The digital video revolution: digital video production, editing and publishing offer genuine opportunities for students to learn and express their knowledge in new ways.With the possible exception of faster processor speeds, there have been few major developments in personal computing Refers to users working on their own computers rather than a terminal to a mainframe. Sometimes, the term refers to using computers at home for work and/or entertainment in contrast to business use only. See personal computer. during the past few years. Recent advances in computer and communications technology Noun 1. communications technology - the activity of designing and constructing and maintaining communication systems engineering, technology - the practical application of science to commerce or industry have had little impact on the nature of teaching and learning. The availability of the Web, handheld computers and wireless communication offer enormous potential, but have thus far allowed us to add speed and convenience to traditional aspects of schooling without transforming the learning experience. Instructional media has been oversold Oversold In technical analysis, it is a market in which the volume of selling that has occurred is greater than the fundamentals justify. Notes: It is the opposite of overbought. since the days of Edison as a solution to our educational challenges. However, Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky and Papert tell us that changing the mode of delivery offers little assistance in transforming learning. Powerful learning occurs when we shift the emphasis from the teacher to the learner ... less us, more them. The 1970s ushered in the era of low-cost video recorders and portable video cameras. This innovation offered teachers and students with a vehicle for producing their own content. Student productions could be archived, played in other classrooms and sent home to share with the family. Imaginative schools built television studios, offered courses in TV production and some even made cassettes of student performances available in local video stores. As with desktop publishing desktop publishing, system for producing printed materials that consists of a personal computer or computer workstation, a high-resolution printer (usually a laser printer), and a computer program that allows the user to select from a variety of type fonts and sizes, and multimedia authoring, Apple Computer is bringing digital video to the masses with ease-of-use and affordable technology. Other companies are now working to offer similar capabilities in their products. Administrators and school leaders need to understand how this technology is different and what the occupants of classrooms can do with it. DV in a Nutshell Digital video cameras, now widely available, store images in the same digital form (bits) as computers store data. This allows video to be transferred from camera to computer and computer to camera without any loss. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , every copy is of the same quality as the original. Apple patented FireWire, the high-speed, low-cost digital transfer technology used by nearly all digital video cameras and a growing assortment of hard drives, CD-burners and other peripherals. FireWire is also known as iLink by Sony and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. 1394 by other companies. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences just awarded Apple a 2001 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award for FireWire's material impact on the television industry. Essentially, FireWire is a way to move data between digital devices. More Power The real power of digital video is found in the editing process. Just a couple of years ago this required digitizing analog video The original video recording method that stores continuous waves of red, green and blue intensities. In analog video, the number of rows is fixed. There are no real columns, and the maximum detail is determined by the frequency response of the analog system. before your computer could work on it. This process involved converting the analog information on a VHS (Video Home System) A half-inch, analog videocassette recorder (VCR) format introduced by JVC in 1976 to compete with Sony's Betamax, introduced a year earlier. tape into the bits used by the computer. This transfer process caused a loss in quality. If you wanted your edited production to be distributed via TV or VHS, then there would additional loss in quality during the second transfer. Special add-on cards or other peripherals usually needed to be purchased to make digitizing possible. Once the video is stored on your hard drive you may edit it. Editing brings value to those boxes full of tapes you have and reduces the likelihood that every student production looks like a never-ending bloopers real. Editing may be used to shorten and clean up video. It may also be used as a way to enhance storytelling Storytelling Aesop semi-legendary fabulist of ancient Greece. [Gk. Lit.: Harvey, 10] Münchäusen Baron traveler grossly embellishes his experiences. [Ger. Lit. through reordering re·or·der v. re·or·dered, re·or·der·ing, re·or·ders v.tr. 1. To order (the same goods) again. 2. To straighten out or put in order again. 3. To rearrange. v. events, or by adding narration, dramatic music, transitions and special effects special effects, in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. . Every FireWire Macintosh comes with iMovie 2 for free. iMovie allows computer users to capture video from a camera and edit productions with the ease of a word processor. When your movie is complete, output it back to tape or compress it for distribution via CD, the Web or DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. (see sidebar for PC alternatives). Digital video requires a great deal of disk space. A little more than nine minutes of video requires 2 gigabytes of disk space. Large external FireWire drives are an excellent way for schools to store large video files. These drives also offer teachers portability. They can be moved to where they are needed. FireWire drives may also be chained together to create large banks of data storage. You can never be too rich or have too much hard disk space I would suggest that finished productions should be exported to DV tape and archived in that small low-cost way. Preserving video on hard drives makes that video vulnerable to a variety of threats (crashes, erasing, etc.) and is too costly. You can always import video from an archived tape and re-edit it for a different purpose or audience. When your video