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Throughout the school year we have explored many different topics, including video in the classroom. As we move toward a one-to-one environment there are some things to keep in mind with video for lessons and student use.

1.  Short is usually better than long. Video that is short grabs attention and if the video is on topic can convey your topic pretty quickly. Additionally short video clips are faster to download and take up less space on digital devices.

2.  Video is only as helpful as the instruction or the lesson contained within it. Video is not a substitute for real, hands-on work with a student; it is a supplement to teacher interaction.

3.  Video taken off of the internet is not owned by you simply because it was made available to you. Many times work on the internet is subject to copyright.

4.  Not all devices can play all types of video. Sometimes you may have to "encode" a video to make it universally acceptable. Most devices use one of a handful of encoding sets when a video is created. Sometimes different brands don't play well together. (To see how to actually change the format of a video read on below).

The most detrimental of the issues above is #4 concerning the use of a video file on multiple devices. There are a lot of different formats out there. How do you know the type of file a video is? How can you change the video to be more universal? The answer to the first question is easy. If you have a file on your computer, the easiest way to tell what format it is, is to look at its extension. The easiest way to do this is to click on the file to select it and then look at the file name. If you see a dot at the end of your file name with a alpha-numeric code following it, know that that code indicates the type of file you are looking at. If you don't see a dot with an extension after it, you have to figure out the type a different way. You can do this by locating the file, right-clicking on it and then selecting "properties" from the menu that appears. In the new window that loads, click on the "details" tab and then scroll all the way to the "file" section.  The "item type" will tell you the type of video file you are dealing with. In general mp4 is pretty universal and this is probably the file type you want for sharing with your students.  

If you decide that you need to change the file to another format, there are several free video converters out on the net. A simple converter can be found at http://winff.org. WinFF can be downloaded completely free. Download the converter and then install and run the program. Once running add your video files for conversion. WinFF supports drag-and-drop so you can simply locate your file on the computer and then drag the file into the large blank area at the top of the WinFF window. You can even add multiple files at once. Next you must select a "convert to" option. Because Apple uses mp4 for most of its video, it has become accepted across many devices. Select "iPod-iTunes" from the "convert to" menu.  Next select your preset for that type of conversion. You can pick anything that you want here. Your choice affects the dimensions of the final video (ex. "iPod small" will result in a video that looks good on a small iPod screen, whereas "iPod TV Out" will result in a video that can be displayed on a larger screen.  The final decision to make concerns the "output folder" for the converted video.  I usually change the location to match the original file, so that when I am done the files are both in the same place. When everything is set, click the "convert" button at the top of the program window. You can minimize the running program and work on other things. Check on the video later (the longer the video the longer the conversion).  When the dialog says conversion is finished simply close the program. You can browse to your "output folder" and watch your new video file, safe in the fact that it is now more universal.

Ideally, if you follow the above you will see a lot less frustration as you begin using video in your classrooms. If you need further help, I am an email away.

On Tuesday May, 1st of this year I presented a brief Prezi on QR codes in the classroom.  The short presentation with links and QR's is embeded below.  You must have flash to view the Prezi.

A Look at the Cloud:  Services and Data Everywhere

Part One:  What are Cloud Services and How Do They Work?

The cloud is really just a new name for the internet.  At one point it was called the “world wide web.”  In most modern interpretations when a company depicts the internet in the form of a picture, it often looks like a cloud of computers.  The origin of the name is debatable, but it is easy to see by interpretations of the internet that it could be thought of as a large body of data and machines. Hence the name “cloud” is deemed to adequately describe it.

• Cloud computing refers to taking jobs that used to be done on your computer or within an organization’s network and instead putting them on someone else’s server out on the internet.
• There are many types of cloud services available.  File storage is probably the first thing that comes to many people’s minds when they think of cloud services.
• Cloud services take some of the burden (work) off of your computer and place that burden on someone else’s high powered server.  Information is typically sent to the server for storage or other processes and retrieved when necessary or online processes are complete.

Part Two:  What Types of Services are Available?

There are many different services related with cloud computing.  Here is breakdown of the two main types of services you will most likely use as a consumer.

