in your imovie your musical score is taking place.

[Micheal]

The folks at Mighty Coach sell video CDs, they also provide some tutorial content online which you can freely publish in a newsletter, website etc. They just ask that you include a sentence and link to their site.
I found the article on Movie Maker 2 and Capture rates to be quite informative http://www.mightycoach.com/articles/mm2/captureformats-moviemaker.html

Otherwise go to: http://www.mightycoach.com/index.html
Well worth a look.

Office 2000 Tutorials · Word · Excel · Power Point · Access · FrontPage - Look no further than The Florida Gulf Coast Univeristy
http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/

Find a free tutorial
http://tutorials.findtutorials.com/

Atomic Learning
Has quite a few quicktime clips mov clips freely available for Windows Movie Maker: http://www.atomiclearning.com/moviemaker2_sample

[Micheal]

The more I use Freemind the more I am becoming a fan of this great and more importanly free software.
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/

I've mentioned Freemind on this discussion board previously, but I want to give it another plug.

Recently I have worked out how to can map nodes with images, links (files or web sites).

I do rate Inspiration as a great tool, however if your budget is tight or your needs are not too advanced you may be surprised what you can achieve with Freemind.

I'm looking at a couple of ideas for how to use it:
It is actually an effective way to build a web page for drill down information.

While driving I was thinking about using it to create a pick a path story: Once exported as HTML, it is easily shared. I think that this could suit a colaberative pick a path. Going something like...
Once upon a time...
+There was a girl named
----------------------------+ Jill who...
-----------------------------------------+ went shopping
------------------------------------------------------------+ when suddenly there was an earthquake
-----------------------------------------+ was walking home...
----------------------------------------------------------------+ when unexpectantly, she fell down a rabbit hole.
----------------------------+ Jenny who...
--------------------------------------------+ didn't like Jill.
+there was a boy named
----------------------------+ Jack who was bored
-----------------------------------------------------+ until he discovered
----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ that his parents
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ were aliens
-----------------------------+ John, was a crazy kind of chap
------------------------------------------------------------------+ yet he had a sensitive side
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ he liked flowers
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ he mainly like them as a dietary supplement.


The great thing is that you can pick up on any part of the story and take it anywhere within the context of where it has come from.
My illustration above is kind of crude and maybe doesn't clearly get across what I'm thinking. I'll try and post an example somewhere when I get a chance.

If you're planning, organisng, brainstorming, discussing, debating anything this could be the right tool for the job.

[Georgina Stein]

Have you discovered an innovative and effective way to utilise a specific ICT to meet your educational objectives? Give it up here.

Colleagues may be interested to see how ICT is being used in Subject Teaching the UK.

http://client.cant.ac.uk/research/case-studies/nof/list-all.asp

Lots of the Case Studies have files attached that may also be helpful to you.

Addional resources / files / links etc..can also be obtained free from here.

http://smarteducation.canterbury.ac.uk/classroom-resources/

I hope you find these useful.

Georgina

[Micheal]

O/S X users who haven't upgraded to Mac Office 2004, what are you waiting for? A copy I suppose.
I've been using PowerPoint as a digital art tool for some time on both Windows and more recently Mac/Apple. It also makes a useful tool for developing your web graphics or images for your CV.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some great features eventually appear in the Windoz version of Office.

This awesome feature to me has to be high up on the new features in Windows Office Next. I don't think that it is in Office 2003, let me know if I am wrong.

In Mac Office PowerPoint or Word, you can take an grouped selection of items and save them as a picture. All in two clicks (right click or ctrl+click on the grouped objects and Save as Picture...).

The more powerful shadow effects and transparency all work well.
Here is an example below.

Mac Office 2001 upwards - has great image editing tools as noted previously.
If you have 'em why not use them?

[Micheal]

Over the last few days I had the chance to toy around with a USB Keyboard (the musical kind). Midi controller would probably be the proper term. Music making software like GarageBand, Fruityloops or whatever you are into is eventually going hit frustration point for those who can actually play a keyboard.

Even so, a music hack like myself still managed to have fun producing something probably musical.

Apple Resellers at Advanced Communications in Nelson, sent me a Evolution MK-425C USB Keyboard. It gets power through the USB port.
Windows Users are provided with music making software, which I didn't get to test (also includes software that teaches you how to play). For Apple users, just open up GarageBand in O/S X, plug in the keyboard, choose your software instrument and you are away.

I tested the keyboard briefly on Windows XP, I installed a trial version of Fruity Loops. It worked fine.

I'm developing a mental list of hardware tools that add enormous value to the digital world that appears to revolve around a personal computer.

If I had to rank them.
1. Digital Camera - min 2 -3 mega pixels, with video & sound.
2. Data Projector & Sound system (with sub woofer)
3. Digital Video Camera & Firewire/video capture cards.

Next... well today it is a USB Keyboard, tomorrow I may want to draw and need a Graphics Tablet...

Anyway the Evolution has 25 keys, but can go up or down an octive at the press of a button. It has lots of buttons, that can probably do useful stuff. It also has a jack for a sustain pedal.

The keyboard is compact and portable (I got that line off the box). The keys are velocity sensitive. It has drivers for Win 98/Me & 2000 (XP & Apple's O/S X just works out of the box) and O/S 9. Min Specs are PII with 300Mhz CPU & 128 RAM or a iMac G3 or better. Software included (PC only), Sound Studio II VST.

So you ICT folks out there who are just thinking spreadsheets and Word Docs; maybe it is time to dance to another tune. I'm sure that the Music budget holder will go halves with you.

I'll let you know how much it is worth. Apparently they are selling like hot cakes in the States and are hard to come by.
http://www.sound-music.com/product_info.php?PID=192

The application for a USB Music Keyboard is enormous.
- Composing and creating digital music
- Whole class composition, soundscapes (need sound system + data projector would help) - Mic to record none digital sound... er instruments.
- Creating sound effects and other music for digital videos (Two computers would be useful, one to view video, while creating music on the other).

My partner/wife, helped me figure out Old MacDonald. I added some other canned accompaniment and Elisha, my boy(3) added the vocals.

Previously with Fruity Loops (Trial), Audacity (free) and Windows Sound Recorder, I have had students rework an old nursery rhymes with a dance beat and then with rapped or otherwise sung vocals. We used the roll piano in Fruity Loops to lay down the melody. A real keyboard would have been great, however I like the ability in Fruity Loops and GarageBand to change a note by just moving it.

You don't need a keyboard to use music software. But then we don't need lots of other stuff like waffle makers. Think about it.

Tips:
Get a headphones - use them when recording your voice (to avoid feedback).
A USB Mic for Mac users, otherwise you'll hear the hard drive churning during your Diva performance.
Noise cancelling Mic or a hand held mic for Windows types - some headset come with a mic.
A good sound card is a must if you are super serious about high quality sound.

Remember that it is about the music, not the fame or money.

The photo below is a demonstration of... about as good as my musical talent gets.

[ICT Online Editor]

Hi Michael,

This keyboard sounds live a fantastic tool with great creative potential. I will check out this site - and forward it on to be 'quality assured' by our team at TKI, to then appear in the TKI search engine.

Every few weeks I put together a new theme for the Editors Choice area (http://www.tki.org.nz/e/community/ict/#editor) of the ICT Community News page on TKI, and create a 'kete' of web resources/links to accompany this. I would like to run a theme in the upcoming weeks focussing on ICT & Music resources. Resources such as the evolution keyboard would be greate to link to, along with online examples of musical hardware/software such as this.

I am also interested (and I'm sure many teachers will be) in your list of beneficial hardware tools for schools. It may be interesting to set up a poll in this discussion area in regards to gathering other educators votes for the 'most beneficial' hardware for schools.

Thanks again Michael for your valuable contributions,

Nina

[Micheal]

Hi Ed,
:p I'm pretty swamped at the moment so it has taken me a little while to reply to your post.

I'll explore that list another time, but in the meantime... I'd like to draw folks attention to a lovely little software program called: Finale NotePad 2004
First of all it is free, are you sensing a theme here?
The program is primarily about composing and notation. There is a souped up version that people may grow into and want to pay for.

