Using Video for RARPA

This short video clip of a very flushed me (well I had just cycled 4 miles!) shows how video could be used to record learners' own goals for a course, encourage them to think about how they might achieve those goals, and how they will know when they have been achieved.

Next big thing?

I'm not sure how we'd cope with the permissions etc but I wonder if this might add a little something to our classes?

In the Times yesterday:

"...websites such as YouTube and Flickr already allow you to upload videos from computers but now mobile phones and a new breed of video camera (such as the Flip Mino) are upping the ante - allowing gig-goers or flaneurs to upload direct to the web without a computer"

(I had to look flaneur up in case it was something rude!)

I think we could extend the group to include learners and tutors, don't you?

Oh my, we'll all be media stars before we know it!

Getting the information across

I've been looking at a couple of websites about effective use of Powerpoint and came across this impressive presentation which I sat and watched, beginning to end. Not only is it visually interesting, the guy has a relaxed approach which held my attention in a way that these things seldom do.




Having discovered the TED website I came across this.




What do you reckon?

And finally.....

A more representative picture of the show. Filmed using the Flip in better light conditions than the previous one.

Mimio Pro demonstration

I promised the video of the demo we watched by the Mimio specialist. It's not so good, I'm afraid, but hey, Art doesn't have to be purFeKt, does it?



But I'm not sure it's even good enough to be Art!

Worth all the bother (?)

Sometimes, the prepping and planning for a teaching session seems more bother than it's worth, don't you think? My work today involved just the odd bit of paraphernalia - just five bags, two boxes, a sewing machine and a laptop. I'll admit, at times I felt that was five bags and two boxes too many.

I decided to use laptop, projector, docucam, speakers...needed extension lead and screen too. Samples and sewing machine, paperwork and other kit filled the boot of the car completely. Setting it up took a while - of course, you knew the room would be upstairs, didn't you? - and the wire spaghetti around my end of the table was such a trip hazard I banned everyone from that side of the room.

Was it worth it?

You bet!

The expressions on the faces of the participants in my workshop were priceless, for this is a group not noted for making best use of technology. However, they embraced the whole shebang with enthusiasm and the evaluation comments made particular reference to "that great camera for showing details" and one said how she "loved all the computer stuff".

What did I do? I was teaching craft judges who normally work in village shows and used the comments of the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel as examples. We had recorded a short clip from the programme and included it in the powerpoint presentation I used during the day, complete with (loud) music, thanks to the speakers (which are excellent). The whole thing was contained on a memory stick and I had nothing to do but click the mouse button to get it all running smoothly. Worked a treat! Later, I used the docucam when we were discussing the finer points of the "competition entries" and found it so much easier than passing the things around.

Even more interesting was the discussion which followed, about the potential of using laptops and other kit. This group are ready, willing and able to take this further and I fear will be disappointed if I don't come up with something equally surprising next time. Ideas on a postcard, please!!

On a different scale

I got a taste of my own medicine yesterday when I did some work with a proper film crew for a new online learning channel. I found it totally intimidating, was a nervous wreck (both before and afterwards!) and was exhausted by the whole affair.

I'd imagined working with one man and a digital video camera but not a bit of it - a full film crew of five, together with all the equipment that goes with it. Even a camera on a track!! It put our small scale work into perspective as I experienced the time and patience which goes into producing the shortest of films. I was there six hours for six three-minute slots, working more or less all the time, with no break. But you know, I think our short films taken with our Sony are just as effective, equally fascinating and rather more approachable for not being anywhere near "perfect".

Not that mine will be anything near perfect either, believe me - unless they can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!

You can read the full story here.

Community textiles group uses technology

We're doing a project on the River Severn, and this morning went down to the river and took photos.

When we got back, we were temporarily locked out so we had an early lunch and started copying the photos onto the laptop.

So once we got into the room we were ready to learn how to make a Power Point presentation.

Learners are keen to make short videos and power point presentations of trips to the river.

Embracing New Technology

Blogger won't post a YouTube video today, so I'll post a link instead. See if this situation sounds a little familiar to you!

Thanks for sharing this one with us, Alastair. There is so much on YouTube, it's easy to miss some of the best bits.

(Alastair's the Senior ICT Development Officer for NIACE, btw)

Gorillas can abseil!

I know this won't be everyone's cup of tea but I wanted to show what terrific picture quality I got when doing a bit of ruffling on my sewing machine this afternoon. W55 Cybershot camera was set to "fine" video quality, a bit of a zoom in and tied the gorillapod to the handle of my machine - my gorilla was abseiling down the side of my machine! (Actually, during the filming of the ruffling, the camera was the other way up....I haven't yet discovered how to turn video films through 180 degrees)

I thought the vibration of the machine would make the picture juddery but it seems to have made little difference.

Anyway, when you next need a demonstration of a sewing machine ruffler foot, you know where to find one!

Inspired by Aleksandra!

Inspired by Aleksandra's video clip posted here yesterday (which was the buzz of conversation!) we made a video recording during today's training. I used the little Cybershot 55 camera and played around with Windows Movie Maker once I got home. It took me about 35 minutes to make this short film, which is made of an opening title, the video clip, a still image and a closing clip. I imported a music file from Windows to accompany it but couldn't work out how to get rid of the recorded sound. When I listened to it though, I liked it with both sound and music.

I found Movie Maker far easier than the video editing software we were playing with the other day. Not only that, but it did everything I wanted it to do - clipping and editing included. Believe me, I didn't even know I had got the Movie Maker program on my computer until today!

Good stuff!

Watch out everybody...the video makers are coming.

Training with the Dream Team

Had a great training session today in the depths of the Forest of Dean. Here are the group learning about powerpoint, and Gill and I were playing with videos we had taken on our cameras, which included sound.
For Gill it was a presentation movie on sketchbooks/journals/notebooks and for me it was a video of using the embellisher machine. We both used the gorrilla pod to support the camera, however I think Gill had chosen the easier option to video. She could place the camera and the sketchbooks on a stable surface. I had chosen to video the embellisher machine working, and the only place I could put the gorilla pod and camera was tucked into the neckline of my T shirt! I am pleased with the results though.

Gill and I had both taken the videos before the training session ( read yesterday!) and were hoping to edit them with the software on the laptops. We quickly discovered though, that the software we had, would not do exactly what we wanted it to do. Quite frustrating. Movie maker has no editing facilities we could use. Ulead video was really quite difficult, not in the least intuitive. We could not split the video and work on sections ...... but we are hoping that investing in Pinnacle studio will solve the problem. Either that or we will have to video in small chunks... bit of a nuisance. So we hope to be able to share our edited videos with you at a later date.
We also discussed how we could share powerpoint presentations ... there must be a way....so watch this space. Hopefully one of the other trainees will share with you when they have a few moments free to blog.
Posted by Maggie
Nearly forgot to add.. Gill supplied some brilliant food..... really need to share the receipes Gill.....please?

Some interesting videos

Have just been alerted to an American site for P & Q ers, that might be of interest. They show a variety of techniques. I have put the link in the side bar or you could click HERE, and you will be taken to the site.

It may take a short while for the video to appear on the black screen ( that depends on the speed or your broadband connection). Look forward to hearing if you find it useful.

Fabric Origami