masterpiece is complete it is time to share it with an audience. iMovie 2 and other programs allows you to prepare the video for a variety of media (CD, Web, DVD) through compression. Compression is a mathematical process Noun 1. mathematical process - (mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods; "the problems at the end of the chapter demonstrated the mathematical processes involved in the derivation"; "they were learning the basic operations of arithmetic" by which the file size is reduced in order to save space and deliver the video quicker via limited bandwidth. You will need to make decisions about tradeoffs between size and quality. Smaller file size means lower quality video, but it is hard to discern much difference from a compressed file, and the quality of a compressed file is certainly acceptable for classroom purposes. If you wanted to share last year's school play with out-of-town grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl , schools had two digital options; low-quality video on CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). or stream the video on the Web. Streaming media See streaming audio, streaming video and digital media hub. is cool, but often requires high bandwidth, expensive servers with large storage capacity and the employment of a technical staff capable of running those servers. Today, $2,500 Macintosh G4 computers include the SuperDrive and iDVD software. The SuperDrive allows the playing of CDs and DVDs, plus the creation of CDs and DVDs. That's right, you can now make your own DVDs. The free iDVD software is even easier to use than iMovie 2. Drag your video files onto the iDVD screen, choose a visual style for your menu and press "burn." A couple of hours later you have a full-quality hour-long DVD that Grandma can pop into her DVD player A stand-alone device that plays DVDs. It contains a DVD drive and the electronics to decode the digital video. The device may play only manufactured DVDs, or it may be able to play DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs. DVD players are cabled to a TV or home theater system for display. (subsequent copies are made much quicker). This technology represents a leap-frog effect on the streaming technology many of us were betting on just a year ago. Imagine a day in the not too distant future in which every kid not only has a TV studio in their laptop, but can produce DVDs, too (competitor products for the PC are becoming available). Educational Applications Digital video offers numerous opportunities for student expression through all kinds of storytelling across the curriculum. Personal stories, skits, plays and recreations of historical or scientific events are all possible. Fictional stories may be depicted and mathematical models may be explained. The editing process allows for enhancing the storytelling. Video offers unprecedented opportunities for students who need to express themselves and their ideas. The obstacles associated with writing and oral presentation make it too difficult for many students to convey their creativity and knowledge. Video and the ability to edit that video lowers the bar on communication. This communication now has a limitless audience available via the Web, CD, tape and DVD. Kids engaged in the production of school news programs, interviews and even commercials gain first-hand knowledge of the ways in which media may be used to manipulate us. Media literacy Media literacy is the process of accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and forms. It uses an inquiry-based instructional model that encourages people to ask questions about what they watch, see and read. concepts of bias, point-of-view, propaganda and advertising take on new meaning when kids are behind the camera and the editing process. You may engage the community in the life of the school through the repurposing and publishing of school events. Tapes of classroom productions may be broadcast on local cable, sent home on CD/DVD or even made available in local video shops for free loans. These efforts keep citizens abreast of the activities in your school and may increase community support for your efforts. Students may use video cameras and digital editing to document their learning process in a variety of ways. Video is used to tell the story of how they learned, what they did, as well as the finished product. This enhances metacognition Metacognition refers to thinking about cognition (memory, perception, calculation, association, etc.) itself or to think/reason about one's own thinking. Types of knowledge , exhibits student knowledge and communicates the learning activities of a school with the community. A good example of a video documenting student learning may be found at www.pencilsdown.org/lego. Educators may also enhance their professional practice through digital video. Lessons may be videotaped and used to share best practices with colleagues. Similar video may also be used as a vehicle for collaborative action research. Educators can view carefully edited video case studies as an invitation to dialogue about teaching practices and learn new classroom strategies. Raw video may be used with innovative tools like those offered by LessonLab, www.lessonlab.com, as a forum for educators to discuss their own practice and that of colleagues. Examples of adults using digital video as a vehicle for reflective practice may be found at www.stager.org/imovie/virtcamp.html. RELATED ARTICLE: What's in Gary's Digital Media Toolbox See toolkit and toolbar. . A Sony or Canon digital video camera. Your choice is between cameras using the smaller newer mini-DV tapes and cameras that use larger 8mm tapes. While 8mm digital cameras are larger than mini-DV models, they do have one advantage. Old analog video tapes you may have are automatically digitized when played by a digital 8mm camera. This saves money and allows you to bring old tapes into the digital age. iMovie 2 (Mac) www.apple.com Apple's groundbreaking, easy-to-use but powerful video capture, editing and publishing software has revolutionized the personal video industry and will revolutionize your class room, too. iDVD (Mac) www.apple.com Do the impossible and make your own DVDs without ever opening a manual. These DVDs may contain video and collections of digital images. Cleaner 5 (Mac or Windows) www.media100.com Cleaner 5 (previously known as MediaCleaner) is the gold standard for compressing video and converting media files. It often compresses a video by 90 percent with little noticeable degradation. Answer the "wizard's" questions about your priorities and the type of format you wish for your product and let Cleaner 5 do the work for you. It contains converters and codecs The following is a list of codecs. Audio codecs Non-compression formats