Basically you choose your notes, plonk them where they sound right, listen to the midi instruments while checking that it isn't a complete rip off of Bach, and then print out your score and hand it over to your orchestra or band.

The focus is notation not creating an MP3.

However if you are not writing music 24/7 then this could be the puppy for you. It comes in flavours Windows as well as O/SX.

http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/index.asp

Well I'll be busy looking for work over the next few weeks as my current contract expires at the end of the term (2). So my of "list of beneficial hardware tools for schools," might have to wait a little while. If anyone is looking for some PD, I just might have some time on my hands early in term three. mike.stoodley@xtra.co.nz ka kite ano

[Aaron Frost]

Hi Micheal,

I used this the other day and it works really well. You can also import the files in to gif Animator which is a free program (for Windows only I think) Which allows you to set speeds of less than 1 second as well as setting a speed for each individual frame

[Micheal]

Hi Micheal,

I used this the other day and it works really well. You can also import the files in to gif Animator which is a free program (for Windows only I think) Which allows you to set speeds of less than 1 second as well as setting a speed for each individual frame

I assume that you are talking about PVAs PowerPoint Video Animation?
Yeah, it is really about picking the right tool for the job.
There are a number of free gif animators (mac versions too).
Gifs work well for web pages (authoring for an audience still using dial up) in that they use only 256 colours and can have a transparent background.
They are ideal for small animations like a flashing arrow etc.

If your animation needs millions of colours, or you need to be able to easily move elements (which Paint was not designed to do, no layers) then stick with PowerPoint and Windows Movie Maker or iMovie.
Particularly with Movie Maker you can reduce the file size massively in the windows media player format.

Movie Maker 2 lets you drop the duration of the still clip to as short as you like (I think from options) as does iMovie (set this up before importing the image files). :cool:
Thanks for the feedback.

[kckiwi]

I mainly use Paint Shop Pro for editing images.
Costs around $700 for a school site licence, from Edcom.

The Gimp is a free package available from
http://www.gimp.org/ or
http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/stable.html

The Gimp takes a bit of getting used to,
but it is a very powerful image editor and there is lots of help available.
Use Google and see what you can find.

[Micheal]

A copy of GIMP 2.0 is on the latest PC World.co.nz magazine CD (August 04/$8.95 from any supermarket or mag shop).
:D
I mainly use Paint Shop Pro for editing images.
Costs around $700 for a school site licence, from Edcom.

The Gimp is a free package available from
http://www.gimp.org/ or
http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/stable.html

The Gimp takes a bit of getting used to,
but it is a very powerful image editor and there is lots of help available.
Use Google and see what you can find.

[ICT Online Editor]

Hi,

Just curious to know whether anyone has tried the 'Gimp' software out - and whether it is suitable to use in the classroom? I will have a go myself.

I just had a query come through asking for recommendations on free animation software for macs - to use with students to create simple animations. I see that Macromedia has free trial versions of flash - and same for MS PowerPoint 2004 for Mac.

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,

Nina

[Micheal]

:confused: Copying and pasting from Word into this thread can cause all kinds of grief... thus the special paste above without the formating.
WordPad to the rescue.
:mad: Grrr

[Micheal]

Mac Office 2004 (and earlier) is part of the Microsoft deal, it includes PowerPoint (although no motion path animation yet). No need to trial it.


Here is an idea that has just come to mind that only relates to animation in Mac Office 2004. Any grouped objects can be saved as a picture (I've mentioned this previously in this thread).

I can't test this at the moment because I'm not using a Mac.

Hopefully when you right-click on the grouped objects you can save them as a GIF (Group objects by selecting them, right-click/Group).

Ungroup the images, make some changes, regroup save as a GIF. Etc, etc...

Then drop them into GifBuilder 1.0 for Classic or O/S X

http://mac.tucows.inspire.net.nz/preview/206447.html

or GifFun for O/S X http://mac.tucows.inspire.net.nz/preview/203960.html


Flash gives you the potential to create much more fluid animations - but with a very steep learning curve. The feeling of achievement is quite pronounced though. I've taught basic Flash animation to 9-10 year olds. Fish swimming around some nasty polluted water (with a naughty people message). It's not easy, but hey... the help files are, well helpful and you should figure out how to do something clever within the trial period.



PVAs - (PowerPoint Video Animations: Win/Mac) as illustrated earlier in this thread I think is an easy way to introduce young and not so young kids to animation. It is much less frustrating than using paint programs that don't layer your images.



The animation tool really comes down to two things.

What you want to achieve and Time.

Set aside a weekend or two to get familiar with Flash before even thinking about using it in class. Keep to small groups, chief trouble shooter!

Other tools, like your average Gif animator... I'd ask the kids to teach you. Problem solving is fun.


Which brings me back to GIMP. I hope to play with it sometime soon to see if it has become more user friendly, however I'm looking forward to testing out Photoshop Elements (recently bundled with some digital cameras and Notebooks (no Brand dropping here). I've used the earlier Mac version and thought that it was about right for those who want to be clever without the big price tag and learning curve.

[ICT Online Editor]

Thanks very much Michael for the helpful tips and feedback. I like the idea of using Office 2004 for Mac - to create and save a group of images as a gif (as you've demonstrated an example of earlier) - repeating each time and saving, then entering into a programme such as gifbuilder or giffun to create an animation. Would be neat to give this a try.

Cheers,

Nina

[Micheal]

ICT Tutorial/Magazine CD
First feature tutorial: PowerPoint Video Animation.

I'm exploring the idea of creating several interactive training CDs.
PVAs would be the main feature of the first CD as it is my baby (see earlier posts on this thread).

I'd like to create a CD that walks the user through the steps of creating a video based animation using PowerPoint and a video editor (such as MS Movie Maker 2 (Free with XP).

PVAs work great with Apple computers most of my recent development of PVAs was done using Mac Office and iMovie.

On the first CD I will also include material for:
- Creating music and sound for your animations.
- Including photo objects
- Using PowerPoint to edit graphs for other mediums
- Other tool drawing tools for video animation
- Useful links

I'm happy to take suggestions on the sort of tutorials, columns, articles and how to... content that people would be interested in.
Target audience (Teachers and students).

If there is enough interest I'll make it happen.
Some feedback on a cost structure: individual user vs school licencing.

Over time I would like to move to a once a term or bimonthly or once a term subscription CD which would include content from various authors, software (free, trial etc), exemplars How to, Examples of software use.

If you would be interested purchasing such a product or even contributing let me know.

Micheal Stoodley
ICT Consultant
micheal@iteach.co.nz

[Micheal]

Hi,
Just curious to know whether anyone has tried the 'Gimp' software out - and whether it is suitable to use in the classroom? I will have a go myself.
NinaI tried to load GIMP onto a MAC running O/S X several months back, but didn't get much joy. Loading GIMP on Windows seemed simple enough.

First of all, GIMP looks pretty
Secondly, it is stacked full of useful features.

I've uploaded an image that is constructed from two photographs. In the original of the people, they were facing the ocean (I've placed that image over a photograph of foot prints in the sand). I've also applied several effects such as the video lines and supernova.

GIMP is growing on me, I used it last night to create an image for my business card. It does have some bugs, it always crashes when I scroll through the fonts.

Remember the golden rule about saving regularly and you won't feel like a fool. There is enough in GIMP to make it worth putting up with any bugs, or at least searching the site for fixes.

More often than not I am happy enough just to use MS Photo Editor (Free with MS Offce (97 - 2003). Generally a quick crop, resize or contrast adjustment is all you need. However GIMP adds a critical feature, the ability to adjust the file size of an image without dropping the physical size.

The next big bonus is the ability to use layers. Not easy to learn, but so worth learning. With layers you can compose complex works with a number of images creating a whole.

I found parts of GIMP easy and intuitive and some not so, opening an image file can be daunting (not very windows like).

GIMP will stay in my tool box for a wee while. Free is a reasonable price.
There is a copy of GIMP 2.0 on the August NZ PC World magazine , otherwise visit www.gimp.org (http://www.gimp.org/)

I'll post some ideas in regards to using GIMP or similar software soonish.
Ka kite

[Micheal]

Some useful stuff posted on the Tech Thread in regards to SP2, the latest update for Windows. SP2 is a major update. Search google with the keyword SP2 for more information.

http://www.tki.org.nz/r/discuss/showthread.php?t=77

[Micheal]

QuickNote is a handy extension for the Firefox browser. I started using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer when I was introduced to Tab browsing a couple of months ago.

