iMovie
How do I... ?
16.September.2010 08:18 Filed in: Tech Tips
| Instruction
Technology
refers to tools that humans (and other primates!) use
to get jobs done. As a result of the very spirit of
human beings, this has always meant that technology
is in a constant of evolution. Today, that evolution
takes place at a very, very rapid pace. In the past,
individuals would learn and adopt a new technology
and use it for centuries, such as the plow. Of
course, during that time, there were improvements to
it, but those improvements were gradual and marginal,
and they did not result in a plow that was completely
different than previous plows. Over time, the pace
and significance of changes in technology has grown
more and more rapid. Such that today, technology that
is more than five years old, and sometimes as little
as a year-old, is truly out-of-date.
What does this mean for teachers and students? Simply that we need to continually adapt and learn how to use new technology as it changes.
Software manufacturers continue to update their software on a regular basis (i.e., every 1-4 years), and sometimes these updates result in very different ways in which to use the software. Both Microsoft and Apple, for example, regularly make such changes. When this happens, as end users, whether we like it or not, we need to also change.
For example, while in a furious rush to produce professional development video for staff members throughout School District 21, we came across our first real need to use iMovie 09. Like iMovie 08, it had completely abandoned the timeline editing of “production” movie editing suites. Yet, it was still likely the best and fastest tool for us to use to edit web video. So, after some frustration and attempts at trying the new software, what did we do???
We accessed the Help Menu (pictured below) built right in to the iMovie application (and all Mac OS X applications) in the white menu bar at the top of the screen.
By selecting the Help Menu, we were able to go directly to video tutorials on Apple’s website. (This work was being done outside the District...) As pictured below, you can see that there was a long list of videos on the website.
We needed to learn how to trim clips first, and we went straight to that video, watched, learned, and then, were able to do!
No single person, no matter how geeky or techy, knows all technology. Nevertheless, just like with The Modern Pen, individuals and organizations put the information out there on the web. Much of the time, finding one’s answer is simply a few clicks away!
What does this mean for teachers and students? Simply that we need to continually adapt and learn how to use new technology as it changes.
Software manufacturers continue to update their software on a regular basis (i.e., every 1-4 years), and sometimes these updates result in very different ways in which to use the software. Both Microsoft and Apple, for example, regularly make such changes. When this happens, as end users, whether we like it or not, we need to also change.
For example, while in a furious rush to produce professional development video for staff members throughout School District 21, we came across our first real need to use iMovie 09. Like iMovie 08, it had completely abandoned the timeline editing of “production” movie editing suites. Yet, it was still likely the best and fastest tool for us to use to edit web video. So, after some frustration and attempts at trying the new software, what did we do???
We accessed the Help Menu (pictured below) built right in to the iMovie application (and all Mac OS X applications) in the white menu bar at the top of the screen.
By selecting the Help Menu, we were able to go directly to video tutorials on Apple’s website. (This work was being done outside the District...) As pictured below, you can see that there was a long list of videos on the website.
We needed to learn how to trim clips first, and we went straight to that video, watched, learned, and then, were able to do!
No single person, no matter how geeky or techy, knows all technology. Nevertheless, just like with The Modern Pen, individuals and organizations put the information out there on the web. Much of the time, finding one’s answer is simply a few clicks away!
Video Cameras & Staff MacBooks
01.May.2010 06:38 Filed in: Tech Tips
Over
the past few years, staff members have been strongly
encouraged to consider the role that podcasting might
play in their classroom. Audio podcasts can be made
very quickly with little production time, allowing
students to create fantastic, authentic products that
are available to the whole world via the Internet and
our media server. With tools like USB microphones,
iPods with voice recording capabilities, and Garage
Band, students can create a podcast in no time, and
instead of spending lots of time working on the
computer producing, they can move on to learning new
concepts and content and skills.
Producing video rather than audio typically requires a much greater investment in time working on the computers. In spite of this, there are many times and reasons why teachers will want to use video in the classroom. From capturing video on new iPod Nanos to Flip cameras to more traditional Canon, Panasonic, and JVC video cameras, there are lots of different types of video cameras available for schools to purchase and use with our MacBooks.
One of the changes that has taken place in the video cameras in recent years has been the shift from recording on tape to recording on hard drives (not so good for a school environment) or flash memory (ideal for tapeless cameras). While hard drives and flash memory can offer lots of storage, there are more complications in terms of compatibility with different operating systems and software depending on how the video is being encoded. To be sure that a compatible camera is being purchased for use with iMovie 09 on the Staff MacBooks, visit Apple’s guide to compatible cameras.
Producing video rather than audio typically requires a much greater investment in time working on the computers. In spite of this, there are many times and reasons why teachers will want to use video in the classroom. From capturing video on new iPod Nanos to Flip cameras to more traditional Canon, Panasonic, and JVC video cameras, there are lots of different types of video cameras available for schools to purchase and use with our MacBooks.
One of the changes that has taken place in the video cameras in recent years has been the shift from recording on tape to recording on hard drives (not so good for a school environment) or flash memory (ideal for tapeless cameras). While hard drives and flash memory can offer lots of storage, there are more complications in terms of compatibility with different operating systems and software depending on how the video is being encoded. To be sure that a compatible camera is being purchased for use with iMovie 09 on the Staff MacBooks, visit Apple’s guide to compatible cameras.
