Week 10 - Video recording

Today we did a video recording with the theme "AWSOME TAFE'.  This was an especially fun class.
I was part of a threesome with Helen and Yvonne. Helen was a bit bossy ( but in a lot of good ideas kind of way) and Yvonne it turns out is quite the actress (a new career perhaps). We used the flip camera for the first bit, until the battery went flat, then we changed to the little Canon camera. The flip camera is good though because it doesn't need any cables for anything, just plug the USB in.  Who needs more cables!

We all liked the flip camera for it's ease of use.  If something is happening right then and there and you want to quickly be able to catch it on video it's just a matter of pressing the big red button and away you go. No mucking about trying to get in and out of things and adjusting stuff, then you've missed what you wanted to record.  It's also such a portable, pocketable, handbagable size.

The Canon was a nice size too but we still managed to stuff it up a bit and record everything in double or was it triple time.  However, I happen to think this was a good mistake.  I like the idea of editing the video by making it slightly slower but still at a fastish pace like and old silent movie, make it black and white with little fancy word slides added in- just for the creative fun of it.

I can't wait until next week's class to have a go at adding all the changes and edits to our recording.

Week 9 - Cameras both still and video
 
This weeks class was sadly the last in theVirtual Revolution series.  I have loved watching this series as it has given me so much of a better understanding of the way social media works in the world and the people behind these.  Their orignal ideas and reasons for coming up with these various forms of media such as You Tube, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Ebay etc. all seem to stem from genuine interest in technology, to push it's limits further in the way it can make everything accessible and easy for people around the world to use. And of course, they also get to make a huge pile of money out of it at the same time - bonus! 

All of this is still only in it's infancy.  There are so many teething problems still - some, in the case of Facebook, are really big ones!  Most forms of anything in the world have rules that need to be set and abided by for things to run smoothly, safely and fairly for everyone.  Facebook seems to  have exempted itself of any sort of responsiblities and hides behind the "freedom of speech" cry for just about everything that happens.  Even journalists have rules to abide by.  Humans use this form of media, humans are really fallible, humans will always make human like mistakes and do and say stupid things.  They need some sort of rules, guidelines and protection in place to follow instead of flailing about on there doing damage to themselves and to each other.  Once the world gets the hang of it all, rebels and has a change in attitude to the ways in which it is being used (and I believe this WILL happen) social media can be a powerful tool for doing a lot of GOOD in the world.

On to the topic of cameras, I'm looking forward to this area.  I love using Animoto and want to know more about using and making all this photo/video stuff.  I have not used Window Movie Maker yet but can't wait to have a go.  I love those little flip cameras, small and convenient. But choice comes down to what you want to use a video camera for when considering buying, which now I know about Animoto and Movie Maker, I would really like to do.  This course is not healthy for my bank balance.
This is a good topic to cover, especially for work in a school library situation as I see the students borrowing the cameras from Beaconhills library quite often for various projects and they really enjoying using them.

Week 7 - Multimedia File Types

I found this class helpful.  I knew a lot of the file extensions but not all of them and their variations.  I never realised that the operating system you choose, say google chrome, also changed on the files in My Documents. I think I will keep the information in your blog on these file extensions.  Chances are I won't remember all of them and it may be a handy reference. I understand now the differences between different types of audio files and different types of image files.  Now when I look at the file extensions they seem self explanatory.  Not looking at these anymore and thinking "what the...?".  The links to the articles are also good to refer to and explain things in fairly simple enough terms.

Week 6 - RSS Feeds and Aggregation

This weeks class on RSS feeds was interesting.  I've never quite understood what they were all about and now I know!  They are good if you really need to keep up with what is going on in a certain area, particularly if it relates to your job.  I could do this for Mashable as I don't want to loose touch with what is going on in the world of technology but I do tend to go on this site quite a bit anyway. Sometimes I think maybe I might get overwhemled with too many things to look at and too much time spent looking at stuff (family.....what family?!!) but I will give it a go anyway and see what it's like.

