by ·0 Comments

TED-Ed has launched a new open platform for using video in education.  The word is that TED-Ed  allows any teacher to take a video of their choice (yes, any video on YouTube, not just theirs) and make it the heart of a “lesson” that can easily be assigned in class or as homework, complete with context, follow-up questions and further resources.  The site is in beta. But TED-Ed thinks there’s enough there to show why they’re so excited about this.  This whole process is explained really well in this video created by the TED-Ed team.

What I love about this process, is that ultimately it allows the viewer to Dig Deeper and Think about what they are viewing…..in other words to critically think about the video, not just consume it.  AND,  you can FLIP the video and make it your own lesson.  BRILLIANT!

by ·1 Comment

This year PodCamp WesternMass will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at The Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College. I’ve been attending PodCamps since 2007 and always find these ‘un-conferences’ to be informative, beneficial and fun.

Here’s a little video I put together to promote PodCamp WesternMass 2012:

by ·4 Comments

There are times in an instructional designer’s life when the game changes and Apple has just changed the game-again. This time it is with their iBook Author.  Those who are considering an elearning situation, should consider using this new tool. The ability to interact with the content built in iBooks is amazing for all types of learners. Integrating audio and video right into the iBook allows the learners to integrate with the content.

Anyone who needs a workbook, textbook, manual. job aid, even a magazine, or newsletter should consider this type of learning aid. I will be getting mine soon.

This amazing new [FREE] app iBook Author allows anyone to create beautiful Multi-Touch textbooks — and just about any other kind of book — for iPad. With galleries, video, interactive diagrams, 3D objects, and more, these books bring content to life in ways the printed page never could.

This application has the ability to drag and drop text, images, graphics, video, movies and more into the template.  Apple’s Widgets add Multi-Touch magic to books with interactive photo galleries that bring images to life, engrossing 3D objects you can’t help interacting with, animations that burst off the page, and more.

Another beautiful thing about iBooks Author, it lets you create books that people with disabilities can read and experience. The table of contents, glossary, widgets, main text, and more are built to automatically take advantage of VoiceOver technology. Add accessibility descriptions to any widget or media — including movies and quizzes — so even those with vision impairments can use them.

And you can publish it to the iBookstore or iTunes U or share it with anyone with an iPad.

by ·0 Comments

Yes, I worked on New Years Day art directing a video shoot for a Pilates instructor. After 4 hours of shooting, we got the video we need to create How-to videos for a series of eCourses Bob [the instructor] will be emailing out to clients on his mailing list.

One never knows what an instructional designer will do when working with subject matter experts. In order to fully understand the Pilates movements, I had a yoga mat on the side and did the poses as Bob was describing them.  This way I could be sure he was including all the information necessary to be used in the videos.   Being ready to emulate a situation, ask the right questions and give feedback to the expert are a few of the techniques I use when creating instructional design materials.

There are so many moving parts when shooting a How-to video.  Besides the basics of getting the material communicated correctly, there is; the set, mics, lighting, backgrounds, wardrobe, and direction.

It was a fun way to ring in the new year.