Tab browsing and QuickNote are pretty handy tools used together or stand alone.

In a nutshell Tab browsing is the ability to open new pages in tabs within the same window. It works like this: I open www.google.co.nz (http://www.google.co.nz) in a Firefox (or other Tab enabled browser). I type in my search key words: Frogs+movies
As I scan down I right-click on any items that I want to look at later and click Open Link in New Tab. While that page is loading I continue searching and opening pages in a new Tab.

The Tabs line up nicely at the top of my page and I can click through each tab and they all open up within the same window.

As I read through some web pages I will open up links in a new tab for checking out later.

QuickNote is an extension that is not actually built into Firefox, you have to download it. Tools/Extentions/Get more extensions/

Anyway, whenever I want to take simpe notes from web pages, without loading a fully fledged word processor I just "Ctrl+F7" or Click Tools/QuickNote/Sidebar

QuickNotes does not have the ability to spell check or change fonts, text colour etc.

I can save the QuickNote text within Firefox, or even click the Save As... button and then add a ".doc" extension to my file name to save it as a Word Doc.

It might be just as easy to copy and paste into your favourite word processor.

Combining Tab Browsing and a tool like QuickNote makes basic note taking a little more natural in my thinking.

I'm not sure if a similar note taking tool exits for IE (Tab browsing is not there yet, not even in SP2).

Another potentially useful Firefox extension is Mouse Gestures.
You can use mouse movements to control your browser. I haven't tested it yet, but can see how users who lack fine motor control can enjoy surfing using... a right-click and drag the mouse left to move back to the previous page etc.

I haven't really looked at IE extensions.

Anyway...

In the image below you can see QuickNote on the lefthand side and three tabs below the address bar. The theme I'm using is Noia 2.0 (the buttons may look a little different. FireFox can be downloaded free from www.mozilla.org (http://www.mozilla.org)

[Micheal]

I'm a big fan of students problem solving, learning how software works is fun and involves thinking for yourself. Over my next few posts I'll introduce a couple of software programs that you could literally say "... go figure."

I've been looking at a couple of animation programs recently.
Firstly: EasyToon:D - Freeware, so you don't have to pay for it.
What I like about EasyToon is that it provides an onion skin or tracing feature. As you add each new frame you can see what you drew underneath.

In my example, I copied and pasted in all constant features into each new frame.

You can export frames as a bitmap sequence, which means that you could open the individual files in Paint and add colour, then import them into MS Movie Maker, and add sound... etc.

The software is reasonably intuitive so I won't go into any detail.
It runs fine on XP.
http://www.radiumsoftware.com/index.html#products

[Micheal]

Somebody named Ashelin has nice Easytoon example at http://www.bugglefug.com/blog/000041.html

[ICT Online Editor]

Great - these look like fun. Will definitly check them out. I agree - problem-solving is such a powerful experience for students. By setting them a challenge to create something related to a current context of learning can be a great way inspire and motivate them - for example, "can you create an animation that illustrates the process of evaporation?" or "can you explore these animation tools to come up with a solution for ...." etc. They can then explore the tools available for a meaningful purpose to acheive this challenge or solve a problem. Is also important of course to provide them with the opportunity to experiement with the tools and features available first - to help them to familiarise themselves with the program and become confident using it.
:)

[Micheal]

Before using Easytoons with students, consider introducing them to Pivot Stickfigure Animator.

Pivot Stickfigure Animator is about as raw or as basic as computer or even hand drawn animation can get. As the title suggests this is all about stick figures. Stick figure animation has developed a cult like following, mainly in the :eek:Stick Death genre (hey, even the Force had a dark side).

In Pivot Stickfigure Animator each moving part of your figure has a pivot point, simply drag the other end to move it.

Like Easytoons, each time you add a new frame, a grey onionskin of your figure helps you keep track of what the new changes compare with the previous frame.

The simplicity of this is a great little application makes it another go figure (self teaching) tool.



A great challenge would be to get students to make their stickfigure walk. It is not as easy as you might think. A neat web page for some visual data gathering is BML Walker (You will need the Flash plug in), adjust the settings to see how emotions and gender impact the ping pong balls. http://www.biomotionlab.ca/Demos/BMLwalker.html



The software has more complex possibilities if you are willing to move beyond the initial stickfigure and create more complex figures.



Privot Stickfigure Animator is freeware, the download file is less than half a megabyte and can be obtained from: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/stickfigure.html and most other download sites.



The sample I have included took me about 20 minutes to produce. I have seen animal stick figures such as an elephant that actually don’t look too sticky (lines and circles can be thickened, which is how I made the ball).



When saving you can choose to save as a pivot (to edit later), a gif or a bmp (which you could import into a video editor and add sound and title etc).

[Micheal]

Years ago I stumbled across a handy, but often-unnoticed program called Photo Editor (part of MS Office, possibly been dropped from Office 2003 in favour of Photo Manager). Anyway, quickly I learnt about the transparency wand and eventually I was hanging blue sheets up on walls and with a virtual wave of the wand, wallah… we had students racing Hamish Carter at the Olympics and dunking over Michael Jordan (we used MS Paint to pull the images together and to add text). Eventually, as you do… it occurred to me that I would like to do some blue screen video. I learnt that the correct term was Chroma Keying. At the time I was using Apple’s O/S X & 9; finding a free chroma keying plugin for iMovie wasn’t hard. We used stuff from http://www.stupendous-software.com/ for O/S 9 and paid some dosh to use some stuff from http://www.ezedia.com/products/eZedia_plug-ins/
I may have discussed this earlier in this thread.


I have been on the look out for a Windows based video editor that could do chroma keying at a realistic cost, preferably free. Well, I think that I may have finally found the tool: :rolleyes:Zweil-Stein Full Version 3.01 by Thugs at Bay. The software interface looks a little old school, but it can do what I want and so much more.



I haven’t heavily tested it yet; in fact my only chroma keying test prior to this post was plonking a bitmap drawing (done in MS Paint) over an MPEG video that I found on an old CD. I made the background blue and painted on a red squiggle. I stumbled on how to do it right on the second attempt. The results were pleasing. My next step is to test it with video rather than an image. I’m also keen to try pulling a PVA (Powerpoint Video Animation) with real life footage.

The Thugs describe their own product as…” a non-linear, non-destructive video compositing and editing system which offers many advanced features unavailable elsewhere.” If you have outgrown Movie Maker 2, give this a crack.


While not quiet ready to completely endorse Zwei-Stein… I would encourage anybody with an ounce of curiosity to have a play. http://www.thugsatbay.com/software/zweistein/index.html

Once I have spent more time with it I’ll give it a rating. So far I’m pretty stoked.

I'll place a second post on Zweil-Stein when I have spent more time doodling.

Where do you see blue screen technology in use?
Blues Clues, Weather reports, Star Wars all use chroma keying.
Chroma Keying has massive potential in story telling etc etc...
Note: You don’t need a video camera to start video editing. A Quickcam will do the job for a simple news studio set up at a fraction of the cost of a video camera- particularly if you’re developing web based content. Most digital cameras will record video, which can be imported into any video editor. Stills can be imported into video.

Building a blue screen stage need not be expensive; I have found a site where a chap describes how to build a set on the cheap… http://www.jushhome.com/Bluescreen/Bluescreen.html

Also see the link below...

http://dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2035,subcat-MULTIMEDIA.html :D (http://dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2035,subcat-MULTIMEDIA.html)

[Micheal]

Recently Microsoft purchased a program called Expression 3.
:D Bill has made it available free in a preview come beta mode.

See the link below to see some great examples of it in use and a thorough description.

http://www.designer-info.com/Writing/expression_3.htm



To download, go to microsoft’s link below. You will need to have a hotmail or .net login. http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/

:cool: Highly recommended.

[ICT Online Editor]

Thanks Michael,

Expression 3 sounds like a great resource. I like the sound of the realistic brush strokes. The skeletal strokes look impressive in the examples shown - with the ability to control their transparency and width.