• File storage (Infrastructure as a Service)—using the cloud for file storage gives you the ability to easily back up your documents and keep them backed up to storage on the internet.  It also allows you to easily work on a file on one device, save it, and then continue working on another device by “syncing” the data as it is changed.
• Software implementations (Software as a Service)—this type of cloud offering sometimes gives storage options, but for the most part it runs a program on a server on the internet.  For example, here at school we use Microsoft Office quite a bit.  That is a program which runs on your computer.  A cloud offering that is comparable would be Google Apps such as Google Docs, which lets you edit documents, but the editing is done through your web browser connected to a distant computer on the internet.

Part Three:  Recommendations on Services.

So the biggest question people have about the cloud is what services should I really use?  There are quite a few services available and delving into them all can be tad bit overwhelming.  Well never fear, listed below are some of the most helpful cloud services and breakdowns comparing them.

• File Storage and Sync
  • DropBox—DropBox gives you 2GB of free storage space for all of your files.  It creates one folder on your computer that you drop files into.  The program then copies anything inside to the cloud and in turn you can access it from anywhere.  If you upload a document or picture from your phone, the next time your computer is online it will automatically add it to your computer.  You can get additional storage space by inviting friends who then join and special promotions that are sometimes available.
  • SugarSync—SugarSync gives you an easy way to store up to 5GB online for free.  The main difference between DropBox and SugarSync, besides the initial storage, is that SugarSync lets you select any folders you want on your computer to sync.  Instead of copying all of my files to one folder, I can pick folders as they already exist on my computer.
  • Box.net—I really like Box.net, but probably more so because I signed up during a promotion and received 50GB of space for free.  Regular free accounts give you 5GB.  I can upload massive amounts of files and not run out of space.  The downside to Box.net is that the syncing program for computers is only available if you pay for the business level service, so the free service omits this.  With that said there are several great ways to use Box.net.  I have for example installed a tool from them that adds a new box to my Microsoft Office, so I can now work on a document and save it directly to Box.  Box also makes sharing files really easy with links to a download site for any file or folder you wish to share.
  • SkyDrive—This is Microsoft’s version of online storage.  It is a pretty great thing and integrates with Microsoft’s online version of Office.  You can also upload other files to the service.  There is a client for your computer for syncing called “Windows Live Mesh” however the setup of it is not as straight forward as the others mentioned above.  The other great thing is though you can remotely access your computer if it is running from another computer as long as they are both on the internet.

• Password Syncing
  • LastPass—LastPass is a “one password for all” solution.  Basically this site acts as an online password management system for all of your passwords.  You create an account for free and you always have the ability to retrieve you passwords.  You then setup your account with one master password that you use to login and retrieve your passwords.  You can even use the service to automatically log you into common websites you visit.

• Document Creation and Manipulation
  • Google Docs—Edit Google documents, spreadsheets, and presentations anywhere you go as long as you have internet access.  Using Google Docs exclusively means your files are always backed up and you can download backup copies too.  To top that off Google integrates a free collaborative aspect which lets you work on a document or other file with other Google users in real time.
  • Microsoft Office—Microsoft came out with a free online version of their Microsoft Office suite a while back.  The great thing about this offering is that many people are used to MS Office, so the look and feel is pretty familiar.  Don’t think it is as powerful as the version on your computer though, as it lacks some of the functionality of the paid suite.  This offering directly integrates with SkyDrive so that you can save files to your own online storage.
  • ThinkFree—Thinkfree is a newer offering in the world of online files.  It boasts a pretty powerful online editor for documents, spreadsheets and presentations.  You can even upload documents directly from your computer.  It only has 1GB of free storage, but if you plan on only editing documents, that is still a lot of space.  The service also allows for sharing of documents and publishing so the world can access them.

• Virtualized Computing—The following services are so similar that we will explain them all at once.  Each of these services gives you a “virtual” computer which exists on the cloud that you can log into through the internet or an app if the service provides one.  This allows you to access one computer from anywhere in the world, storing documents and emails all in a centralized virtual computer that you have to login to.  The only real downside to this is that it can be slow, but as technology grows, so do the browsing and remote control speeds on these “virtual” machines.
  • CloudOn
  • CloudMe
  • CloudO

• Music Everywhere
  • Pandora—So I don’t think I really have to explain Pandora.  If you haven’t used it before you are definitely missing out.  It is a great way to be introduced to new music and listen to music you are already into.
  • Google Music—One of the newer offerings from Google is the Music site.  Google lets you store up to 20,000 songs online as long as you agree you will only upload songs that you legally own.  The awesome part is you can upload on one computer and then download to any device you like.  Additionally you can stream to any internet connected device through a web browser or one of the Google Music apps.  You can even create playlists from all of your music for that instant streaming feature.
  • Spotify—This new service is in a category all its own.  Spotify is somewhat of a mix of the functionality provided by the above two.  You can have your own offline music and search Spotify’s library for any song you want to hear to build playlists.  The library is endless and it’s one of the only services that lets you hear the exact song you want right when you want it.  On a computer the service is free, however you can choose to pay per month to remove commercials and add app support on iDevices and Android.

