iPad Apps (Panorama, 360 Panorama, iMotion HD)

November 12 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |4 Comments

By Carlo Daniels, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

Panorama™

Price – $0.99

Panorama by Wondershare Software Co., Ltd for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, and Android offers users a clean and facile way of creating panoramic images.  All of this can be done in mere seconds by simply tapping the “Capture button” within the app and steadily moving/panning one’s iOS device from left to right to capture a scene.  Frames of the scene will be recorded and instantly blended together within the program.  This comes extremely handy when attempting to capture an image of something that is especially wide or out of range for any of the iOS device camera lenses to capture with a single shot.

What is more is that one can also apply various filters to each panorama by selecting from some stylish effects built into the app such as Sketch, Vintage, Rice paper, etc.  In addition, sharing a video is made easy by allowing one-touch uploads to Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, and email.

For more information and to purchase and download the app go to http://powercam.wondershare.com/panorama.html.

360 Panorama

Price – $0.99

For iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, and Android 360 Panorama by Occipital Inc. allows users to create full, spectacular 360 degree panoramas simply by panning one’s own iOS or Android device in a 360 degree motion. The user interface is lined with a background grid that aids one in panning smoothly and evenly for the process.  Furthermore, pictures are automatically taken and stitched together as the user pans his/her device without a single tap, making for a very smooth and seamless process.

Sharing can either be done using the full 360 video created or by using a wide, flattened image version of the 360 panorama.  Options include Twitter, Facebook, and email.  Users that create an Occipital account can also benefit from cloud storage whereby panoramas that are uploaded can instantly be retouched or have a boost in quality overtime. Occipital account users also have the ability to access their videos from a desktop.

For more information and to purchase and download the app go to http://occipital.com/360/app.

iMotion HD

Price – Free (Full version is $1.99 that allows more exporting options)

As an Apple exclusive iOS device app, iMotion HD by Fingerlab lets users create dynamic time-lapse and stop-motion videos from their mobile devices.  This can be very useful for recording processes that take an exceptional amount of time (such as a plant growing overtime); creating unique, animated videos with inanimate objects; etc.  Moreover, iMotion allows for HD 720p capturing in either portrait or landscape modes.  Users also can make use of helpful ruler guides and onion skinning (transparencies of previous still images to help provide a basis point for taking the next still picture for stop-motion video) options to enhance the professional quality of their videos.

Videos can either be taken using the “time-lapse”, “remoted” or “manual” modes.  Time-lapse lets users shoot a stop motion video as if it were a regular video, capturing still frames as video records to supply the stop-motion effect.  Manual allows a user to create their video the old fashioned way by shooting individual pictures whereas remoted lets users download the iMotion Remote app on another iOS device to remotely control the capturing on their device with iMotion installed.  Sharing options include Facebook and the photo library on the iOS device.  Advanced options such as exporting to YouTube and iTunes as well as the ability to manually focus shots come with the full version for $1.99.

For more information and to download the app go to http://www.fingerlab.net/website/Fingerlab/iMotion_HD.html.

TechTip:  360 Panorama App

By Brittani Carter, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant When using the 360 Panorama applications by Occipital, you’re given the option to share your photos. Once the photo has been taken, located on the lower right hand corner there is an “Upload Icon”. After you’ve selected the “Upload Icon”, a menu with all of your upload options will appear.  You have the option to “Make it public”, along with “ Showing your Location”.

Next, you want to select “ Start Upload”, this will change the menu options allowing you to “ Create a New Occipital Account”. Setting up a new account with Occipital is completely free.  All you need is a valid email address along with password. Having an Occipital Account, will allow you to view your uploaded panoramic photos on a desktop computer.

You also have the option to “Share and Upload”, your photos to your Twitter and Facebook



Mobile Device Safety and Security

October 23 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |15 Comments

Image found via http://blog.sgrouples.com

By Nicole Dobyns, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

The Department of Homeland Security sponsors Cyber Security Awareness Month in October. This month is dedicated to Internet and mobile safety. Staying safe with the Internet has become a common practice by many people. We all know to not open suspicious emails, or to not go to sites we don’t know. We’ve also been told many times to change our password often. Why do you think we all have to change our ECOM and STARS passwords after so many days? It’s a security thing!

However, with mobile safety, we don’t always look at the little things that can be unsafe. First thing that I would like to discuss is location awareness on your mobile devices. A lot of times your phone or tablet will have the location awareness turned on since that is a default setting. It is up to you to change that setting. Just be aware that certain services, such as maps or the popular application Four Square, do not work as well when location services is turned off.

