hmmmm. Okay, after getting frustrated with the video for my other class, I decided to dive into it and chop it up and re-arrange a few pieces and bits. Needless to say, I am happier with the outcome…works better. But here is an annoying bit: why the hell, in this day and age, can we not get good high quality videos from sites. I use some clips, but first, they are flash videos, and the converter program I have, does a decent job…but not amazing. But why are all flash videos 320×240?!! What the hell is wrong with people? You cannot do a decent video screen size with videos of that resolution!
While working on my project I came across some commercials, and since we were told we could use copyrighted materials for the school project, I went with one of these commercials. The second is included here for your enjoyment:
“Did you say your mum made your lunch?” I love it!
Okay…did anyone watch UCF lose to BC? GRRRRR..and then the Red Sox blow it while the Devil Rays seem to be unstoppable….blah
Oh yea…technology…today I had a major brain fart as I tried to get the digital video camera to be read by the computer…all attempts unsuccessful. Gary had asked how I did it before as I stared blankly at the camera. About an hour later, I tilted the camera the other way to move it off a paper on my desk, and duh, there was the firewire port! Man, I couldn’t believe how I couldn’t find it…wacky!
Here I am in EME 5053, posting my blog entry. I have not had much time to review the software I will be covering in class, but there is time for that. My focus has been to work on my video project for EME 6602, because I am very unhappy with it. I have spent a grand total of 25 hours or so on it, and I just am not pleased. I assisted Gary with minor things (such as helping rip videos, show him how to do something) and he is so passionate about the topic and his idea, that he has put over 35 hours into this project. Actually, his is done and I think it is absolutely brilliant. Granted neither of us created original music or video presentations to be edited; Gary’s project tells a wonderful story and quality is really superb. To me, mine is a mashing of clips and my motivation and speed fell apart. My original concept is no longer showing through, and I cannot for the life of me think of how to get it back
I wasn’t too sure what else to say….so I re-edited and broke down my original posting (kind of like a 2 hour show that airs once as two hours and re-shown in 2 60 minute slots later!)
Since this was an assignment, and had to be done – I figured I would choose workshops that were going to be entertaining and educational to myself. I chose: “iPods for Education” and “Turbo Charging your Computer Lab Project.” The first workshop began at 8am and the presenter was pretty flexible with me. I had the guests initial beside their name and waited to collect tickets until after the equipment was handed out – an 80gig iPod and Belkin Voice Recorder for the iPod. I really really wanted to get one – but since I was not a paying attendee – I didn’t get one (The workshop was one of the most expensive ones at the conference – $625!) The presenter and his assistant were from California and conducted the workshop in a friendly manner. My duties went from collecting tickets and checking people in to assisting with Apple’s software and helping the lost keep up. Thankfully for the group of attendees, I understood how and what the presenter was doing and sadly for me, didn’t learn anything from the workshop.
The workshop ended and I turned in the folder and went along to eat my lunch. I was warned of the prices of the food and water at the conference, so I brought my lunch. After eating lunch and having a conversation with two educators from varying parts of Florida, I went to my next 3 hour workshop. The Turbo Charging workshop was not too exciting for me as the presenter kept turning down technology to discuss curriculum – something I felt didn’t fit into the conference for technology. Gary’s first workshop was switched to a curriculum not technology workshop and found it also to be a waste. I am really surprised that a technology conference would allow a presenter to have a workshop to go against the technology. Needless to say, I misbehaved in the second workshop and watched Madonna – The Confessions Tour on my iPod until the presenter needed some assistance.
3pm did not come fast enough – and when it finally did, I asked if he needed any additional help, he said no and we thanked each other and I walked out the door. I met up with Gary and Christina and we spoke for a few minutes before leaving to attend the Exhibit Hall.
This semester I am enrolled in EME6405, a class in one of the Education Department’s Masters programs. It is a course designed to help give people in Education a chance to learn and utilize current technology to enhance their classrooms. One of the assignments for this class was to assist in the FETC – an educational technology conference at the Orange County Convention Center. Each student had to be a workshop presider for two-3 hour ticketed workshops assisting the presenter.
Here is the powerpoint presentation for the final pass. It is a simple hypertext document that has links embedded within the text and pictures. There is also additional embedded video play.
