Photo and Podcasting

Weeks Nine and Ten Photos, Images, Podcasting, Video

Introduction

Congratulations!!! You have made to the end of Blue 2.0. (almost – there’s one module after this one!) This week you will create photos podcast, and videos. In addition you will learn how to share them with family friends, and most importantly patrons. Web 2.0 is an excellent way to spread or share more than words

Activities

Activity 1: Create Photos

Beg, barrow, or steal a digital camera. Film works but the front-end work is easier with digital. If you need a camera, the Library System has purchased one. Please go to the WTYL Circulation Desk

1. Explore Flickr and learn about this popular image hosting site. Create an account. ( or use your Picasa Account if you already have one)
2. Upload some picture.
3. Have some Flickr fun and discover some other tools
1. Great Flickr Tools
2. Flickr Services
3. Mappr
4. Create a blog post about your experiences and point to your photos. Share them with your friends and colleagues. Describe what you like and don’t like about the process. Also describe any uses for the library system.

Resources:

Flickr Learn More Tour

Mediamazine Flickr Tutorials

Flickr Interesting-Last 7 Days

Now not every picture or image you take will be perfect. In fact some of them may need a bit of help. Try this software packages

For an inexpensive photo editor, try Picasa

Here is another package that offers the functionality of Photoshop and is free: Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program).

Also see some of the online image editors suggested during Play Week!

For help on how to take better photos and or editing them, refer to following sites.

Take Great Pictures

Better Digital Photography

Activity 2: Podcasting

Podcasting is an alternative to blogging. Instead of writing, you are recording and spreading the word. Podcasting works really well with complex ideas or music. It allows the patron to download the material on their mp3 player or listen to it on their computer at leisure.

In addition to a computer, you will need a microphone, a quiet place and some recording software. Audacity is nice free package, available for Windows; Apple or UNIX based machines that installs easily. This may be a time to take some fun work home.

However to complete this activity, you do need to create a Podcast.

1) Read How to Podcast or Podcasting News or How to Create Your Own Podcast.

2) Listen to few podcast to get a feel for the medium. You can locate some at Podcast Directory at NPR or at Podfeed. One of the more popular is Coverville, a podcast only about cover songs.

3) Plan your podcast and record it. The podcast does not need to be long. Your first try should be about 2 to 5 minutes. Some ideas for content include some explaining aspect of your job, a narration of an event, or even the current state of UK Basketball

4) Write a blog entry linking to your podcast or better yet record your entry as a podcast describing your experiences. If you are not happy with the results of your podcast or feel a little insecure about the broadcast quality of your voice, post a review of a podcast you like or dislike. Here is a handy link to remind you about to write a review

Activity 3:

The next natural extension of this media manipulation is video. We have moved from words to audio to a combination of both.

By now we are all familiar with YouTube and the infamous UK repelling video. YouTube is more than folks goofing on each other. It can be an effective means to spread your message. In fact the three remaining major party presidential candidates are YouTube. Here take a look: Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, and John McCain. Politicians are not the only one using video. Many Libraries are using YouTube to push information to students about research or to make public relations spots.

So here is your assignment:

1) Conduct a search for “Libraries” in YouTube.

2) Pick your favorite video, write a review of it and post the results to you blog.

Optional Activity

1) Beg, borrow, or otherwise liberate a digital camcorder. If you don’t have one, no worries. The Libraries bought one for Blue 2.0. You can check out the video camera at the WTYL Circulation Desk. Note that the still camera can also capture short video clips.

2) Get a YouTube Account.

3) Create your masterpiece of video magic and upload it to YouTube

4) Post to you blog announcing to the world that you are the next George Lucas.

5) Post a follow-up blog post describing your experience with recommendations of what worked and what didn’t.

Creating a masterwork is sometimes easier said than done. The University has been a help. Editing your videos is as simple as you nearest Mac Lab. All Macs on campus are equipped with Apple’s IMovie. IMovie is fantastic and is easy to master. It can upload any format include the Libraries’ camera. Just plug the camera with the supplied USB cable and download the video directly to the computer. But to use the Mac, you need an account. Accounts are available via a Macintosh Consultant or via the myUK system

For help try these:

Webzone

YouTube Help