Love the Flipboard app for my iPAD, however, so does my husband!!! Timetable for iPAD use being drawn up as we speak.  Flipboad makes it such a pleasant experience. I forget I'm looking at an iPAD and start chilling out like it's a magazine.

I had never heard of iTunes U before.  There is so much on there.  I love the courses on literature and creative writing.  I can't believe there are so many free courses available. I keep going back and looking at all the options.  I've told my sister and my neighbour about this and about Stumbleupon.  They sent back messages on Facebook saying "Debbie...what have you done to me!".  Actually Michele this is your fault....Tee hee.  On iTune U, you can even get into free stuff from the Bodlean Library through Oxford University.  They have "Wireless communications during the Titanic" and Jane Austen manuscripts - wow - and it's free!


My sons like the history of the internet timeline from Mashable.

Week 5 Even more social media

The Virtual Revolution video we watched in class today was great.  I'm sure I've seen one these episodes from the series of four one night a long while ago veging out on the couch and watching TV with my sons. I'll have to watch the others and find out.

The video highlights to me personally, having started my course almost 2 years ago with minimal knowledge in this area, just what a HUGE part in the world it plays and how it can play an important role in chaning peoples' lives.  It's not just about people telling you on facebook what they had for lunch.  The example that sticks in my mind the most was from the previous weeks video, the American one, which showed an interview with Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web, in Africa with young kids in a room of computers.  These kids can now not only surf the web but use social media to be able to talk to people from all over the world in different communities, do online courses, and understand that there is so much more to the world available to do and try.

The other social media websites from this lesson that I like are Digg and Reddit.  I like being able to read diffterent articles other than just what is printed in The Age and Herald Sun. It's a big world and there is more going on it that than what we read in our papers and hear on the news. There is a great mixture of serious news, weird and wonderful stuff and just hilarious stuff  - a good laugh in your day is like medicine and it's for free!

I have signed up to StumbleUpon.  Dangerous, very dangerous.  Late getting the tea on the table!

I have also signed up for a one year subscription to Animoto.  Thirty seconds is way to frustrating.
I became additcted in about 20 seconds.  My family, mother, brother, sister, etc., now want me to do vdeos for  them and put on to dvds.  Lookout the updated version of slideshow nights coming up!

I'm going to sign up for one of the social bookmarking websites.  Just in the process of comparing them.  My husband will be really happy has I have crap everywhere in favorites.

I just can't decide which two social media tools to do my presentation on I like all the ones I have mentioned plus another one I have found on my own and signed up for called Writerscafe.  Maybe I'll just decide on the day.  Maybe.

After this unit in my course I realise I do not want to become so far behind in my knowledge of technology or social media ever again.  Websites like Mashable are very helpful to someone like me.
I'm now also seriously worried about my vitamin D levels slipping.  After last weeks class and all my discoveries I may never see the light of day again!

Week 4 More Social Media

I have my facebook page now.  I'm still getting used to it and learning my way around. This weeks class I learned just how many social networking sites are out there.  I didn't realise there were so many.  Linkden is a very good one. I can see real value in using this site.  It seems it is the place to go for promoting yourself and finding connections.  Goodreads appeals to me.  It's like a bookclub but with a whole lot more information and a much, much wider community.  I think I may join this one.

Pinterest is OK but some of my friends are really into and  have posted so much stuff on my facebook from their boards that I just can't keep up with it all. Whew!

I have linked my facebook to my smartphone.  I went out for coffee with my husband the other day and got into trouble for facebooking - oops.

I had a go at doing a slideshow in Animoto.  This is great fun to do. I'm sold - will be signing up for a membership for sure.  I have posted my video on our group facebook for anyone who might like a look.

Week 3 More Social Media Tools

This class there was a lot to take in.  I was very pleased to discover the Commoncraft  YouTube videos.  They speak my language!  Actually I'm way better now than I used to be - thank the lord!  Not scared anymore, just curious now. 

I have had a look at most of the links you provided.  I especially like the photo slideshow sites.  I am going to have a go at making one in Animoto.

I have decided to work my way through the 23 things - some I have already done.  This class is like playing.