Many people do not think twice before downloading an app. On Android devices, you are prompted to accept permissions from the app for it to access certain things on your phone. If you are an Android user, it is a good idea to read through these permissions before downloading an app. With Apple mobile devices, you do not get to read through the permissions of an app, but they are relatively easy to find when you are in the app store. Usually a trip to the developer’s website, and you can easily find the permissions for a particular app.

It has become common practice for QR codes to be found everywhere. It seems that everyone likes to use these handy codes to relay information from videos to calendar appointments to websites. However, if you aren’t careful these codes can be dangerous for your mobile safety. QR codes have been known to be attached to viruses or spam. Sometimes the viruses connected to these codes can access your personal information in your phone, or even send messages and other updates through your social media. If you don’t want to be a victim of this, make sure the QR code says what it is going to do before you scan it with your mobile device. Or better yet, get a scanning app that will preview the website or video for you before it opens.

Image found via http://paysimple.com/blog

There are some simple things to think about as well when it comes to mobile safety. You do not have to answer numbers that you don’t recognize. If the caller really needs to get you some information, they can certainly leave a voicemail. Be aware that there are many credit card scams via text message too. I have received a few of these pretty recently. Remember that your bank/card issuer should never ask you for any personal information like credit card information or your social security number through a text message. If you receive a text asking for this kind of information, simply do not respond. Notify your bank/card issuer immediately if you did give out some of this information. They can usually put a stop to fraudulent uses of personal information very quickly.

Another concern is whether or not you should have a passcode on your device. The passcode helps to protect your data that can actually be stolen if you are in a public place while using your device. If you have ever lost a phone or had one stolen, you know how unnerving it can be to lose all of that information. One nice thing that Apple does for its iPhone users is an option to wipe all the data on the phone after 10 incorrect tries with the passcode. Android devices typically don’t have this, but your carrier can help you to do a hard reset on your phone if you forget your passcode. Android phones sometimes let you login to your Google account to reset passcodes if you forget it entirely.

Mobile and cyber security are hot topics right now. People are connected in many different ways. It is hard to keep up with all the safety, but it still important to keep all of your devices safe. Keeping your devices secure not only helps you, but anyone that has been connected to you through your mobile devices. If you have any questions with the above information please call us 309-298-3076 or stop by the Interactive Multimedia Lab in Horrabin Hall 104 for one-on-one help.

TechTip

By Amanda Richards, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

One way to secure your privacy with mobile devices is to turn off your location services.

Image from: http://icanstalku.com/how.php

iPhone:

In order to turn location services off on an iPhone you go into Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Off

If you want to use location services for applications such as Maps and foursquare you can leave the location services on and go through each individual app and turn off their access to Location Services.

Android:

Image from http://icanstalku.com/how.php

In order to turn location services off on an Android phone press the Menu Key > Settings > Location and Security

By default, Use GPS satellites are on. Uncheck the box to turn it off.  This will end location based information for all applications. This includes location services for legitimate uses such as Maps.  If you choose to turn your GPS off whenever you need to use your navigation application you will have to go back into settings and turn GPS on.


Lecture Capture Using Quicktime on Mac

October 11 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |7 Comments

By Carlo Daniels, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

QuickTime for Mac OS is a powerful media technology, which allows one to watch video from the web or one’s computer.  Furthermore, QuickTime also gives one the ability to screen record, making it possible to capture lectures presented within COEHS classrooms at WIU.  Benefits of doing this include having lecture-capture for flipped classroom techniques and creating content for mobile devices. These benefits in turn can be great strategies for reinforcement, test preparation/study, and use for students who miss classes.

One simply has to present their PowerPoint presentation (if that is the presentation software to be used for lecture) as he/she would normally do so in class; however, with the addition of having QuickTime’s screen recording option up and running before-hand.  QuickTime will record all audio and video during the lecture period: Videos created for each lecture can then be uploaded to the CITR streaming server from where students can access the recorded lecture videos via a link sent to them.

