Thing #7: Fodder for a TV Junkie

I admit it. Having to check out video resources is a difficult task for me...like a kid trying to pick one type of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins or one type of candy in an old-fashion candy store! It was painful, but somebody had to do it! Folks, I'm a TV junkie! I only purchase so much cable, less for budget reasons than I would never get anything done if I had any more choices!


I have always tried to add video to my teaching in whatever form was available ever since the days of the 3/4 in. video tapes and the 2-man size players we had way back in the late 70s! One of my first responsibilities as a librarian was managing the in-house video distribution center for my my school.


To have video on demand from numerous sources at our fingertips is just wonderful! No timelines to maintain, no schedule books for limited equipment, and choices for all levels and all needs...not to mention the uploading of student projects with the freedom to view whenever!


I have visited and used videos from all of the sources included in this activity. I really hope our district eventually will make YouTube available, but the ease of converting a video with a program like Zamzar makes me ok with the restriction if it has to be.


I do worry that like VHS and DVD movies, some of this video will be used for babysitting purposes and not as support for teaching and learning situations. But as with the previous formats, good uses make its availability necessary. I am really anxious to see home-grown products added and shared. I hope this summer activity will lead to such projects in many classrooms and libraries.


For my samples, I pulled some YouTube videos showcasing one of my favorite authors who died a few days ago. Frank McCourt always fascinated me, not only with his writing about his family, his life in Ireland, and his teaching experiences, but with his outlook on life in general. I would have loved to have known him in real life and had dinner conversation with him. But I get to read his words and hear his voice. That's good enough.

Thing #4 An Uploading Experience!

I have been a YouTube consumer for a long time and now I am a contributor!
I signed up for an account...the same ol' same ol' info required. In doing so I also became my own channel! Who knew!

So then I had to figure out what I was going to contribute and that took awhile...I don't have any clever, cute, and worthy kids' projects to share. I only have samples of different things that I use to demonstrate to folks who are going to end up with lots of clever, cute, and worthy kids' projects!

I decided to upload one of my many Animotos that turned out pretty nicely...I threw some "B things" pictures from FlickrCC together one day and discussed how it could be an alphabet lesson, an opportunity to use and think about descriptive words (or as we used to call them in the olden days--adjectives) and even as writing prompt ideas....that all just happen to start with B!

After reading about how to upload and watching the videos provided at YouTube, including an updated version of one, I decided it sounded pretty simple, BUT I also decided to let the power of these programs help me. Animoto has an automatic upload to YouTube feature so I used that and it was very easy...hardest part was waiting the 10-15 minutes...so I folded clothes and put in another load of washing...the fun stuff of life!



Because I did it that way, I didn't have to worry too much about the extensions or other technical needs. The two services already know how to talk to each other! Cool tools.

Now...the issues I did have. I could not locate my video without signing into my account and getting it that way. That can be a good thing and a bad thing! Good in that it is just not widely available to just anyone, but it is not the most interesting subject so I really am not worried. The bad thing...the title "B Things" is too generic...there are all kinds of videos that come up when that term is search. Ditto for the tags...alphabet, adjectives, descriptive words. I also tried searching by my username. Nope, nothing, nada! So for now (and probably forever) I will have to supply the link to anyone who wants to see my creations.


I do need to practice with something that I actually have to upload and so I am going to sign off my MAC and move to my PC and see if one of my Photostories is worthy. (Yes, I need to get organized with one or more of the many tools available and bring my resources together in one place.)

So until later...see you on a channel somewhere!

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Ok, I found a Photostory so I could practice an actual uplaod to YouTube. Again, my choices were slim and none, but it provided what I needed... a wmv file to upload. Yes, be sure you use the finished version of your Photostory--wmv, not the working copy (editable)--wp3.

The video uploaded quickly to Youtube, BUT the processing took "forever" in relationship to the very short length of the PhotoStory itself...I just did more chores around the house. There were plenty to choose to fill the time.

Here it is. Remember, it is nothing more than a demo for training purposes.



Yes, you are noticing the different sizes. Both are the smallest versions available so what it was originally may affect the sizes you have available to you to upload. I purposely messed with the borders as well to see if that affected the size...nope. The Animoto upload is jsut going to be larger than the blog space...oh, well! Remember, every bit of all of this cost me zero! That fact makes it look great, doesn't it?

O, another bit of an update. I used my initials as part of my title...and yes, that DID help my video to float to the top of all the pumpkin videos! So, at least I will be able to find it when I need it. I think I might do that to any others I upload.

I do plan to spend some time with TeacherTube and SchoolTube to see what do at those locations. I have basically run out of samples so I'll have do uploads at some other time.

Can't wait to see what you upload!