Slick 1 & Slick 2 (Mac) www.geethree.com For just $29.95 you can buy sets of more than 40 really cool new transitions and special effects that plug into iMovie 2. Smartsound for Multimedia (Mac or Windows) www.sonicdesktop.com Smartsound for Multimedia is an amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. software package that allows you to choose a style of music, its use (zippy opener, calm background music, dramatic finale) and the duration you need. The software then magically composes a royalty-free sound file you may use in your digital productions. Other professional quality music libraries are available. Sonicfire Pro (Mac or Windows) www.sonicdesktop.com SonicFire Pro picks up where Smartsound for Multimedia leaves off by allowing you to automatically score a digital video. Open a QuickTime movie, set markers for different parts of that movie and SonicFire Pro automatically composes a score for that film. The right music fits precisely into the sections of video. QuickTime Pro (Mac or Windows) www.apple.com/quicktime/ QuickTime is the industry standard for digital media. The QuickTime Player The media player software that comes with QuickTime for the Mac and Windows. See QuickTime. is free for both Windows and the Macintosh, but paying $29 turns your software into QuickTime Pro. The Pro version allows you to perform quick edits of your digital media (video, audio, animation, VR, graphics) and convert a wide variety of media types. Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge (Mac and Windows) www.dazzle.com This reasonably priced peripheral, the top-of-the-tine product from Dazzle--a company offering a variety of media digitizing products, allows you to convert analog video from a VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. , TV or other video source into digital video via FireWire. It has inputs and outputs for FireWire, RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. audio, Composite RCA video and S-Video. iMovie 2 instantly recognizes the Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge as if it were a digital camera. Now your digital movie may be exported directly to a VCR. VegasVideo 2 (Windows) www.sonicfoundry.com VegasVideo 2 is a higher-end video editing software Video editing software is application software which handles the editing of video sequences on a computer. It usually includes the ability to import and export video, cut and paste sections of a video clip, and add special effects and transitions; and it sometimes includes the package for Windows. It is geared toward more professional users. iMic (Mac) www.griffintechnology.com iMic is a USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. device that allows you to connect a variety of microphones and audio sources to your computer without built-in sound input. iVoice Macally (Mac) www.macally.com iVoice is a USB microphone with a line-in jack for computers without built-in audio. VideoFactory 2 (Windows) www.sonicfoundry.com VideoFactory2 is a robust, user-friendly video editing See nonlinear video editing and video editor. and capture package for Windows. Final Cut Pro (Mac) www.apple.com This is Apple's high-end video editing package. It allows the user to make amazing videos with professional quality effects. As a result, Final Cut Pro requires a greater commitment on the part of new users. Taking a course or buying a third-party guide might be a good idea, although there are probably high school kids in your district who can figure it all out and teach you. DVD Studio Pro DVD Studio Pro is a high-end software tool published by Apple to allow users to create DVD masters to be sent out for replication at production houses. Its tight integration with other Apple applications allows users to take Final Cut Pro and Motion projects and render them into (Mac) www.apple.com This is Apple's professional-level program for creating DVDs with all of the bells and whistles A slang English term for exceptional features in some product. In the computer field, it typically refers to functions in software that may be greatly appreciated by some users, even though they may not be necessary most of the time. found on commercial DVDs (chapters, motion menus, subtitles sub·ti·tle n. 1. A secondary, usually explanatory title, as of a literary work. 2. A printed translation of the dialogue of a foreign-language film shown at the bottom of the screen. tr.v. , multiple languages, visual angles, etc ...) While DVD Studio Pro has a steeper learning curve than iDVD, it is within reach of committed educators. Real Player Basic (Windows or Mac) www.real.com RealPlayer Basic is the free version of the client (player) for watching streaming RealVideo and listening to RealAudio. It often works with your Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. . RealProducer Basic (Windows or Mac) www.real.com RealProducer Basic is the free tool that allows you to convert your audio or video files into Realmedia files you can stream from any Web site. You will need to hunt around the Real site to find the free versions of this tool. The nice folks at Real Networks naturally want you to trade-up, but for most school uses, the free player and producer software will do the job quite nicely. Blue Armadillo armadillo (är'mədĭl`ō), New World armored mammal of the order Edentata, a group that also includes the sloth and the anteater, characterized by peglike teeth without roots or enamel. (Mac or Windows) www.tech4learning.com/snacks/ barmadillo.html This free tool allows you to batch process a folder full of images. In other words you can use Blue Armadillo to change the size of a bunch of photos or convert image formats. Acid Music 3 (Windows) www.sonicfoundry.com This popular PC program and its library of sound files allows the user to compose royalty-free music clips which may then be exported to include in video projects. A more extensive collection of free and low-cost cross-platform digital media resources may be found at www.stager.org/imovie/ Gary Stager, gary@stager.org, is editor-at-large and an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University Pepperdine University is a private institution of higher learning affiliated with the Church of Christ in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States. The university's location overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is adjacent to the city limits of Malibu. . |
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