6/2/09 6/2/09

4 Simple Tips for Recording High-Quality Audio

The Rapid E-Learning Blog has an excellent article on recording high quality audio on your computer. Having clean, crisp audio is critical to the successful implementation of your learning applications. This article is well worth the read.

Good audio is critical to your elearning success. You might be a great instructional designer and create the most engaging courses possible. But it all falls apart if the audio quality in your course is not very good.

In an earlier post we looked at when it makes sense to consider paying for professional narration. If you have the money, this is a viable option. However, many of you are like Old Mother Hubbard and your cupboard is bare. If you do have a limited budget (or you want to do the narration yourself) then here are some tips to help you do the best job possible.

Today we’ll look at the microphone and recording environment. And in a follow up post, we’ll explore ways to get the best sounding narration.

3/5/09 3/5/09

Introduction to Zotero

Below is a brief introduction to Zotero I prepared for my “Writing a Research Paper" Seminar at the University of Northern Iowa. Starting this semester, I am going to explore Zotero as a research tool.

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. It lives right where you do your work—in the web browser itself.

Download and Install Zotero

Currently there are two versions of Zotero offered for download: Zotero 1.0 and Zotero 1.5 Beta. Zotero 1.5 Beta offers many new and exciting features, but it is still undergoing active development and may cause minor problems for some users as detailed below.

Syncing and backup of Zotero libraries
Automatic detection of PDF metadata
Rich-text notes
Automatic detection and support for proxy servers
Trash can with restore item functionality
Support for Endnote® export styles

Word Processor Compatibility

	Zotero 1.0	Zotero 1.5
Word 2003 (Win)	Compatible	Compatible
Word 2007 (Win)	Compatible	Compatible
Word 2004 (Mac)	Compatible	Compatible
Word 2008 (Mac)	Not Compatible	Compatible
OpenOffice 2.4	Compatible	Compatible
OpenOffice 3.0	Compatible	Compatible

Zotero 1.5 Beta has already been tested by thousands of users over the past 8 months, and we are confident that it is ready for widespread use. We have also added additional automated functionality to Zotero 1.5 Beta to protect data against loss. However, we are still actively adding features to Zotero's synchronization functionality, and there is a small risk of disruption in your user experience. If you plan to use Zotero 1.5 Beta, we strongly encourage you to back up your data regularly. If this message scares you even a tiny bit, please continue to use Zotero 1.0 for the immediate time being.

Zotero Quick Start Guide

For a quick overview of Zotero, follow the link above to the Quick Start Guide or download the pdf.

quick_start_guide.pdf

Zotero Screencast Tutorials

In an effort to make Zotero as user friendly as possible we have developed these screencasts demonstrating many of the basic functions of Zotero. Click on any of the images to watch screencasts detailing the features named below. Special thanks to Steve Bailey from CU-Boulder for preparing the introductory demo.

Zotero Compatible Sites

Zotero will automatically work with many sites not listed here; the best way to find out if Zotero works is to give it a try! If you find a site that works with Zotero but does not appear in the list below, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected].

12 must know Zotero tips and techniques

by Mark Dingemanse
Zotero is getting better and better. In a while, version 1.5 will bring synchronization, online backup of your library, +1100 CSL citation styles, and PDF metadata extraction (for the daring, a sync preview version is available). But even in its current incarnation Zotero is easily one of the best bibliographic managers out there. Here are twelve tips and tricks that help you to get the most out of it.

Zotero Links

Zotero Bookmarks

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Add me to your network

2/18/09 2/18/09

Making the Most of Your Computers

The Feb. 18, 2009 issue of Church Leaders Intelligence Report provided an excellent article on “Making the Most of Your Computers.” Here is the critical part of the article:

At the recent AICPA Not-For-Profit Financial Executives Forum held in Anaheim, Randy Johnson, executive vice president of Network Management Group, Inc. offered his top-ten tips on extending the life of your desktop tools.

Happily, most of these tips do not require additional out-of-pocket expenditure. Consider asking for the advice or participation of someone well-versed in information systems and technology if you don't feel comfortable implementing these tips.

Back up files no longer needed and delete them locally.

Remove programs no longer needed, and make sure to remove program file folders not removed by "uninstall."

Convert drive to NTFS, if not already; this increases the size of read/write blocks and significantly improves speed.

Defrag the drive (twice!).

Install the latest SP release for Windows and Office, if applicable.

Determine that you are not running multiple spyware/virus software.

Run MSCONFIG and remove auto start programs you do not need.

Keep the Tray lean and mean; remove programs you do not run regularly, like Hot Sync for Treo and others.

For Microsoft Vista, remove gadgets like the weather, stock quotes and CPU activity. This is critical if you are running on a single CPU system/older system upgraded to Vista.

Upgrading memory to two or three gigabytes is the only additional out-of-pocket item, but it will significantly improve performance.

Nonprofit Times 2/11/09

1/9/09 1/9/09

My 2009 Software Toolbox

In this blog article, I look at the software applications that I use on a regular basis to stay productive.