Any classroom containing a computer with a Mac OS Snow Leopard or higher is able to screen record using QuickTime.  Thus, QuickTime for Windows will not work.  However, Mac laptops equipped with QuickTime (and microphones) are available for faculty to rent through Instructional Development Services in HH104.  Mac laptops can be connected to projectors in select classrooms where laptop connectivity is available.  The following is a list of COEHS classrooms with laptop connectivity if you have a laptop that you want to use instead of the room machine:

Brophy 224, 227
Currens 204, 415
Horrabin 1, 4, 7, 21, 26, 27, 43, 44, 59, 78, 82, 83, 111
Knoblauch 152, 202, 203, 206
Stipes 108, 231, 301

For more information about QuickTime, please visit http://www.apple.com/quicktime/

TechTip: Using Quicktime for Mac to do Screen Recording

By Brittani Carter and Amanda Richards, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

In order to record your lectures via Quicktime you must have a Macintosh computer and have the Snow Leopard operating system or higher and QuickTime.

1.)  Open QuickTime. If there is not an icon on the desktop, go to the Spotlight in the upper right-hand corner of the screen (it looks like a magnifying glass) and input the application name QuickTime.

2.)  In the list you should see QuickTime Player as a choice. Click on it to select it, and the program will open. You will not necessarily see a new window open but you will see the QuickTime Player menu bar appear at the left top of your screen.

3.)  From the QuickTime Player menu bar, choose File > New > Screen Recording.

4.)  A small black Screen Recording dialog box will appear.

5.)  Click on the drop-down menu to the right of the dialog box and make the following settings:

  • Microphone – choose the microphone that you will be using.
  • Quality – choose Medium or High depending on the detail you are showing. Medium will result in a smaller file size.
  • Save To – choose the computer’s Desktop folder so that the recording is easy to find when you are finished.

6.)  After these settings have been made, press the Red recording button back in QuickTime Player to begin the screen recording. Go back in to PowerPoint (if that is the program that you are using) and start the presentation as you normally would. When you are finished end the show or close your document.

7.)  After ending your presentation or leaving the program that you had open you will notice that the screen recording is still going. You will need to press the Black Stop button (which replaces the Red recording button) on the Screen Recording dialog box to stop the screen recording.

8.)  After you stop the recording your recorded file will be displayed on the screen. You will then choose File>Export. When the Export dialog box appears, make the following selections:

  • In the Export As field, type in a name for the movie file. Make this descriptive so your student will know which class it is for.
  • In the Where drop-down menu, select the computer’s Desktop folder. This way it will be easy to find your file when you are ready to upload it to the streaming server.
  • In the Format folder choose Mac & PC. (If you later find that the files are too large for your students to view you can select something such as iPad or iPhone from the list.)

9.)  Once you have made these settings, press the Export button.

10.)  Once your movie has finished exporting you can close the QuickTime Player application by choosing File>Quit.




iPad Apps (iMovie & Forms)

October 2 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |No Comments

By Carlo Daniels, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

iMovie for iPad

Apple’s iMovie for its mobile devices is a powerful and simply effective video editing tool that utilizes only the touch of one’s finger to tap, drag, and swipe to create exciting trailers and movie compositions. One can choose from existing videos or photos straight from one’s iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone or simply make new footage right in iMovie to insert into one’s video project.  When creating a movie trailer or customized movie, one can select and mix-and-match from a variety of Hollywood-like templates with colorful themes, quality soundtracks, and editable titles and for many different movie genres.  In addition, trailers contain pre-set storyboards that indicate which types of video shots to use, which makes the whole process fast and simple.  More video editing options allow for frame freezing, splitting clips, audio adjustments, etc.

iMovie for iOS takes advantage of  web-sharing features by allowing one to share created videos in up to 1080p HD on Facebook, Youtube, CNN iReport, and Vimeo. Other sharing options include sending an email from the Camera Roll, using iMessage, and project sharing between Apple mobile devices with iTunes.  iMovie for iOS is great for educators who utilize teaching with iPads, iPod touches, or iPhones for video projects like public service announcements, advertisements, video journaling, etc. And the multiple sharing options make it great for students/educators who are always on-the-go.  One disadvantage; however, is that iMovie for iOS differs in its user interface from its iMovie for Mac OS counterpart. Click on the following link for further tips and support: http://www.apple.com/support/ios/imovie/

Purchase iMovie for the iPad from the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imovie/id377298193?mt=8.