I have yet to explore this application - but would be interested to see how user friendly it is for students - in comparison to other packages such as ArtRage?

[Micheal]

Thanks Michael,

Expression 3 sounds like a great resource... I have yet to explore this application - but would be interested to see how user friendly it is for students - in comparison to other packages such as ArtRage? Hi Nina,

Comparing software packages can be like lining up a F1 racing car and a bulldozer at a drag strip. Why would you do it?


Some folks want to find one program that does everything – good luck.
On the other hand, multitasking is a way of acknowledging that a combination of tools may be required to get your objective from an idea to something real or at the very least digital.


Expression and ArtRage don’t have enough features in common to compare.
From an ease of use and intuitiveness factor, Art Rage wins hands down, but then it is more like a one trick pony, so it should be.

:)From a features comparison, ArtRage is not even in the picture. Expression 3 uses layers, is vector based (nice smooth lines, not bumpily), can export images as Flash, PDF as well as save as JPEG, etc… can assist your animation when combining onion skin and Flipbook (using the [ and ] keys when several files are open at once
Edit strokes, bend, straighten, resize etc.
Basically it just does more. Expression can look a little daunting, however the 200-page PDF user guide (including heaps of great examples and illustrations) is really helpful. The user guide is a great resource for teaching and finding ideas.

Be aware that Expression 3 is a 57.2MB download. It cannot be legally copied and redistributed, so you need to download it from Microsoft.

The major plus with either of these packages is that they are free, which means that students can download them and use it at home.

I’ve including an example below (just messing around), note that the left eye is just a copy, paste and mirror flip of the right.

[Cyb_ed]

If you check out this link you will find a helpful overview of a number of different concept mapping programmes http://www.audiencedialogue.org/soft-visu.html

[Micheal]

Have you heard of Photo Story 3?
Microsoft has release a piece of software that is a must for any XP Windows user with a digital camera.
For those looking to add some dynamic-ness to digital art or scanned stuff - Photo Story is worth a look for you too.
Features:
Touch-up – Crop - Rotate - Special effects - Soundtracks, and your own - Voice narration - Titles - Caption

Example: (Windows Media Player 7 or higher required): http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/wmx/photostory/motion.asx


In a nutshell - you are creating a video made out of digital stills.
Movement is generated through zooming and panning.

The last few versions of iMovie have had the ability to easily import any images from iPhoto and add panning or zooming effects. However - Photo Story 3 gives you greater control in that you can:
- Choose the start and finish point of your zoom/pan.

- Select which part of the photo to show.



In my initial playtime I started by just showing my son’s belly button, and then panned and zoomed out to reveal his cheeky smile and sparkly eyes.



From Microsoft’s site Vladimir Rovinsky provides a useful tuition on the idea of creating a story from a single photograph.
Tutorial: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/tips/create.mspx



Ideas for use:

An interesting activity could be to have students:

-Tell a story

-Compose a poem to go with an image

-Visual support for a song

-Explore facial features, hands, interesting objects

-Generate a report… etc just using one image.
The image would be imported into Photo Story a number of times with a variety of zooms and pans used to support the narration, dialogue or music.

-Show a sequence or the steps involved in a task e.g. making a cup of milo.

-Media could be taken from scanned artwork and photos, digital art, images from websites and digital stills.

Note: Set you camera to its highest resolution.


There are still a lot of schools that do not have digital video cameras – Photo story or Importing images into Movie Maker or iMovie has many applications worth visiting.

See a video tour from the lead program manager
At the link below you can find a video of Vladimir Rovinsky (the lead program manager on the Photo Story team) demonstrating Photo Story. http://www.captionkit.com/index.php


The following link breaks the above video down into smaller sections with image-based links to the relevant video clip. http://www.captionkit.com/transcript/1/47327721561216/



If you want to know about the history of Photo Story, useful information and a description of features. http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/photostory3.asp (http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/photostory3.asp)

There is a lot of positive raving on the net about this software. I really do rate it:D!

System requirements: Windows Genuine Advantage validation (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/whyvalidate.aspx).
You’ll need Windows Media player 10 to make photo stories, but the movies can play on version 7 up and Windows XP.


For Windows users this is certainly a valuable addition to your software toolkit.
If your CD burning software has the ability to made VCDs, you could then make some stunning video photo albums through your DVD to the TV.
My DVD player plays WMA files so I’m not too stressed.


Download and more info: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx)

[Micheal]

Keep an eye out for NASA’s World Wind 1.2 on a computer magazine CD (currently on December apc in Austrailia and NZ)... You can download the software from NASA, but keep in mind that it is a 253mb download.
http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/worldwind/

In a nutshell, you start with a 3D rotating globe. Use the mouse or keyboard to rotate the globe and the scrolling wheel on my mouse to zoom in and out.

A broadband connection is need to collect satellite generated data from NASA’s SVS image server or the Globe program visualization server

Using Visible LandSat 7, I’m sure that I could see my old place in Auckland. At the very least, I could see roads and buildings.

The visual data covers everything from Earth at night to cloud cover and soil moisture and dust storms.

World Wind 1.2 could just simply be useful for finding places of study in relation to the rest of the world in a 3d context.

NASA is adding more features over time so I look forward to seeing how I can tie this tool into various learning contexts or basic information gathering.

See samples of screen shots: http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/worldwind/screenshots-gv.html

[Micheal]

Picaso 2 is an iPhoto type image organiser.
Google acquired Picaso some time ago and made it available for free.

Initially I was just stoked with the way Picaso simply scanned my PC and added photographs and other images to itself(without messing up the originals).
Folders containing pictures appear in a left hand column in chronological order under year based sub headings.
I quickly scanned through the contents of each folder via thumbnails in the main window. The search tool allows you to quickly find images based on dates, file or folder name. The software keeps an eye on folders scanned and adds new images as they appear.

I like the timeline feature that allows you to visually search for images based on time, it looks pretty cool too.

More is more
Slideshow and the ability to add captions, notes etc is all there for those inclined.

- Images can be burnt to a CD

- e-mailed

- Printed

- Collaged

- Blogged (with an additional download)

- Instant Messaged (with an additional download)

- Exported

- Backup Picaso data

- Import from scanner, camera etc

- Label for easy finding

- Star rating

Editing images
Basic image editing built in: Red eye, rotate and straighten etc

Tuning: lets you do basic shadow, light fill, highlight and colour temp changes

The Effects are stunning for a basic & free package: basics like black n White and Sepia, plus you get Tint glow, Focal (pick part of the picture to remain coloured) or filtered black and white and so much more.



Editing without editing

Picaso does not actually edit your images, it creates a batch file or script that contains information about how you would like to view the image in Picaso e.g. rotated and with an angelic glow. This is actually a nifty feature, because your original image stays intact (JPEGs are lossy, they deteriorate over multiple editing – always keep an original). Note: A rotating image in Windows XP’s picture view is not a good idea.

While not everything I’d like in an image/photograph organiser. I’m fairly impressed.

I’ve read some poor reviews or comments of previous versions, so I trust that this version has fixed those issues. My system performance has not deteriorated since loading Picaso 2. Fingers crossed, this will save me time trying to find images.

Download and read up the software at: http://www.picasa.com/index.php?tid=Y2NpZD0zNzAx

More on it’s features:

http://www.picasa.com/features/index.php

The image below of a Tiger at Auckland Zoo has had several effects, tuning and basic fixes done to it. Note the black and white focal thingy.

[Micheal]

Picaso 2 is an iPhoto type image organiser. More things I like about Picaso 2

- Export as a web page, basically a web page gallery.
- Save selected images as a screen saver
- Set selected image as desktop image

- Save selected images as a movie (much more limited than Photo Story, but quick and easy).

- Make a poster
- Only a 3mb download

- MP3 Tracks can play along with slideshow. Select MP3s via the Tools/Options/Slideshow Menu and tabs.
I'm not sure if these will play when creating a gift CD.
Music does not get included with movies, but that can be done with Movie Maker.


- Hold down Ctrl and click on images to select the desired images: Batch edit rotate, rename, adjust colour etc (very useful).

