10/17/08 10/17/08

Using OneNote for ePortfolios

I’m searching for examples of ePortfolios as I begin to investigate various options for my own portfolio due at the completion of my master’s degree in May 2010. (I know, it’s still a long ways out, but why wait until the very end to do all of the hard work.)

In my search, I came across educators who are using OneNote for ePortfolios in their classroom. Not my intended purpose, but I found the article to be interesting.

I’m still uncertain about OneNote. I was a dedicated user for quite some time, but found it difficult to keep my three primary computers in sync. I kept finding notebooks missing or pages within a notebook missing because of the sync process. Frustrating.

This is where Evernote entered the scene. With the release of Evernote 3.0, I am very happy with the ability to enter information and sync from virtually any computer, as long as it has an Internet connection. I can even enter information into my notebook from my Windows Mobile device and when I get back to my desktop, there it is waiting for me.

If you are looking for an information management solution, give Evernote a try. Knowing how software works, however, I fully expect Microsoft to come out with some killer improvements to the next version of OneNote. Improved synching will have to be one of those improvements or Microsoft can kiss their user base good-bye as they flock over to Evernote.

If you are a K-12 teacher, you may be interested in how OneNote is being used in this school to spark interest and motivate students to learn.

How to Build Better ePortfolios
by Sascha Zuger
from Tech&Learning (August 18, 2008)

8/9/08 8/9/08

TweetDeck is a Cool New Twitter App

Twitter users have a new application to try. It's called TweetDeck, and it looks very promising. Allows you to group your tweets into categories to help filter out "active" tweeters who tend to fill your screen with a lot of conversation. It's built on Adobe Air, so install is fast and easy, and the interface has a nice cool factor. Give it a try.

TweetDeck

7/17/08 7/17/08

OoVoo is Ooooh Sooo Cool

I just came across a new tool for video conferencing. It's called ooVoo. I've experienced MeBeam during a classroom chat, and besides its ugly interface, it works OK. (How's that for a raving review?) On the surface, ooVoo looks better than MeBeam. Moreover, in the podcast video I watched where ooVoo was used, it has some nice features, like the ability to select and zoom to one user while they are talking. To watch ooVoo in action, head on over to the EdTechWeekly Podcast. OoVoo has an impressive features list. Most important, in my opinion, is the ability to record and stream conversations. Of course, it looks like the price is right...free. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

7/9/08 7/9/08

Recording with Skype

Skype is a wonderful tool. A couple of weeks ago in my Emerging Instructional Technologies class at UNI, I witnessed the power of Skype when we had the opportunity to interview guest experts via Skype.

Since that time, I have wanted to experiment with Skype and see how it worked to create a podcast. For my first test run, I choose Dr. Leigh Zeitzas my guest. He had just returned from a week in San Antonio, TX for NECC 2008, and I had followed many of his experiences via twitter. Still, I wanted a frontline report of what was happening in the tech field.

Eager to get going, I sent Dr. Z an e-mail with my idea and he responded immediately. Great idea! So, I opened Skype, opened Total Recorder, which I use to record all kinds of steaming Internet audio, and made a quick test call.

Crash.

My PC acted like I had jolted it with 100,000 watts of electricity and froze. I did a quick google search and found a great article on recording Skype with Total Recorder, and started making the necessary corrections to my settings.

This time, my PC didn't crash, but the audio sounded like it was in a bucket and it stuttered. Not good. This was the start of a four hour search for a solution.

Lesson #1: Make sure your setup is working perfectly beforeyou contact your guest expert and setup the interview.

I'll try and recreate the process I went through:

Total Recorder. I think Total Recorder would have worked with Skype, but I am using a USB headset, which seems to create some problems for TR, plus I know from past experience, that TR can be touchy if the settings are not correct. After working with TR for an hour, I decided to move on. (I already own a copy of TR, so it is the logical first solution.)
A google search for apps that will record Skype calls led to a few tries. The first was an app called Hot Recorder. I installed it and everything worked great...except it wouldn't record. Strike 1.
My next attempt was TechSmith's outstanding screen capture program, Camtasia Studio. I had downloaded a trial version of Camtasia a week ago to experiment with creating Flash Files from a PowerPoint presentation. While searching on google, I saw on a user forum that Camtasia would record from Skype. Well, after 30 minutes of trial and error, I gave up on Camtasia. Strike 2.
My next try was a program called Skype Recorder. Again, I installed the program, fired up Skype, and the program would not record. I didn't even mess with trying to get this one to work. I uninstalled and kept moving. Strike 3.
My next google hit was a site called DigitalPodcast.com. I found an excellent video by Doug Kaye and Paul Figgiani on "How to Record a Podcast Using Skype." Score. This podcast led me to two programs that worked right out of the box (so to speak). The first is CallBurner and the other is Pamela for Skype. I liked CallBurner, but it was $80 US while Pam sold for only $20 US. I decided to give Pam a try. After I edit the podcast, I will post it via podbeam.

6/23/08 6/23/08

Using OneNote for ePortfolios

TweetDeck is a Cool New Twitter App

OoVoo is Ooooh Sooo Cool

Recording with Skype

Updated EIT Links

Emerging Instructional Technology Links