Forms for iPad

Serving as a client app to Google Doc’s Forms feature, this app allows one to look at forms created in Google Forms in a very easy-to-view layout on one’s iPhone/iPad.  For more information on Google Docs, click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/

Google forms created from your PC or Mac that are viewed on one’s iOS device are displayed with optimized margins and font sizes, thus eliminating the need to fiddle with a form on the device with your finger by pinching, zooming, enlarging, and scrolling up and down and left and right.  It is great for educators who need students or others to conveniently fill out forms right on their mobile devices.   What is more is that the app contains an advantageous offline mode where one can simply enter information into forms previously downloaded on one’s mobile device.  Inputted information will then be sent once the device re-connects to the Internet.  One disadvantage; however, is offline only works with forms containing single pages and reverts themes to the plain settings.  For further information, please visit the following link: http://NextApps.info/tag/forms

Purchase Forms for the iPad from the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/forms/id396855682?mt=8.

Tech Tip for Forms: Working in Offline Mode

By Brittani Carter and Amanda Richards, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistants

In order to use the “Forms” application in an environment without WiFi, you have to turn on the “Offline Mode”.

In order to use your form in the “Offline Mode” you need to upload your form from “Google Docs” onto the iPad.

In order to turn the “Offline Mode” On you have to locate the plug icon at the lower part of the screen as pictured below.

Once you are in the correct mode, touch the outside of the box, and this will allow you to go back to your “Forms” screen and enter your answers and hit submit.

After you submitted your answers it will direct you the screen showing you that your answers have been recorded.

If you have more than one person who is participating in the survey, select the “Go back to the form” link to enter the next set of answers.

If you’ve completed the form, select the “Forms” button located at the top right corner.

Selecting the “Forms” button will bring you back to the main screen. At the bottom of the screen, tap the Plug icon.

This will bring you back to the screen that allows you to “Show Answers “or “Upload Answers”.

When you reach this screen you always want to make sure you have WiFi connection before you choose “Upload Answers”.

iPad App (Coach’s Eye)

September 18 2012 by arichards in Tech Insights |5 Comments

By Nicole Dobyns, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

This week we are featuring another iPad app, Coach’s Eye, which has been purchased for use with the iPad cart in the Technology Resource Checkout. Remember, the new iPad cart is available for faculty reservation to use in the classroom. Stop by the Interactive Multimedia Lab in Horrabin 104 to make a reservation or call 298-3076.

This app is a video analysis app that can be used in many different settings. For those faculty working with student teachers, this app might be helpful in watching some of the sample teaching videos and giving feedback for students. Other applications include using the app to analyze video of a golf swing or swimming stroke. Really, this app can be used to analyze any video.

Video anaylsis with this app is more than just a voiceover. Coach’s Eye allows you to draw on the video to highlight something of interest in the video such as a teacher’s eye contact or the angle of a golfer’s arm. Another great feature is the ability to either record your own video with one of the built-in iPad cameras, or to import video from a source that you already own. With importing your own video, you can open a file that has been emailed or imported to the iPad via iTunes when connected to a computer. Another option for importing video for analysis is to use a camera connection kit like the one pictured below.

The camera connection kit allows you to use a SD card from a camera or the camera itself with a USB cord to load pictures and videos directly to the iPad. The allows a user to skip the step of downloading a video from an email or using another service like Dropbox to retrieve the video.

If you want to show off your video analysis to your friends, Coach’s Eye also has the option to post the video to a social networking site or through a text message if you are using an iPhone or Android to use this app. You can also share videos to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

If you are still unsure on how to complete tasks within Coach’s Eye, click here to see tutorials. http://www.coachseye.com/examples.html. If you access the link be sure to click on the tutorials tab to get to the how-to videos.

To purchase this app visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coachs-eye/id472006138?mt=8 .

TechTip – Navigating Coach’s Eye

By Amanda Richards, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

To begin analyzing a video find the video on the opening screen of coach’s eye or upload a video by touching the plus button in the upper right hand corner.

Once you have picked a video to review you can preview, favorite, analyze, or share the video. To favorite the video, touch the star. To edit the name of the file, touch the pencil.

To start analyzing click analyze.

Make sure that you familiarize your self with the video as well as the tools within the program before you begin recording.

In order to record your voice comments and what you mark up you must click the red record button at the top of the screen.

As pictured to the right you will find a toolbar on the bottom left hand side of the screen.

The top icon creates a square

The next icon creates a circle

The third tool from the top creates a straight line.

The tool with an arrow creates a line with an arrow at the end.

The last tool can be used to write freely or to draw.

Underneath the tools you have to options to undo/redo.

You can watch the video in slow motion by touching the switch that says Slow on/off.

The last icon on the bottom left side of the tool bar is the play button.

If you want to choose a different color for any of the tools you can do this by double clicking the tool.