Ideas for use
- Would be very helpful for creating a time line of historical events or following the growth of a plant etc.
- Adding captions and then showing as a slideshow.
- Possibly viewed as a PowerPoint replacement for low demand slideshows. It will certainly replace using the XP Picture viewer to run picture slideshow.

[Micheal]

Just a couple of samples from playing around with Picaso.
I've uploaded both these examples before, generated from other software.

The first is the original resized in Picaso (nice file size).
The second image edited in Picaso, multiple effects to create the desired outcome.

Original
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/discuss/attachment.php?attachmentid=18
Increased shadows, color temp and glow effect.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/discuss/attachment.php?attachmentid=19
Original
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/discuss/attachment.php?attachmentid=20
Cropped, shadow, highlights, soft focus, more shadow, b&w focal, graduated tint in blue & again with red just at the top.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/discuss/attachment.php?attachmentid=21
Not a bad little tool, eh?

[Micheal]

Stunning fly over video of NZ from NASA 6MB file
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/images/movies/srtmnewzealand.mov

To download and save (rather than just play in your browser) rightclick on the link and save link.

Got 3D Glasses?
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/newzealand_radar_images.htm

[ICT Online Editor]

What a fantastic link. A detailed description about New Zealands topography (http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/newzealand.htm), to accompany this movie, is also availabe on this NASA site.

Would be a valuable resource to support geography and/or technology related learning experiences.

Thanks Micheal for this.

[Micheal]

What a fantastic link... Would be a valuable resource to support geography and/or technology related learning experiences... One of the great things about stuff from the NASA site is that unless otherwise stated, it is largely copyright free (although not for commercial use). see http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEpubs/copyright.html

With this in mind the Fly over video could be a great element for your own learning objects or piece, presentation... whatever.

Example, you are studying a specific geographic location... edit the video in imovie or MS Movie Maker etc... to show just the bit you want. Use chroma keying software to add elements. Add arrows labels... whatever.
Just a thought.

The fly over is from a 2000 Space shuttle mission, it has taken until recently for it to get rendered. I'd say that makes it pretty special and valuable. At 6mb just download it once and stick it somewhere in a digital archive of learning elements.

[Micheal]

Voice mail
Give your little ones or even not small kiddies the opportunity to express ideas or make statements beyond their written ability... http://www.handybits.com/voicemail.htm .
:confused: Oops was that a Trogan :p that I just installed? :eek:
Today I decided to test Microsoft’s new Spyware software (Beta – so probably shouldn’t installed on your office computer yet).

As a test I ran Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy scans (with the latest updates).

I wanted to see if Microsoft’s tool could catch things that the others missed.

Before I got to testing Microsoft’s spyware I notice that Spybot Search and Destroy came up with more than just the usual DSO Exploits. There was something Called the Teknum Updater. I didn’t recognise it so I Goggled Teknum with the word spyware. Imagine my surprise when I found that the updater belonged to Handybits voice mail – software that I had recommended on this thread back in mid 2004.

It appears that Spybot Search and Destroy is reporting a false positive. Removing the Teknum updater with your spyware or trogan remover will stop Handybits voice mail from working. For more information see below

According to Handybits::D “The HandyBits Update Service is a set of programs that helps you to keep your HandyBits products up to date.” For more information read : http://www.handybits.com/update_service.asp



More information not from Handybits

http://www.winguides.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=brdVirus&Number=48877&page=12&view=collapsed&sb=5&part=

Handybits voice mail is a great little tool, so I am glad that it isn’t nasty.
So a lesson to us all, if it is free or even on a CD.... scan with your anti virus.
Even better Google it with the keywords virus, spyware, adware, trogan, mean, unkind etc... before installing.

[Micheal]

:confused: Oops was that a Trogan :p that I just installed? :eek:
Today I decided to test Microsoft’s new Spyware software (Beta – so probably shouldn’t installed on your office computer yet)...

For anybody who was curious, Microsoft's AntiSpyware found two registry issues containing adware... not picked up by other tools.

There is a review of the software at pcworld.com
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,119300,00.asp

[Micheal]

I'm impressed with this new search engine (still in beta form).

"It uses our award-winning Clustering Engine to organize search results into folders grouping similar items together. "
" Vivísimo's Clustering Engine lets you see deeper and farther--with less effort--into a large number of search results to:" http://clusty.com/about

Try it and see what you think...
http://clusty.com/
See an example of me searching my own name below.
The Offensive content filter needs some work (see advanced).

[Micheal]

The Offensive content filter needs some work (see advanced).
What I mean here is that...
clusty.com is very much in its Beta stage of development so I would hope to see the content filter get towards something similar to the major search engines, which still could much be better.


It appears that you need to do an advanced search in clusty to filter content.

By default the major search engines are set to moderate content filtering. This can be easily changed under preferences and using cookies.

Clusty does not appear to offer filtering unless you do an advanced filter.
which appears to be session based. The filter does not stick.

Should schools rely search engines to filter content? Not yet.

[Micheal]

Try it and see what you think... http://clusty.com/ (http://clusty.com/) A few days ago I mention Clusty, a search engine largely untested (by me), but with a feature that I really liked… clustering related content.

Clusty is a Meta Search engine created by a company named Vivisimo.

UC Berkerly Library states the following… “Fewer and few meta-searchers allow you to delve into the largest, most useful search engine databases. They tend to return results from smaller and/or free search engines and miscellaneous free directories, often small and highly commercial.” http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/MetaSearch.html

Clusty queries results from Looksmart, Lycos, MSN, Open Directory, Overture, Gigablast, and Wisenut.


Similar tools
www.metacrawler.com (http://www.metacrawler.com/) has a neat function, in that it maintains an easily accessible cluster list of recent searches (which you can hide or clear). www.dogpile.com (http://www.dogpile.com/) has something similar.

I noted that with a number of the Meta Search engines that I used, the clusters had virtually the same headings.

I think an interesting thing that people need to be aware of is that Search engines are big business. Search results that force their way to the top may do so because of a premium that was paid to get them there.

Some Cautionary Notes on Vivisimo or Clusty
“I like Vivisimo's clustering technology a lot. But it's important for serious searchers to understand that even great technology will produce poor results if the underlying databases aren't good. In Vivisimo's case, paid content in, (clustered) paid content out.” http://www.workingfaster.com/sitelines/archives/2004_07.html#000222

Some solid search advice
“The unfortunate truth is that, with a few exceptions, most well-known search tools don't do a very good job of bringing quality information to searchers' eyeballs.”

“A simple rule for using search engines is to limit your use of search engines to things you know are on the web already.”

"A second simple rule is to use subject directories for resource discovery and for finding "invisible web" sources. Yahoo! is probably the best known subject directory, but there are other excellent subject directories, such as Librarians Index to the Internet (http://www.lii.org/) or the underused, underrated Toronto Public Library Virtual Reference Library (http://vrl.tpl.toronto.on.ca/). As is the case with all tools that aren't search engines, subject directories are best searched with a browsing approach.” http://www.workingfaster.com/trainingreport.html (http://www.workingfaster.com/trainingreport.html)



Clusty might not replace Google as my first port of call for the moment. Probably clustering, organising and notation tools within the browser environment would be more helpful as users move between various online search and directory tools. Firefox did have a basic note taker add-on (has not reappeared for version 1.0). Has anyone seen a browser add-in or plug-in that let’s you take notes, add links, maybe even record audio?


More related links:
http://lii.org/

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/MetaSearch.html


http://www.infopeople.org/search/chart.html

The original page that got me thinking:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SearchEngines.html


I would not buy into using a search engine exclusively.
Despite Google having one of the largest databases of over 8 billion 25% is not completely indexed. A great deal of information is ‘invisible’ to search engines… even so…

Did you know that Google has a basic calculator built in? http://www.google.co.nz/help/features.html#calculator

Have you tried out Google Scholar Beta?
http://scholar.google.com/schhp?sourceid=sch&subid=us-et-about (http://scholar.google.com/schhp?sourceid=sch&subid=us-et-about)

Hope you find what you are looking for. :)

[Micheal]

Has anyone seen a browser add-in or plug-in that let’s you take notes, add links, maybe even record audio?
To answer my own curious wondering I've taken a look at Three tools recently: Web Note, WebNote and OneNote. Three different tools, useful for similar and dissimillar reasons.

