The Making of a Short, Simple Tutorial

If you scroll through this blog, you’ll come across my post and video “Introducing Google Docs” from April 2011. While the video is merely three minutes long, the work put into its creation spanned quite a few hours…mostly due to my inability to find a worthwhile tool for the tutorial. The assignment sounded simple enough: create a three-minute professional development video. I could have done anything, but I wanted a tutorial that I could use a resource for my career/business-education high school students.

Like most projects, my research began online. I knew what I’d envisioned as I mapped it out on my storyboard. My goal was to walk my students through the process of signing up for an e-mail account via Gmail and then use the interactive, collaborative services of Google docs. At the start, my concern was trying to work within the time constraints.

I made my first attempt on Screenjelly as it seemed a perfect fit, in theoretical terms. It was a free, screen-capture program that allowed my video to be shot online and it had a three-minute time limit. More importantly, users may upload work to different social-media tools like Twitter, personal websites or even via e-mail. Sadly, after a few attempts, it was evident that this program was not for me. Although the audio-visual features were decent, the final product would always remain as video within the site’s layout. I didn’t want my piece to look like an advertisement.

I also tried to use Screentoaster as it was a suggested link in my search. Alas, it has been shut down.

As I was working on a Mac mini, I reexamined my options. I finally decided to use Snapz Pro X as it is a reputable program featured in Macworld, “Snapz Pro X is a nicely wrought utility that puts all other screen-capture methods to shame. If your Mac OS X work requires precise screen captures, Snapz Pro X is a must-have tool.” And it could be shared in all the ways I'd mentioned before as well as directly to other equipment i.e. PC, iPad, smartphone, etc. Who was I to argue?

Moreover, it is perfectly suited with movie-maker and player: QuickTime Pro. A glowing review on Apple.com actually called this program a “‘the multimedia master” and stated “you can also use QuickTime 7 Pro to record video and share everything you make with friends and family.” The decision was made final as my dear husband had previously downloaded both programs on our computer. And while my final product is not going to win any rewards, I was pleased that I could actually create my own video and that it’s something that I can provide to my students. In fact, after my professor and classmate reviews, I’ll be tweaking it so that it can be used as a resource for other ed-tech students here at the University of Guam.

Mad About Media

I’d been stalling on this reflection of my experiences sharing media tools.  I had hoped that my simple insights posted to my PLNs or Twitter accounts would spur a reply or two.  I thought making public my first LiveBinders, Glogster and SecondLife worlds would generate a query from someone outside of my graduate classroom.  I was wrong.  Alas, I’ve been intellectually spurned instead.  Alright, perhaps that’s a bit too dramatic for this reflection.  I have, after all, gained more followers that are unknown to me than known. (sniffle)  That’s nothing to sneeze at, right?  Right.  And I’ve had visits from strangers; they’ve just opted to remain mum vs. comment.  Or perhaps thenerdyteacher is right...and all my fans' comments are being lost in cyberspace.  C’est la vie.  I shall prevail and continue.

For all intents and purposes, I’ve enjoyed my media-sharing tools and growing resources.  Whilst playing a mostly voyeuristic role amongst the masses, I am learning far more than I could have imagined without these media tools.  It is truly amazing what is offered to ‘us’ on the worldwide web!  As a high-school teacher, I have been able to incorporate many ed-tech tools into lesson plans; model and illustrate difficult concepts in visuals of another teacher’s making and just learn something new each and every day.  Using the various media tools, I’ve been able to truly embrace and promote relevance, rigor and relationships for myself and for my students.  To illustrate my glee and giddy, punchy self, I’ve composed a quirky, silly pun:

Yes, I am aTwitter with many things and nings proffered through this delicious secondlife of educational networking.  I truly diigo the opportunities I have to livebinder myself to bigger, brighter educators around the edmodo globe and in wikispaces.  While I was initially a bit weebly wix my limitations, I am PLNing that I am destined to continue growing personally and professionally.