In order to fast forward and rewind use the brown reel at the bottom of the screen.


iPad Apps (Keynote, Numbers, Pages)

February 3 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |No Comments

By Carlo Daniels, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

The Technology Resource Checkout (TRC) within the Instructional Development Services has a brand new iPad cart with 20 iPads for faculty reservation and checkout to use in the classrooms!  A number of apps have been purchased and installed on the iPads and we will be spending the first two blog posts this semester highlighting some of those apps.  In this first blog post we will be focusing on the iWork apps (Keynote, Numbers, and Pages).

Keynote

Keynote from Apple is a very dynamic and useful presentation app that offers a great intuitive interface for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.  Originally a program for Mac computers and being redesigned for Apple’s mobile devices, the Keynote app allows one to touch and tap to create powerful presentations with incomparable smooth and fluid visual effects and transitions.  Users have the ability to select from a variety of themes, animations, fonts, etc. and can take advantage of using built-in presentation tools such as an array of charts and graphs with attention grabbing 3D effects.

Keynote is also great for educators that are always on-the-move and transitioning between multiple device platforms or that want to share their presentations with other instructors for editing on different platforms. Keynote takes advantage of Apple’s iCloud online storage system, allowing people to be able to start working on a Keynote presentation on one Apple device and continue editing it on another.  Microsoft PowerPoint users also have the ability to utilize similar shared editing by being able to view or edit their files with Keynote through iTunes file sharing or downloading a file via email or from icloud.com. People using Keynote also have the option of copying presentations to a WebDav service for further file sharing options.

One disadvantage is that not all animations and effects transition neatly from working on an iMac to an iPad.  Use the following link to gain some helpful tips on what works and what doesn’t: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4114

To read more about the Keynote app or to purchase, visit http://www.apple.com/ipad/from-the-app-store/apps-by-apple/keynote.html.

Numbers


Numbers is Apple’s spreadsheet creation app, which is compatible for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. It allows one to chose from a collection of templates that adhere to the appropriate work, home, or school scenario for one’s spreadsheets.  What is nice is that Numbers already comes with formulas and functions (over 250) that have already been built in, so users can simply add their data to build tables and charts.  Other customization features include editing fonts, photos, graphics, shapes, charts, 3D effects, multiple tables, etc.  Numbers also allows one to view any table or chart as a form, enabling a user to easily enter data on the go and over time.  Educators can take advantage of this feature as a means of taking attendance or perhaps by having students keep a journal for an assignment: The uses are plentiful!

Numbers also enables one to open and view Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and allow the option of exporting created files in either Excel or PDF form.  In addition, sharing of files can be done either through email, iTunes, iWork, and WebDAV.  One disadvantage with Numbers is that it can have a slightly confusing interface with a lot to take in at first:  Be sure to use Apple’s the in-app guide to be certain to clear up some of the more confusing aspects of the program.

To read more about the Numbers app or to purchase, visit http://www.apple.com/ipad/from-the-app-store/apps-by-apple/numbers.html.

Pages


As Apple’s official word processing app for its mobile devices, Pages allows one to create documents with a wide range of options.  Touch and tap to choose from an assortment of templates for letters, reports, posters, invitations, etc. and add graphics, styles, and colors to enhance text.  The iPhone and iPod touch version of Pages allows for easy navigation in the new landscape mode, which features the options of typing with one’s thumbs (as if texting), verbal dictation (on iPhone 4S), and automatic zoom to text as one types.

Educators can make use of Pages by creating documents on the go and sending them to students.  What is more is that Pages is also great for design as one has the ability to add movies and pictures from the Photos app; create and modify images, shapes, and polygons with custom frames, shadows and reflections; and make nice 3D charts and tables. Editing is also more intuitive than ever allowing you to simply tap the Info button to adjust margins, tabs, etc. Utilizing Apple’s iCloud system, Pages allows one to edit documents on whatever Mac device you are on and automatically saves your work as you go. Pages also lets one open files and export files in Microsoft Word format or PDF so many people can view them. In addition, the program also supports sharing of files through email, iTunes, iWork, and WebDAV.  One disadvantage; however, is that it isn’t compatible for saving to Dropbox, which is also the case for Numbers and Keynote.

To read more about the Pages app or to purchase, visit http://www.apple.com/ipad/from-the-app-store/apps-by-apple/pages.html.

TechTip:  Sharing Your iWork App Documents

By Nicole Dobyns, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

Sharing documents using the iWork apps can be easily done when using an iPad. Documents from Numbers, Keynote, and Pages can all be shared using the same method when these programs are used on an iPad.