Part Four:  Apple Cloud Services, iCloud.

Apple has taken a bit different approach to online services.  While you can choose to use any of the above on your devices, Apple integrates iCloud support directly into their computers and digital devices.  This integration is tightly platform specific.  However, if you are a pure Apple fan then this is a pretty good choice for your media, documents, and more.

•  iCloud main features (note these are “personal” features):
  • eMail, contacts, calendars, even bookmarks—if you use iCloud as your primary source you automatically receive a me.cloud email account for free.  Using this feature you can sync your me.cloud calendar, email, contacts, and even safari bookmarks between devices.  Note:  If you want to use syncing on your computer (windows based) you must have the iCloud Management software installed (see the bottom of this section) and you must be using Outlook.
  •  iTunes content anywhere—if you purchase it on iTunes (books, music, movies, etc. and Apple still sells a copy you can easily restore purchases to any device, or download to multiple devices.
  • Photostream for photos—if “photostream” is turned on Apple will automatically stream up to 1000 photos from your device to all of your other apple connected devices.  After 30 days the photos will be deleted from the stream so new ones can be added.  If you edit a photo it will be re-uploaded to the stream.  This basically lets you snap a picture on your iPhone and have it populate into your iPad and Mac.
  • iOS backup—Allows you to fully back up your iPad to the cloud so you never have to connect it to a computer.  If your iPad/Pod ever go down you can reset them and restore from you iCloud backup.
  • Document backup—Document backup in iCloud is dependent upon iCloud enabled apps.  For instance, Apple “Pages” has built-in iCloud document support.  Apps that boast this feature will save copies of your documents to the cloud for retrieval in the future.

• iCloud management
  • iCloud control panel—This tool from apple lets you manage storage, delete backups and control your cloud storage.  A download for windows can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1455
  • Services on or off—Turn services on or off using the check boxes.  You can then select options to setup specific services on your computer.
  • Manage storage—Picking manage storage will show you how much of your free 5GB of storage is taken up.  You can delete information you know you do not need.  Additionally there are links to purchase more storage should you need to.

Grok (there should actually be accent marks over the "o" ).....no I am not making up words....well except that one that is catching on around the elementary. Grok is a real word. It is a verb actually. One of the basic definitions is: to understand (something) intuitively or by empathy. I like learning new words, how about you? Anyway, the reason I bring up the word grok is because of it's link to a newer search engine. This search engine strives to intuitively allow teachers and students alike to understand the things they search for.

The search engine I speak of is "InstaGrok" and can be found at http://www.instagrok.com. InstaGrok is an education search engine based around aggregating data instead of just presenting links to possible websites. Here's how it works and what is returned as search results.

1.  Start by typing in something you want to learn or research about.

2.  When your results show up you are presented with a web connecting your search to other ideas. At the right of the web are key facts, website links, videos, images, and quiz questions.

3.  You can click sub categories in the web to examine related topics. You can also use a slider bar at the top of the window (blackboard to Albert Einstein) to change the "level" of the results (in other words change the age appropriateness of the ideas about the subject with the easiest being lower grades and the highest being college level concepts).

4.  If you sign up for an account (free) you can also switch from the web view of the results to a journal view of the topics you've explored so you can type your own notes which are saved to your account.

Teachers can have an account and students can sign up and join their "class" allowing teachers to see what is being researched and assess student progress.  Teachers also have access to the student journals to add comments and give direction.

InstaGrok does take a little getting used to and you have to remember this is a learning engine not just a search engine. You won't find answers to common questions necessarily but it looks to be a good resource for research. I have looked at it both through the web on a computer and on an iPad and it seems to function well on both. It could be a new valuable tool for your classroom. If you would like more information here is a link to the PDF that the site provides: http://www.instagrok.com/brochure.pdf. Additionally you can check out their introductory video below as one of the designers talks about the search engine and its purpose.