Technology in the Classroom

Some of my Yr 10’s brought in their own analogue video camera to make their film. This presented us with a problem — how do we convert analogue to digital for editing on a computer.

Solution: we played the video camera into the set-top DVD Recorder  (a Panasonic DVD/VCR HDD Recorder/Player) in the library which was attached to the TV’s, then recorded (and finalised) the movie to a disk. I then took the resulting disk which was recorded as an actual playable DVD – VOB file, and converted the VOB file into an AVI file using WinAVI Convertor …. which I then saved to my portable hard-drive and brought back to school to put on the school computer for editing.

HICCUP: — the school computers would not play the AVI file because we didn’t have the correct codecs installed so after an urgent page of the tech boys — the correct codecs were downloaded and the students were ready to go !!!

I remembered there was a cool plug in for this blog called TALKR — it can be found at http://www.talkr.com/index.html – time for experimenting I think !!

Finally after a term and a half — losing Yr10 to this, that and the other thing, tip-toeing around the use of the multi media room for special needs exams, struggling with the outdated equipment in the multimedia room, and with software that is past it’s prime (and outmoded by at least 4 newer versions) — one group out of 5 groups in Year 10 Drama has finished their film.

It was ready to render (create) as a DVD last term but we ran out of time due to usage constraints on the room and the fact we only have a license for the particular software we used on the 4 computers in the multi media room. This term with fresh enthusiasm we attempted to complete the project. However after the re-ghosting of the machines during the holidays something went awry with the programme and it would not recognise the project files so after much blaspheming, and scheming…no … make that screaming, the group, much to their chagrin, re-edited their 10 minute film (which incidentally, they did amazingly swiftly). Then, to our horror the software failed to recognise the project file for a second time….even with a reinstall. With the files on S-Drive where I could access them easily from any computer I installed on the local drive of my staffroom machine the Pinnacle program…same error message!!

After some playing and lateral thinking I tricked the software into thinking it had the files (which it did because I could see them behind the dialog box that said it couldn’t find them) by simply closing the dialogue box and not acknowledging that it didn’t think the file were there. (Very technological!!)

I then resaved the file under a different name, and attempted to render (create) a ‘VCD’ – video compact disk, which is the format between CD and DVD that most people don’t know about. Remember I am now on my staffroom desktop computer and I soon discover I have no CD burner!! No problem! I render the file to an ‘avi’ which surprisingly the staffroom machine only takes 2 hours to do. I say surprisingly because I know if I was on the multimedia computers it would take about 4 hours because they are low on hard-drive space and ram, but at least they have cd-burners. The ‘avi’ file finishes and I think “SUCCESS!”….only the ‘avi’ file doesn’t work and the pc gives a message that it is in ‘chunks’!? I’ve never seen this message and after a little more thought decide to re-render the project as an mpeg file so I can convert it to ‘vob’ files to create a DVD. This time ‘SUCCESS’ for real!!!

The next step is simple (or so you would think): find a computer in the school that has a dvd burner in it then use software such as NERO to convert the ‘mpeg’ to ‘vob’ files for DVD creation. Whilst DVD burners appear to be found sporadically throughout the school the software to complete the task I want to complete is almost unheard of. I know the library assistant has a DVD burner in her machine because the previous day I taught her how to use it so I go into the library thinking I am almost finished but after a quick play with 2 of the burning software programs on her machine I quickly discover they will copy data and cd’s but won’t do the conversion I need and although there appears to be conversion software on the computer it clearly is only accessible to certain people as the machine can not find the folder for the conversion program and a quick browse of the program folder on the c-drive indicate its doesn’t appear to exist …back to the drawing board. After a search of the school…for similar hardware and software together on the one machine…to no avail — I copy the ‘mpeg’ file to my personal portable 60gig hard drive, after dumping a pile of folders on my desktop to make room, and proceed home at the end of the day. Total wasted time: 4-5 hours all up!!

Once home I convert the ‘mpeg’ file to ‘vob’ files using “WinAviConvertor” (a simple but useful piece of software you can buy on the internet for a pittance), then burn the ‘vob’ files to a DVD using NERO which came as OEM software with one of my DVD burners. Total time – 10-15minutes.

Then, so I can place the video on the intranet for all to see I convert the ‘mpeg’ to ‘wmv’ which halves the size of the file so I can put it on with out taking up too much drive space, copy it to my portable hard-drive and put in on the intranet through editing my webpage in dreamweaver. Note: I tried rendering to streaming video but the Pinnacle program although capable of this froze.

Humour of the day:

Explaining some of my problems about codecs, ‘avi’s’ and dvd burning in this schools technological environment to a group of teachers one particular staff member piped up with the question:” Is this with the Mac’s?”

a)      Our school has been single platform (PC) for 5 years and

b)      You don’t have these problems on a Mac!

I’m baaaaaaaaack !!

Here is my new wiki:

http://carlodramaqueen.wikispaces.com/

It is a work in progress !!