The first step is to find the wrench icon, which gives you several different options for tools. You will want to touch “Share and Print.”

Once you touch “Share and Print,” you are then given a number of options as shown above.

  • Email presentation – you can email the presentation to someone if you have email set up for use on your iPad
  • Print – you can send the presentation wirelessly to a printer
  • Share via iWork.com – this site is no longer available for sharing use. The site was a beta test to see how it worked, and Apple decided to take it down.
  • Send to iTunes – this gives you different options to retrieve the presentation in iTunes as a Keynote file, PDF, or Powerpoint. This essentially puts a file into iTunes that makes the file accessible on your computer.
  • In order to utilize the iDisk option, you need to have an account set up using Apple’s MobileMe.
  • In order to utilize the WebDAV option, you will need to be connected wirelessly to a server.

Be sure to remember that you need to have the document that you plan on sharing open for use. If the document is not open, then you will not be able to find the little wrench icon where you will find the option to share or print your documents.




Live Binders

February 3 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |1 Comment

By Amanda Richards, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

Live Binders is a website that works as an online organization tool for URL’s, PDF files, pictures, movies, power points, and word documents.  Instead of saving a list of URL’s and having information in different places you can use Live Binders in order to collaborate your resources, organize them neatly, save time, go paperless, and view a combination of links and files in a book format. Along with creating your own personalized binders you also have the opportunity to search through binders that other users have created.

When creating a binder you have the option of making your binder private or public. If you want to create a binder that is private but you still want to be able to let friends see the binder you can then use the share tool to share the link to any specific binder. Another exciting tool in Live Binders is the use of the Google auto fill feature.  When creating a binder you have the ability to type in a couple of key words and Google will bring up websites that are relevant to your topic. You can then sort through the content moving each tab to the left or right, or choosing to delete a tab. As a student I have found this tool particular helpful especially when just starting a new project or paper.

Creating a Live Binders account is simple and free! In order to sign up simply go to LiveBinders.com, create a username and a password.  Currently there is not a paid subscription available, however there is a section for upgrades where the creators have a questionnaire on what paid subscription features would be useful.

There is a link to a webinar recording put on by “Classroom 2.0 LIVE” at http://live.classroom20.com/1/post/2011/02/livebinders-tina-schneider-barbara-tallent-and-team.html that covers Live Binders and its educational uses.

For more information please visit http://www.livebinders.com/.

Tech Tip – Adding Resources to Your Binder

By Nicole Dobyns, Graduate Assistant Instructional Development Services

Creating a binder in LiveBinders is really simple. This tech tip is going to take you through step by step on how to create a new binder for your personal use on LiveBinders.

First, you will want to create a new binder by clicking on the link on the left side of the page as shown below.

Click the highlighted area to create a new binder.

Once you have clicked on, “Start a Blank Binder,” you can add all the details of the binder like the name, description, privacy settings, and even create a password to protect your binder even more.


Once you have filled out the form like the one below, click, “Create New Binder,” and you are ready to add tabs and other resources to the binder. You can use this binder just like you might in a professional setting or for class where you can add tabs to it, and add documents. One huge difference is the ability to add websites as sources within the binder.

Adding resources to the binder can be really fun. Start searching for things that relate to your topic. You can websites, PDF documents, Word Documents, pictures, and movies. Your blank binder will look like the picture below. The first source we are going to add today is a website. Simply copy and paste a website from the address bar in a browser, and copy it to the “Enter a URL Box” as shown in the picture below.

Once you have found the URL you would like, copy and paste it into the box as shown above, and then click insert. Once you insert the website, the site will show up in the binder as it does below. This makes for easy navigation around the sites within your binder.

Adding documents, movies, or pictures will help to make your binder even better. To add a document simply click the “Edit Menu” button on the right side of the page.


This will bring up a menu at the bottom of the screen where you can add different types of files and change some of the more advanced settings of the binder. When you open the Edit Menu initially, it will start out in the Binder Properties. Under Binder Properties, you can change the description, title, author name, category, and privacy you might have changed when you created the binder initially. 

You will want to click on Upload File as highlighted above, and that will bring to a different screen like the one below. Click on “Choose File” and you can go browse on your computer for a document movie or picture to upload to your binder.

Once you have found the file you want to put into the binder, click upload. Now, you do have the option to upload directly to a new tab or a new subtab. I recommend using one of these two options in order to make this process easier. I am choosing to upload as a new tab for our purposes here.