In this blog article, I look at the software applications that I use on a regular basis to stay productive.As part of my new year’s routine, I was reviewing some of the tools I use on a regular basis. It always interests me how some tools are on the list year-after-year, while others seem to come and go.If you are not careful, it’s easy to follow a constant rabbit trail of new software applications and services. This year, for example, I started bookmarking all of the new Web 2.0 applications I came across in my daily work and research. At the end of 2008, I had bookmarked 68 different services. You can view the list here.Without further delay, here are the applications that I use on a regular basis:Microsoft OutlookIt’s the first app started and the last one closed. I use Outlook to manage all of my e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. Outlook is the central hub of my productivity world. Working along side Outlook is Franklin Covey’s PlanPlus for Outlook (PPO). PPO helps me integrate FC’s planning procedures into Outlook. Moreover, PPO provides a nice dashboard to view all of your important Outlook components in one screen. Microsoft OfficeWhen I’m not in Outlook, I’m probably in Word, Excel or Powerpoint. Word has been on my list for almost 20 years. I started with Word before Microsoft Office was introduced. I started with Word when it was still in DOS version. I’m now in Office 2007, made the adjustment to the “ribbon” at the top of the screen, and like many of the features that are now standard to office applications. It’s simply the best. (Although, many of the web-based office suites are getting better and better. I use Google Docs on a regular basis, and have grown to like the capabilities of Zoho, which has a lot to offer. If you need to collaborate on a project, you cannot beat one of the web-based suites.)EvernoteThis is a new application on my list this year. Last year, I used OneNote to fill the role of information management. In mid-2008, I started playing with the beta version of Evernote, and soon was hooked on its synching capability. Prior to using Evernote, I tried to keep OneNote in synch using a variety of different methods; none of them worked. Invariably, I would lose some piece of information in the synching process. Not with Evernote. Regardless of my platform, all of my information is right where I expect it to be. Mindjet MindManagerThe more I use MindManager, the more I like it. In fact, I would find it hard to live without now that I have integrated it into my work process. I use MindManager as part of my weekly review, for planning and goal setting, for research and writing. This past fall, MindManager helped me organize a lot of information related to my graduate work. In developing teaching series and curriculum, MindManager is the first program I turn to as I start to visualize and flesh out the various components for the series. If I could only purchase one program in 2009, it would be MindManager. Logos Bible SoftwareLogos is my digital library. A lot of people think I am a really good teacher when the truth is I have Logos. ;) Logos makes Bible study easy. I can dig deep and get the information I need without a lot of research or digging. The truth is, I’ve used Logos for so long that I really don’t remember what it is like to dig into a biblical passage using traditional commentaries, dictionaries, concordances, etc. Of course, one of the benefits of being a long-time user is the depth of my library. I have an excellent library that goes with me everywhere. It still amazes me that I can carry close to 3,000 volumes on my laptop! WordSearch Bible SoftwareWhy do I need to use WordSearch if I am such a Logos fan? Because WordSearch gives me access to a lot of resources not available for Logos. Most importantly, I use WordSearch to access my Preacher’s Outline Study Bible, all of my Holman Bible references, including the Holman New Testament Bible Commentary, and all of John Butler’s resources, including his outstanding Butler Biography series. iTunesThis is the center of my podcasting world. I never leave home without my iPod and 30 GBs of audio to listen to while on the run. I listen in my car and I listen wherever I have a few minutes between activities. Most of the content I listen to comes in the form of free podcasts, although I do purchase books from Audible.com.Rounding out the list are the following:Adobe InDesignMy page layout application of choice.Adobe FireworksMy web graphics application of choice. (Note: can’t afford/justify Photoshop.)NetObjects FusionMy web development application of choice. (Most of the web development I do today either involves WordPress or some other form of a content management system. I used to employ Dreamweaver on a daily basis, but for a simple site, NetObjects does the job.)Adobe AudtionMy sound editing application of choice.Sony VegasMy video editing application of choice.Sony DVD ArchitectMy DVD authoring application of choice.PicasaMy image database of choice.WordPressMy blogging platform of choice.OmniPage ProCharacter recognitionPaperPortDigital filingDragon Naturally SpeakingVoice recognition applicationWindows Live WriterThe tool I am using to write this blog post!SnagItImage CaptureAcronis True Image HomeDisk BackupDiskkeeperDisk defragmentationLivescribeDigital pen / recorderSony ReaderDigital bookSo, what’s in your toolbox? What tools do you find indispensible to your personal productivity, and what tools can you live without? Are their desktop applications you used to rely on daily, but now you rely on web-based tools?Regardless of the tools you use, the key is to focus on what matters most and to work at regularly and consistently producing quality work. Tools are just tools…nothing more.

12/23/08 12/23/08

Introducing Scrapplet: Creating Your Own Site from Scraps

Don Reisinger over at CNET.com’s Webware provides a nice review of Scrapplet, a new web service that allows users to create their own mashable dashboard using “scraps” from other sites. Here’s a brief description from the article:

Want to grab your Twitter stream and put that on the same page as your Friendfeed? With Scrapplet, that's possible. In just a few simple maneuvers, Scrapplet allows you to highlight portions of a Web page or an entire site, drag it to the Scrapplet page, and modify the design of that page to make it fit. In fact, you can resize the site, change the site's colors, and remove borders. In essence, you can create an entire Web page out of existing sites for your own consumption.

You can read Reisinger’s complete review here.