Web Note and WebNote… are not the same Part 1

Web Note :D
Web Note is a tool for taking notes in your Internet Browser. It allows you to quickly type in text while surfing or just allows the making of notes.
It has been tested with Firefox, Internet Explorer 6.x and Safari.

Simply create a workspace and create notes in the workspace.
You can also share your notes with others by providing the workspace name (or url) to a friend.

When I ask author Tony Chang if Web Note could be run on a school’s Intranet he said… “Yes, it's possible. You can download the source and run it on locally. See INSTALL.txt for a list of requirements (python, mysql, apache). http://www.aypwip.org/cvs/index.pl/webnote/ ”

Read the FAQs for more info.
http://www.aypwip.org/webnote/

I like the TODO list for this tool http://www.aypwip.org/webnote/TODO
I see it having a bright future.

My basic example
http://www.aypwip.org/webnote/micheal

Version 2 – slight visual change.
http://www.hermanitosverdes.com/webnote2/


Images and links can be created in Webnote
…however you will either need to learn some code, or just copy and paste (like I do) and then edit intelligently.

For example:
To load an image (in this case hosted at TKI).
Code...
<img src="http://www.tki.org.nz/r/discuss/attachment.php?attachmentid=14&stc=1" alt="animation"/>
Just edit the red (location of image) and green text (description of the image or animation).

Web Note can be hosted on an Internet site or Intranet. Some knowledge of setting up a mysql or similar database may be needed.

In terms of note taking from a web page, it has some weaknesses and strengths.
a) You can use any computer to edit or read your notes.
b)Images and text can be added, but not easily for the less computer literate (this may change with updates).
c)Features are limited, but again check the TODO list.
d)Would either need to use a tabbed browser or browser windows side by side.
e)Lacks rich text editing (but we are just talking notes here).
f)Lack of password may or may not be an issue.
g) Setting up will require some expertise.


Over the next few days I will add some thoughts on the other tools described above.

[Micheal]

Has anyone seen a browser add-in or plug-in that let’s you take notes, add links, maybe even record audio?
Web Note and WebNote… are not the same Part 2 :D

WebNote is a little different to Web Note in that you need to download the software.

The System requirements are IE 5.5 or higher. The stand-alone application is free (a network version is available).

This program is also designed to actually annotate over a web page. Basically you browse web pages in WebNote and then click an Annotate button when you want to make notes etc. At anytime you can save what you have done, go back to surfing (or Navigate) and then come back your notes at a later time.



The software lets you
- freehand draw (16 colours, movable)
- highlight text
- record audio (maintains a stream of audio that can be added to or overwritten)
- add arrows (16 colours, movable)
- text boxes. (16 colours, movable)

It maintains a history of the web pages that you have annotated.

WebNotes can be saved and e-mailed to other WebNote users (potential collaboration).

Limitations

There seems to be a lack an undo shortcut (you have to select items and then click the trash can).
Files cannot be exported to any other format – you will need to copy and paste text.

Users can toggle between annotate and navigate and also have multiple web pages open. http://www.programfactory.com/Tools/Tools_Webnote.asp# (http://www.programfactory.com/Tools/Tools_Webnote.asp)

More detailed info http://www.programfactory.com/Help/webnote/help.htm

Tucows download: http://www.tucows.com/preview/229324.html

I think that this could be useful for whole class lessons as well as elements of individual research where you want to be annotating web pages.

I guess at a later time you could open WebNote and your word processor or presentation software side by side (this is where having a Notebook and a second monitor would come in handy – WebNote opened on one screen and say MS Word on the other).

You can send WebNote files to others (the Send Annotation button opens your e-mail software, attaches the .wnt file and includes instructions on how to open the file and where to find the software).

It’s not the Holy Grail of web note taking, but I’d say it is pretty useful for a freebie.

[Micheal]

To answer my own curious wondering I've taken a look at Three tools recently: Web Note, WebNote and OneNote. Three different tools, useful for similar and dissimillar reasons.
OneNote by Microsoft(Not like Web Note, but has stuff in common with WebNote) Part 3 :cool:
There are a lot of reviews and comments that can be googled about OneNote.

I won’t go about repeating too much of what already exists.
In regards to taking Notes or doing research on the Internet… this tool has a lot of potential.

First of all I downloaded a 60-day trial from Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/office/onenote/prodinfo/trial.mspx) (very generous Bill) & installed it.

A little icon sits in the system tray. Double click the icon and you get a Side Note (right click and you get other options). The cool thing about Side Note is that you can pin it so that it stays on top - it is a great way to take notes from a range of sources without having to bring your notes software to the front every time you do something in your browser.

General features are available in Side Note: record audio or video and take screen captures of images etc as well as copy and paste text.
Simply maximise the window to move from Side Note to the full program.

It may seem strange to go on about a small feature such as Side Note… but being able to pin it on top, to me deserves some cheerleading.

If you want to annotate a web page directly, OneNote can add a plug-in to Internet Explorer. Click the OneNote button in IE and then the page is opened in OneNote.
You can highlight, add text boxes, draw and add audio or video etc etc.

NZ Schools have access to OneNote for the cost of the media (CD, around $50 last time I checked) and about $10 per licence. Staff members with new Toshiba Notebooks have OneNote bundled with it.

I think OneNote could be useful and not just for individuals:
- Class research via a data projector (I’d love to see a wireless microphone for computers. Being able to record student comments wirelessly would be helpful.
- Sharing content or even collaborating using an OneNote Shared session.

The problem with road testing a piece of software is that it is hard to be authentic unless you are testing it meaningfully. Having said that... there is a lot to like about OneNote, it is much more useful than either tool previously mentioned for different reasons.

Without subsidised access to OneNote I might use Webnote, it is free and OneNote is not cheap. I'd possibly use Webnote with a Data Projector just to annotate or use it on older computers. I’d still have some degree of OneNote envy though.

I’ll certainly keeping an eye on this tools development as it is only version 1.

The Microsoft article below is a useful as are several reviews that I’ve included below.

Gathering research from the Web with side notes
Ben M. Schorr, Microsoft Office OneNote MVP
“Side notes are great for gathering information from the Web. A side note is a miniature OneNote window that stays open on top of other windows on your screen, so you can easily copy and paste, drag information, or capture a screen clipping into your notebook and organize it into the proper sections and pages later.” http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010982791033.aspx

Reviews
A review from CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com/Microsoft_Office_OneNote_2003/4505-3513_7-30541140.html?subj=Microsoft+Office+OneNote+2003&part=rss) recommends EverNote (http://www.evernote.com/en/) as a free alternative. However EverNote is only free because it is BETA software (still being tested and having bugs ironed out). Even so the five-page review at CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com/Microsoft_Office_OneNote_2003/4505-3513_7-30541140.html?subj=Microsoft+Office+OneNote+2003&part=rss) is worth a read. Also have a look at the review from about.com (http://wordprocessing.about.com/od/choosingsoftware/a/onenoterev.htm) .

Collaboration
I’m particularly interested in Chris Pratley’s blog or Weblog (http://weblogs.asp.net/chris_pratley/archive/2005/02/22/378667.aspx) on OneNote shared sessions.
”A shared session is a peer-to-peer shared note-taking experience. "peer-to-peer" means you don't need some fancy server or web site. You just have to have a network where your machine can connect to other machines running OneNote. “

First look: Microsoft OneNote 2003
By Chuck Frey http://www.innovationtools.com/Tools/SoftwareDetails.asp?a=100


Top 10 Benefits of OneNote 2003
http://www.softwarespectrum.co.uk/Onenote/ten_reasons.asp


http://www.itweek.co.uk/analysis/1138445 “OneNote is essentially an electronic version of a paper notebook. It does away with files, replacing them with customisable tabbed pages, which are linked to content in HTML format. It allows free-form entry anywhere on the page.” Rod Newing (http://www.itweek.co.uk/analysis/1138445)

University of Toronto - Microsoft OneNote 2003 is helping today’s medical students become tomorrow’s doctors
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/casestudies/universityoftoronto.mspx

Download trial of OneNote http://www.microsoft.com/office/onenote/prodinfo/trial.mspx

[Micheal]

:cool: A combination of Chess and Art is how I would describe the Thinking Machine 4.
http://turbulence.org/spotlight/thinking/chess.html
"The goal of the piece is not to make an expert chess playing program but to lay bare the complex thinking that underlies all strategic thought."