Good Morning, the main news headlines brought to you by Sairachna Trikha.

 Today, the world leaders meet to lay down all weapons and work on the economic development of all nations.Corporate and industrial leaders meet to work on providing opportunities for poorer nations and a cleaner environment.On this day of Christmas, millions of Christians visit the birthplace of Christ;
Jerusalem, and were greeted by Israelis and Palestinians.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not the news we hear today on the television and radios. But, this is “My Vision for the Future”.Today, I stand in front of you in our free country, but I also stand here in fear, for myself as well for as for the innocent people who could be victims of terrorism.It is possible to have only one vision for the future in a world that is constantly threatened by terrorism, war and violence. It is a vision that allows us to include everyone to live and work together - Australians, Americans, Chinese, Palestinians, Israelis, Afghanis - no one will be left out.Just as we saw a couple of years ago at the
Athens Olympics - where the world came together as a harmonious whole to compete as equals.Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, take pride in their ancestry and yet have a sense of belonging. All citizens are equal. Multiculturalism gives us Australians a feeling of pride, security and self confidence making us open to and accepting diverse cultures.Our diversity is a national asset. Recent advances in technology have opened the world to us making international communication more important than ever. We Australians who speak many languages and understand may cultures, makes it easier for Australia to participate globally in areas of trade, education and diplomacy.My vision for the future goes beyond the peaceful existence of this world but extends to a world where all people live in fairness; children get the opportunities to a good education and enjoyment, today’s medical and technological advances should be made available to all. This vision is only possible when rich nations support poorer countries.Through the journey of life; from preparation to preparedness, as I stand at the gates of the future, I can only see dark clouds of inhumanity which can only be cleared with equal opportunity for all, best secured by free people working together towards a better tomorrow.We must acknowledge challenges and make our choices. A spark of possibility burns deep within every child; that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. My vision for the future can be achieved if we all work towards it from today. Let us resolve to leave this planet a better place than what we inherited.

Vist Sacha’s page @  http://sacht.learnerblogs.org/

FILM REVIEW

Choose a film you have recently seen — either in the cinemas or on TV and write a review on it.

Before you begin you should visit my page on the English Intranet to find out how to write a film review, then visit the following sites for extra information.

http://www.abc.net.au/splatt/review/howto_gen.htm

http://www.freezeframeonline.org/ff2006/filmreviews/readindex.html

Make notes in your work book and on the sheet provided before you make your post.

DO NOT STEAL OTHER PEOPLES WRITING FROM THE NET.

Today — free choice OR “The scariest thing you have ever done” eg the Leap of Faith, Giant Swing, Bungy Jumping, Sky Diving, driving in a race car, the California Screamer, or The Mummy Ride…..

Your writing should include — who, what, when, where, how, why — what you felt, before, during and after etc….

Your regular teacher has asked me to provide a mark and comment on your blogs.

The scale/criteria used has been discussed in class but here is a guidel to the marks you will recieve. Please ensure all work is complted by the end of term. I will endeavour to comment on everyones blogs as soon as I can.

listen to this

Over the years there have been many events that have shaped and changed our lives. Some good, some bad. Choose a world event that you know of, have heard about or would like to know more about either in recent or past news.

Write about what this event was, how it effected the world we live in, how it effected you (thoughts, feelings, knowledge) and how you see the event aeffecting the future of society as we know it.

Aim to write about 2-300 words.

Yr 7 — I have just read through your blogs and am very dissappointed  !! Some of you need to catch up and get your act together or I will need to send home letters about non-completion of work !!!
Please ensure your blogs contain the following posts (at a minimum):
August
1) Choose a topic from the topic list and write at least 200 or more words on it !!! (try a style of writing you haven’t looked at yet)
June/July
1) A review of the Matinee Performance — who, what, when, where, how why –what did you see, what did you learn, what did you think, what confused you etc….
2) International Day — Newspaper Report — what was it, what  happened, what was good (or not so good) about it, what activities were there, who was involved etc….. 150-200 words.
April/May
1)      What’s been happening in the news that has interested you, excited or concerned you, upset or delighted you, where have you heard it reported, what were the facts, the problem, the result, how did you feel, what did you think, were you inspired to do something??????
Write about it.
Use the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHY principle for your writing.
Refer to news articles like http://www.smh.com.au/  or http://www.news.com.au/ . for your ideas OR (Gasp ! Horror !) – check out the print copies in the library.
2)    Write a creative account of the Speech assessment task process from the time you heard that the had to write a speech to the moment before during and after the speech
3)    Publish the speech you wrote for class earlier in term 1/2.

March
1) It’s not easy being Green
2) First Day of School
3) St Patrick’s Day

(note: these have disappeared from the site so I suggest you have a look at your other classmates and 8 Red for ideas and confirmation of the tasks)

STUDENTS NOT UP TO DATE BY THE START OF WEEK 9 WILL HAVE LETTERS SENT HOME !!