YouTube, GoogleVideo, and More

Lately, I've been posting some articles with video content from YouTube and GoogleVideo. Both services allow anyone to upload and share their videos on the Internet. All kinds of videos can be found... some high quality and some low, entertaining, educational, bizarre and, of course, inappropriate. Teachers who have found valuable content on these sites have asked me, "How do I display this video and prevent students from viewing the other inappropriate videos?" There are several options; my two suggestions are:

• Download the video and a free Flash video player
• Embed the video into your TeacherWeb site or blog

Download: The advantage of a downloaded video is its location. Now that it's stored on your computer, network, or flash drive you do not have to worry about the Internet connection being slow (or down) during class time. For this reason, most teachers choose the download method. Follow these steps:

1. Copy the web address of the video
2. Paste the address in the empty box at KeepVid.com
3. Click the Download button
4. Select a location to save the video, click the Save button

Great!... but when I double click on the downloaded video, my computer cannot open it. Well, unlike UnitedStreaming, these videos are downloaded in a format called Flash (.flv). This means your computer needs a Flash video player. Download the free player by doing the following:

1. Go to: http://applian.com/flvplayer/?src=GFLV_PLAYER
2. Scroll down to FLV Player
3. Click the Download just FLV Player link
4. Click Run... and Run again
5. Click Next... Install... and Close

The FLV Player is now installed. Open the player by doing the following:

1. Select Start... All Programs... and FLV Player
2. Click File... locate the downloaded video

Embed: The suggestion above works great, but what if you want to post the video on your TeacherWeb site? YouTube and GoogleVideo both give the option of "embedding" videos to websites and blogs. This means the video will play directly from your webpage without seeing other posted videos that could distract students' attention. To embed a video, do the following:

1. Locate the video on YouTube or GoogleVideo
2. From the column on the right, copy the Embed code (when using GoogleVideo, you have to click the Email - Blog button to see the Embed HTML code)
3. Go to your TeacherWeb site, webpage, or blog
4. Paste the embed code in the desired location

If you've located a video, but all of this downloading and embedding seems too hard... give me a call. I'd be glad to guide you through the process.

Cool Tech Tool: Primo PDF

TeacherWeb has made it easy for teachers to post documents on their class websites. In most cases, it works great. Occasionally though, a student may not have PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc. at home and are unable to open the posted file. Some teachers have converted their files to PDF (Portable Document Format) before posting to their website. Why? PDF files offer a number of advantages:

• Smaller file size (often takes less time to download)
• Cross-platform (can be viewed on PCs or Macs)
• Opens with the free Adobe Reader program

How do I convert my files to PDF? One way is to scan your printed documents... but that can take a lot of time. For me, Primo PDF has been the best answer. It is free and easy to use. The program runs through the print option, simply click File... Print... and choose PrimoPDF. The program will ask you where you would like to save the file - viola! You have a PDF file. The file can be uploaded and posted on TeacherWeb, just like any other file.

Cool Tech Tool: Firefox 2 -or- ieSpell

TeacherWeb is quick and easy to use, but many of the templates do not have a spell checker. Sure, you can type your information in Word, spell check, copy the text, and paste into the TeacherWeb form… but there has to be a more efficient way, right? Of course! The Firefox 2 upgrade includes a spell checker directly in the browser.

One problem… not all TeacherWeb templates work in the Firefox browser. Is there a free solution? Of course! Download ieSpell for Internet Explorer. This adds a small spell checker button on the browser’s toolbar. Click it once to highlight possible misspelled words.

TeacherWeb® Weaves Through the District

A few of years ago, some teachers in our district discovered a new tool to help enhance communication between the classroom and home. Last year, every high school teacher began connecting with students and parents through their own TeacherWeb® sites. Feedback from teachers, students, and parents has been positive, increasing requests to expand to the middle and elementary schools.

The middle school teaming concept offered unique challenges to the way TeacherWeb® was designed. Teachers wanted a team website that would provide students and parents a “one-stop shop” to view advisory, core, and allied information. The solution was to have each team share access to one TeacherWeb® site that would provide links to all the individual class/subject information. The “Welcome” page uses the News Flash feature to give students and parents an opportunity to enter their email address. When the page is updated with new information, a message is sent automatically to the distribution list with a link to the website. Teams are also using a free service from Calendars.net to post an interactive calendar that displays homework assignments for all the team’s classes.

Middle school teachers are working hard to have their new websites completed by November 15, ready for student-led conferences. If you would like to see an example of a middle school team’s website, visit the Xcels. You can click the team’s Homework link to view their interactive calendar.

For more information about using your TeacherWeb site, download one of the following Tip Sheets:

Middle School Teachers • High School Teachers

Ten Tips: Use Your TeacherWeb® Effectively & Efficiently

Managing a website can be time consuming. Use these 10 strategies to help you work smarter not harder...

1. Approach your web content from a student and parent’s point of view. What information would be important? – contact information, class schedule, syllabus, unit summaries, resources for major projects, homework, due dates, important handouts, etc.
2. Use the “News Flash” feature to communicate updates with students and parents automatically.
3. Provide a link to Family Access.
4. Upload handouts… only when necessary. It takes time to post handouts online. If you are printing handouts for the entire class, it may not be worth your time and effort. Extra credit handouts are great to have online as students can access the printouts when needed.
5. Stop writing long web site addresses on the marker board – hyperlink the web addresses directly from your class “Links” page.
6. Students and parents love seeing class activities, student projects, and field trip pictures posted online. (NOTE: Be sure all student information is removed from the displayed images and the Acceptable Use Policy has been signed by the student’s parents.)
7. Use the “All Purpose” pages if a variety of content needs to be posted, i.e. formatted text, hyperlinks, images, tables, etc.
8. If you have an online textbook, provide a link and directions for access.
9. Set a weekly, 10-minute schedule to review and update your web pages (every Monday morning for example).
10. Whether you like it or not, your web site is a reflection of you as a teacher… keep it updated, organized, and professional.
    

Cool Tech Tool: BubbleShare.com

Looking for an easy way to post class pictures online? Look no further than BubbleShare.com. Easily upload individual pictures or a whole folder of pictures. BubbleShare automatically provides the HTML code to post a variety of photo album styles onto your TeacherWeb page.

Why do they call it BubbleShare? It has this cool little feature that lets you add “caption bubbles” to your pictures. You can even record audio clips to the pictures. Give it a try; you’ll see why it is this month’s Cool Tech Tool!