I'm imaging a more visual learning space in our educational futures.
Requires Java.

[Micheal]

Has anyone used IHMC CmapTools?
http://cmap.ihmc.us/
I'm downloading a copy to play with (just over 28MBs).

I'm particularly interested in knowing if anybody has used the server software.

"The CmapServer enables users anywhere on the Internet to collaborate during the construction of their Cmaps, share the knowledge models they build, and browse, critique and comment on others’ Cmaps." http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/dl_CmapServer.php

It is great to see that it works across multiple O/S platforms.

[Micheal]

Has anyone used IHMC CmapTools?
http://cmap.ihmc.us/ ...
While reading the user agreement (because we all do this, right?). I wasn't too sure that I wanted to install Cmap Tools. Too much talk about Beta and later commercial releases and stuff that may or may not mean anything.

Anyway I decide to give it a whirl after scanning the downloaded file with my update virus scanner, as you do. Then installed.

Ok after a 5 minute play... I must say that I am impressed.
You can link to a huge range of docs and media types.
- Spell checker
- Format Concept boxes and connecting lines
- Wide range of exporting options web, image... etc.
Elements are easier to use than Freemind, not as dynamic as Insiprations rapid fire... if you are in a hurry to get ideas down fast.

The collaboration feature could be the killer app.

I don't like that javaw is trying to connect to the internet (my firewall is blocking this), it may be trying to see if there is an available update... but I cannot know that for sure.

[Micheal]

I've just been checking through Google Labs to see what is next on the horizon with the folks who are trying not to be evil.
http://labs.google.com/

"Google labs showcases a few of our favourite ideas that aren't quite ready for prime time," Goggle.

I quite like Google Suggest. O.k. I've only had a peek, but I like what it tries to do. As you type in your keywords it adds suggestions on the fly.
Google Suggest also shows how many pages are available for each shown combination of key words. This could be a good way to narrow your search prior to committing to the search button.

Give it a whirl: http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en

I'm still using Cmap Tools and feeling pretty positive about it.
There will be times when Inspiration or Freemind are better options for the job at hand. Pick the tool for the job rather than product loyalty.

[Micheal]

See Cmap in action.
Just a cropped sample from a project that I am working on.

[ICT Online Editor]

Thanks for the Cmap example. This is one of the types of mind-mapping/thinking skills software that we have featured on theSoftware for Learning (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/software/index_e.php) area of TKI. Freemind and of course Inspiration and Kidspiration are also included. Great potential across all learning areas. For ideas on how these can be used to support teaching and learning see the Learning Example and Teacher Support Material sections on the Inspiration (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/software/inspiration_e.php) and Kidspiration (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/software/kidspiration_e.php) product information pages in Software for Learning (these can be adapted for freeware thinking skills products such as Cmap and Freemind).
Thanks,
Nina

[Micheal]

Thanks for the Cmap example. ..
Nina I must confess that I spotted Cmap while doing a quick scan of the Software for Learning (http://../ict/software/index_e.php) area of TKI. Just for Cmaps my time was well spent.


While Googling for other user's experiences I found:
An interesting sample
http://homepage.mac.com/nordeng/Papers/swel04.html
Margaret Meijers provides a fairly solid review of Cmaps at
http://www.tasite.tas.edu.au/reviews/ccmapping.htm

Information on Collaborating with Cmaps Server.
http://www.newtown.tased.edu.au/computingweb/cmap/collaborating.htm
(http://www.newtown.tased.edu.au/computingweb/cmap/collaborating.htm)
;)

[Micheal]

I recently received an e-mail from Radim in the Czech Republic, who had been reading my post on Expression 3 (currently available as a free preview from Microsoft). As an Expression 1 user Radim was stoked about the idea of getting access to version 3 without any impact on the bank balance. Unfortunately, it appears that somebody at Microsoft has moved the download files and has not updated the download links. After exchanging a few e-mails, Radim has found download links that work.
They can be found at:

- Expression (Win)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/5/d/a5d625a5-2e3d-4e9c-8608-6de48d7b569f/CreatureHouseExpression3_3.exe (http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/5/d/a5d625a5-2e3d-4e9c-8608-6de48d7b569f/CreatureHouseExpression3_3.exe)

- or for Mac version:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/13211

Expression 3 is an exceptional artistic tool. I seriously recommend this tool as a must have for anybody serious about using their computer for more than a multimedia typewriter. It is a tool that has an enjoyable visual learning curve – what you see is what you’ve done. The ease of the learning curve depends on your ambition and previous experience. Even on a slow incline you can have a lot of fun and generate great results.

Cool sample
http://www.3dvf.com/DATA/PUBLISH/817/images/piaf.jpg

See previous posts for more details.
Home Page: http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/

[Gavin]

As im not long in New Zealand from the UK I don't really know which maunfacturers do what.

Do you know who the largest distributer of interactive whiteboards would be in new zealand? These are all the rage back in the UK, how popular are they here?

[ICT Online Editor]

Hi Gavin,
You may be interested to read about one of the Digital Opportunities (DigiOps) projects in NZ which is exploring the educational benefits of interactive whiteboards. (DigiOps is a joint partnership between schools, organisations involved in ICT, and the Ministry of Education). The ACTIVate (http://www.digiops.org.nz/projects/currentprojects/activate/) DigiOps project involves five Auckland and 10 Southland schools and colleges piloting the use of Interactive Whiteboard Technology (IWT) to aid and enhance cooperative, distance, and inquiry learning.

The Kopu project (http://www.digiops.org.nz/projects/currentprojects/kopu/) is another DigiOps project which will also be using this technology.

These may help to give you an insight into the use of Interactive whiteboards in NZ.

[Micheal]

As im not long in New Zealand from the UK I don't really know which maunfacturers do what.

Do you know who the largest distributer of interactive whiteboards would be in new zealand? These are all the rage back in the UK, how popular are they here?
Hi Gavin,
Project ACTIVate
http://masseynews.massey.ac.nz/2005/Massey_News/issue-02/stories/01-02-05.html

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0502/S00268.htm

http://www.opoutere.school.nz/

:cool: Providers (in no particular order).

http://www.envision.co.nz/whiteboards/

http://www.canon.co.nz/products/multimedia/multimedia_projectors/smart_whiteboard_frontpro.html

http://www.canon.co.nz/products/multimedia/multimedia_projectors/smart_whiteboard_rearpro_inwall.html

http://panasonic.co.nz/whiteboards.html

http://www.itas.co.nz/Products/Hardware/PDF/Electronic%20Whiteboards%20make%20a%20difference.pdf
http://www.itas.co.nz/rmeasiteach.htm

http://www.itas.co.nz/rmeasiteachtb.htm

http://www.heurisko.co.nz/iwb/

[Micheal]

;) Every now and then I step back and think...
"What keyboard shortcut can I learn today?"
I am surprised at how many don't know basic copy, paste and save shortcuts. Trust me, learn just a few shortcuts and watch your productivity soar.

Basically - hands on the keyboard will always be faster than the mouse.
Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + P = Print
Ctrl + S = Save

Apple users, just replace Ctrl with the Apple or command key.
These are the first four shortcuts you should start using.
Overtime just start adding useful ones as you learn them.

As you use your mouse on various menus you'll notice more shortcuts such as: Ctrl + N = New and Crtl + W = Close, Crtl + Q = Quit.

Some worthwhile printable shortcut lists at Microsoft might save you some time in Internet Explorer, Word and Excel. Scroll down to find them.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/compshortcuts.mspx

I hope that the new term has started well.

[Gavin]

Check out their website and tell me what you think. www.qwizdom.co.uk

they use handheld remotes that allow students to respond to a variety of question formats during lessons or tests.

teachers can create their own materials easily and the software logs results automatically so you can print off or email reports for each class or pupil.

they also seem to provide curriclum packages with pre made lessons and tests.

Apparently these systems are the next big thing in the UK
education market where interactive whiteboards have been on the go for a while

[Micheal]

Check out their website and tell me what you think. www.qwizdom.co.uk

they use handheld remotes that allow students to respond to a variety of question formats during lessons or tests...