Once you have clicked “Upload to New Tab” your picture, video, or document will appear in the new tab as shown below. Now you know the basics of how to add different kinds of resources to your LiveBinder. Have fun!

MentorMob

February 3 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |1 Comment

By Hayley Dallmann, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

Researching a topic and having a hard time fishing through thousands of pages and information to find what you’re looking for? Finding the right information is not always the easiest thing to do. MentorMob is the perfect free online application to help you with this problem.  MentorMob was founded in October of 2008 by Kris Chinosorn.

MentorMob gives you the ability to create “Learning Playlists.” Creating and editing Learning Playlists is a free and easy process. It allows the user to gather important and useful information that has been found and put it into a playlist, all based on one certain topic.  These learning playlists can contain links to articles, video and timelines about a topic that an educator can then share with their students and others.  Playlists can be made public or private.  If made private the playlist will be un-editable by others.  If made public others can join in and collaborate and edit the playlist to add useful content that they have found to grow the playlist collaboratively much like Wikipedia.

MentorMob gives searching the Internet a sense of organization so you don’t have to stumble through useless information that usually sends you straight in to a dead end.  The objective of MentorMob is to allow the user to spend more time learning and less time searching for what they need.

For more information on MentorMob please visit http://www.mentormob.com/.

TechTip- MentorMob Playlist Creation

By Melissa Gatza, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

Creating your own playlist on MentorMob is simple and fun. In just a few steps, you can add your content and begin sharing with the world or use it privately.

When creating a playlist, you first enter information, which includes the title of your playlist, a description of the playlist, whether it is for recreational or academic use, the categories that the playlist falls under, and important topics the playlist can be tagged with.

After selecting “continue”, you can dictate how private you would like to keep your playlist in the “Privacy Settings”. You can choose whether everyone or just you can see the playlist and whether everyone or just you can add and remove content within the playlist.

After selecting “Save & Add Content”, you can finally put material into your playlist. Selecting the plus sign anywhere in the playlist box will give you the screen to add content.

Insert the URL of your content and then select “Next”. You can also upload your own file to the playlist.

Add a title, a description of your source, whether it is an article or a video, and then choose the most appropriate user skill level for your content. Then, you may choose to select a thumbnail picture to represent your playlist entry.

After you select “Save”, the source will be added to your playlist. You may then grab and drag the items to reorganize the, or choose “Done editing” to publish your playlist.

Stormboard (Formerly Edistorm) (Online Brainstorm/Planning)

February 3 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |3 Comments

By Melissa Gatza, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

****  Edistorm has been updated and the name has been changed to Stormboard. For more information check out the website ***

Edistorm was inspired by Thomas Edison’s idea factories, which is a concept more commonly known today as brainstorming. Edistorm enables multiple people to collaborate online, allowing for large brainstorming sessions. These sessions can be conducted online in real time anywhere in the world by using a “sticky note interface”, that works for both workplace and classroom purposes.

Businesses can collaborate from halfway across the world, while students would be able to collaborate from their own homes- taking group projects to a new level. By simply placing a sticky note on the digital board, everyone who has been invited to the brainstorming session (known as a “storm”) has the ability to see and edit it. This editing feature allows discussions that could lead to better, richer ideas. Words aren’t the only things that can be placed on their sticky notes. Users have the ability to upload images and add a url to a YouTube or Vimeo video. Sticky Notes can be placed onto one of 20 different board template options that range from business friendly to classroom friendly.

Creating public storms and participating in any storm is completely FREE.  But with different paid accounts you can create different private storms that only you and those you invite will have access to.  Edistorm has two different pricing categories, one for normal users, and one for schools and educators.  Normal pricing is $19/month for 2 active storms, $39/month for 5 active storms, and $99/month for 20 active storms. The Educational pricing gives you the option to utilize one active private storm for free if it is used for a classroom.  For more storms, $49/year will give you 2 active private storms, and unlimited public storms for 2 classrooms. $99/year will provide 4 active private storms with unlimited public storms for 12 classrooms. While Schools and Districts can create customized plans by contacting Edistorm. These customized plans include custom branding, a custom web address, and school login integration.

Many of Edistorm’s features make it ideal for using it in the classroom. Students can work in groups on assignments such as papers and projects from home, while teachers can collaborate on topics such as cross-subject lesson planning.  When all participants have been added to a storm, participants can add sticky notes to the board with their ideas. They can then have discussions and comment on the ideas posted and vote on their favorite ideas. These discussions and comments can also be created into an instant report for either Excel or PDF by the storm administrator.