Ok, just day dreaming here... I would love to see something like the interactive remotes on a handheld Playstation type device ( http://www.us.playstation.com/consoles.aspx?id=4 ) - using rich media content, perhaps from Our Digital Storehouse http://www.tki.org.nz/r/digistore/

A handheld web browser... hmmm, but with the interactive elements of Qwizdom. PDAs are getting cheaper and maybe this is what I am thinking of, maybe a cut down PDA with wireless or Bluetooth.

Money is the real issue, it can take a long time for a school to recover from mistakes in big ticket ICT spending.
All that PE gear, books, art equipment etc... missed out on as a tool gathers dust, because it did not fit the culture, teaching styles etc... or was just simply not practical as a teaching. Enthusiastic sales persons generally have very little experience actually using the latest and greatest tool in a learning environment.

I'd like to see Qwizdom(and the likes of it) in action. I'll take a closer look, when I get some time. I've just started a new ICT position in a school - so as you can imagine one must find ones feet before one attempts to run..

[Micheal]

Does any body know if there is any such thing as a USB adaptor that allows a standard computer mic or mic and headset to work with an iBook or eMac.

iBooks don't come with an audio in jack and the mics and headsets that work fine on a PC won't work on an eMac. Which is a pain because mic headsets can be purchased for like under $20.

Cheers

[Chalky]

This idea came from NAVCON 2K4. So I wont take the credit but this is a good idea for someone to start with. This was done with a NE class.

The big idea was to use the medium of movies to integrate language skills and communication through drama.

I set the scene. I asked the class if they remember their first day at school. They all had something to say about that. I asked if they thought a movie introducing how things are done in Room 1 would help new children. They all agreed that this would be a good idea.

Then I dropped the bomb shell about them making a movie and that they would be doing all the work.

We discussed roles within movie making. I broke the task into two days.

DAY ONE
Writing - I explaiined that a script needs to be witten so that we know what order things are going to be filmed in. With children this young it is a good idea to keep thing linear as this helps them sequence correctly. My role is as a guide for the group discussion and I wrote down all the things the children shared.

We then checked that we had the order right.

Next I explained the role of an actor and a director. The whole class had jobs.

Scene One 5 kids are coming to school with their bags. The directors (whole class) discussed how we walk and do we talk and have fun.

Scene Two Another group show how we take off our Bags and Hats and hang them on hooks. Again lots of talking about how the shot was to be done and what was expected from the actors.

Scene Three. etc. through to a final scene of everyone getting onto the mat when the bell rings.

We kept filming until we had all the rushes (raw footage) done. The children then watched the rushes and commented on what they liked and what we could change to look better.

Everyone had a turn at acting and everyone had input into direction.

Next installment will go on about Narration and sound effects, yes, sound effects. After all, all good movies have sound effects.

Cheers for now

[Gavin]

Could you tell me who the main ICT contacts or bodies would be in NZ, for a company looking to introduce an I.T product that is new to schools in New Zealand,

We're are looking to spread the word at present,
I'm talking about:-
govt bodies,
computer in schools groups.
teacher organisations

I believe what we're bringing could be of real benefit to schools here
thanks for your help

[ICT Online Editor]

Thanks for sharing this - it sounds like it would of been a great experience to not only encourage communication and visual arts/language skills but also to promote collaborative and cooperative work. I like the way the student had the opportunity to explore the different roles involved in producing a movie. We look forward to hearing more.

There are also several experiences in the ICT Learning Experience collection where movie technology is used to promote language and communication skills. I've highlighted a few of these below:
Dramatising Greedy Cat with iMovie (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/greedy_cat_e.php )
Enhancing English with iMovie (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/eng_imovie_e.php )
Fat Cat: An Animated Movie (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/fat_cat_e.php )
Using Video to Present Stories (http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/lunchboxes_e.php )

[Micheal]

This might be a little left field... but I'm looking at an e-mail server upgrade for the school I'm working at.

I'm just interested in knowing if anybody is using a particular mail server that adds value in an education setting... does things beyond just delivering mail that is useful to staff/students.

Exchange is not much use as I'm at an Apple school... however Linux or even O/S X's mail... let me know.

While I'm at that is anybody doing anything else from the Server side of things that is worth a mention? I hope to take a look at server based mind mapping tools - that allow collaboration.

Anyway...

:)

[Micheal]

Some time ago I talked about Expression 3, a great graphics program for creating vector illustrations for print and multimedia.
Microsoft brought Expression from Creative House in 2003 and made it freely available. One had to wonder why, but it was not like I was going to complain... free is free.

Anyway, Microsoft has released a Beta version of the update of Expression with the code name
Acrylic
" "Acrylic" is the codename for an innovative illustration, painting and graphics tool that provides exciting creative capabilities for designers working in print, web, video, and interactive media."

http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/default.aspx

The Beta test will work till October 2005. Apparently Acrylic will let you mix vector and pixel elements. Very cool.
:)
Expression 3 (get it while you can)
http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/previous/expression3_home.aspx
Vector art gallery
http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/previous/expression3_gallery.aspx
Tour
http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/previous/expression3_tour.aspx

[Micheal]

Early 2006 should see Apple computers running on Intel CPUs.
For a fairly balanced view of what this means... see - http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20050609.html

Will the classic o/s disappear in 2006?

[kcorbin]

Hi Micheal
I have read through your suggestions about using powerpoint and moviemaker and will be passing them on to my next group of teachers to try. thanks
We looked at a number of different mind mapping software packages last term. The one that got the biggest tick was Mind Manager which is also the most expensive, not an option for schools, too expensive, I think. They do have a fully operational free 30 day copy. Their website is www.mindjet.com None of the software I've looked at could be networked as it is too 'resource hungry' so the techies tell me. We use Smart Ideas mind mapping software at my school as we have some interactive whiteboards.
Karen

[Micheal]

Hi Micheal
I have read through your suggestions about using powerpoint and moviemaker... We looked at a number of different mind mapping software packages last term... We use Smart Ideas mind mapping software at my school as we have some interactive whiteboards.
Karen

Hi Karen,
Have you looked at IHMC’s CmapTools (Concept Mapping)? - http://cmap.ihmc.us/
I've spent some time reading through some of the documentation for CMAPS. I've played with CMAPS as a stand-alone app, but am yet to try using it in a collaborative sense (the real strength of the software). I printed out about 80 pages of white papers and tech info for perusing over the holidays.

I like the fact that they claim to have aimed for a low threshold and high ceiling… in other words – easy to learn, but O so much that can be achieved.

I’m pretty excited about the potential of the software and client-server side. There appears to be a number of public servers available so students, teachers and scientists can work both at school and from home. Before committing I am looking at how easily the software can be networked within a school environment as well as security and any network load issues and a fair bit of road testing.

There will be obvious bandwidth savings if we run our own local server… however Cmaps is also very much about worldwide collaboration and expert support.
Science may get a huge boost through IHMC developing what I think they call expert skeletal concept outlines or something. Apparently us teachers have a lot of misconceptions that are not conducive to teaching good science. Math may be next on their hit list.

Could you share a little bit about your interactive whiteboards? Pros/Cons. I haven’t really seen them being used in a school environment (maybe I’ve been living under a rock).

Let me know how playing around with PVAs (PowerPoint Video Animation) goes or doesn’t.
It really has to be the easiest way to create a multimedia animation.
I’d love to see some examples.

Cheers

[kcorbin]

Hi Micheal
The ICT cluster I am a facilitator for is in Invercargill. The Invercargill Licensing Trust provided 18 IWB (Activ brand) to schools a couple of years ago. I am involved in applying for more boards - 110 of them- for the Invercargill schools. Before I became a facilitator I used a Smart Board for 3 terms and now have a portable one. The cost is at least $3,200 for the board, then there is a dataprojector, speakers, a video player and many more add ons.
The greatest advantage is the ability to make your lessons more visual, lots of colours, lots of images, flash animations, immediate access to websites. All those things you could do with a dataprojector. The whiteboard software gives you one place to put everything that you use in a lesson and allows you to work at the board using it like a computer touch screen, moving text and objects around, converting handwriting to text.
the Smart webs