For more information please visit http://www.edistorm.com/

TECH TIP – Organizing Notes and Voicing Your Opinions

By Carlo Daniels, Instructional Development Services Graduate Assistant

When brainstorming ideas in your “storm” you can enter ideas via the sticky notes on the left side of the screen as indicated in the picture below. Once you come up with a few ideas, a plethora of options exist to make organize your notes to your liking.

The following picture showcases an example of a storm full of ideas.  As you may notice, you can also upload images to the sticky notes via this button icon  and upload video as well using this icon , which are both located right above the sticky notes on the left side of the screen.

Sticky Notes containing your ideas can also be color-coded for categorical organization. You can do this by changing the color of your sticky notes before you enter a new idea on the left side of the screen or by clicking and dragging to highlight some of your already created ideas as indicated in the picture below. Highlighting notes also allows you the option of sorting what notes you want in columns.

Each sticky note also contains a vote count as indicated by the  icon button and a comment section as indicated by the comment button.  Each user that your storm is shared with also has up to ten votes that they can cast on an idea.  Either click on the collection of green dots (votes) on the left side of the screen and drag them to the appropriate note to cast a vote (as shown below) or simply click on the  icon button.

Finally, to add a comment to an idea and/or view other people’s comments about it, click on the comment button ( ) on a note. You will see a pop-up window that looks like the one below.



Dipity (Create Timelines)

February 3 2012 by jbutcher in Tech Insights |3 Comments

by Amanda Richards, Instructional Development Services Lab Assistant

Dipity was developed and founded by Derek Dukes and BJ Heinley in April of 2007.  Their overall idea was to create an online visual representation of history that would enable better research to be conducted by users of the Internet.

Dipity is a free digital timeline creation website that allows users to organize the web’s content by date and time. Users can collaborate to create and share interactive and visually engaging timelines. These timelines can include video, audio, images, text, links, social media, location and time stamps.  Dipity timelines can help to increase traffic on your website or blog spot while also increasing user engagement. There are 5 types of accounts that are available through Dipity depending on the frequency or detail that you will need for your timelines. The free personal version allows you to create 3 timelines that feature 150 events and you are provided with the standard design package and 50 MB of space.  Paid plans provide some extra options and start at $4.95/month on up to $99.95/month.  Students do get a 20% discount on any of the paid plans.

Dipity provides a very high potential for use in the classroom.  Students can use it to research topics, events, or people and then create their own timelines and print them out to turn in as an assignment.  Faculty can use it to search and find timelines that others have made that pertain to relevant classroom topics and share them with their students as handouts or show them on a projection screen or interactive whiteboard and have the students interact with it.

Tech Tip–Adding Resources to Your Timeline

by Nicole Dobyns, Graduate Assistant Instructional Development Services

Adding resources to your timeline is very easy to do, once you learn how to add one resource adding any different kind of resource is a very similar process.

First, I want to show you how to create the timeline. When you have created a username and password for Dipity, you will come to a screen that looks like this:

At this screen you will want to edit all the fields as you need to, and then click continue. You have now created a timeline, and you are ready to start adding resources. You can add many different types of resources into your Dipity timeline. Today I am going to show you how to add a YouTube video. First, make sure that you have created a timeline.

This is what the screen looks like once you have created the timeline and are ready to add events.
First, you will want to click on the events tab while you are looking at all the resource options. Type in a title and description, and then click on photo if you would like to add a photo.

From here, if you would rather have a video, you can skip the above instruction, and go down to video URL. You will want to copy and paste a URL from a site like Vimeo or YouTube.
You will need a YouTube or Vimeo link (or some link that has a video), so you will need to go to the website and copy and paste the URL from YouTube.

Once this is done, you will want to click, “Add Event,” in order to add this event to your timeline. This is the easiest way to add resources to your timeline. If you have a website that can fulfill your needs, then you can paste the website URL into the link box, and you will have a link on the timeline for people to click.

If you go this route, be sure to add a picture to the event using the part of the above form that looks like this:

You will want to add different resources once you have created the timeline. The resource that I showed you today is how to add a video or a picture to your timeline. All of the other options to add events to your timeline are very similar in nature, and very easy to use once you have the hang of using Dipity. If all of your questions are not answered here, please come by the Interactive Multimedia lab to learn more. There will be workshops on Dipity in the coming weeks.


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