Here is an example:
We even experimented with using Google Docs in a collaborative way, so all students shared a document and brainstormed ideas, and then reserved their topic so all could see (and to prevent duplicate project topics). We really like what Google Apps for education offers, so watch for more coming this school year as we dive into using Google apps.
Watch our Healthy Living Show projects HERE in our video showcase section of AmherstTechTV.org
]]>In order to best fit everyone's needs, I needed to reset all members in our Google Discussion Group at TeachMeVC.com This change was required so each user can choose their email delivery preferences themselves (digest single email or all emails).
This means I will unsubscribe you, and you need to re-subscribe yourself if you'd like to continue participating in our free user-to-user forum for Visual Communicator users.
Please visit the website and re-subscribe with the email address you'd like to receive messages at:
Join us!
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Recently we began using our handy Flip Video Mino cameras for recording our pledge segments. Our Tech TV crew kids love using them, as they can do onsite video recording, and then bring footage back for use in Adobe Visual Communicator.
Watch an example in the video below, our pledge segment is about 40 seconds in:
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It's simple to participate--just visit our discussion forum for VC users to learn more about using Adobe Visual Communicator for educational, business, or personal uses:
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I'm pleased to announce two sessions I've been invited to present at the annual New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE) conference on Sunday, November 22nd 2009 in Rochester, NY.
http://nyscate.org/conferences.cfm?subpage=361
Using SchoolTube for Safe, FREE Video Sharing Online
Session A- 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Learn how schools across the country are using SchoolTube as the safe, moderated alternative to share video productions like student newscasts, classroom media projects, staff development presentations and much more. SchoolTube is the recognized leader for moderated, FREE Internet media sharing for teachers and students. All content must be approved by registered teachers, follow local school guidelines, and adhere to high standards. Learn more at SchoolTube.com
School TV Made Easy with Adobe Visual Communicator
Session B- 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Serving as Adobe's Model School TV Program , Amherst Middle School's Tech TV Program has been recognized nationwide for producing live "green screened" daily news shows and classroom video projects since 2003. Join Technology Teacher and Adobe Education Leader Mr. Rob Zdrojewski for an inside look at how affordable and simple Visual Communicator makes school Television production, now possible on any size budget. Visit http://www.AmherstTechTV.org for more information and to view sample morning shows and student projects.
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I'm excited to announce my next Visual Communicator Workshop will be Friday, January 15th 2010 at the annual Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando, Florida. FETC is one of the biggest Ed Tech conferences in the nation. Join us if you can!
Details:
Turn Your Classroom into a Green Screen TV Studio!
Friday Jan 15 2010
Noon-3pm
Workshop Code--FP142
http://www.fetc.org/workshopLists.aspx
Also join me for other 1-hour Concurrent sessions where I present the basics of School TV Newscast Production and Using SchoolTube.com:
Using SchoolTube for Safe, Moderated Online Video Sharing
1:50 PM - 2:45 PM Thursday, January 14, 2010
School TV Newscasts and Video Projects with Adobe Visual Communicator 3
9:15 AM - 10:10 AM Friday, January 15, 2010
More information on FETC can be found here:
http://www.fetc.org/
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Join the newest trend in discussion groups at google! I created a discussion group for Adobe Visual Communicator users, since there are a whole bunch of desired features:
1. Choose how often to receive updates via email or RSS feeds.
2. You can receive and send messages through your email browser, or visit the site, your choice! Perfect for those not wanting to check yet another site, and are comfortable with checking email as the preferred method of participating.
3. Learn from the widest veriety of VC users (education, corporate, personal, government users, etc).
Begin by visiting the Adobe Visual Communicator user group here:
As of now, I've configured it so you'll request to join, and I will manually approve you (to prevent spam). Understand your email is secure and never revealed to the group members unless you decide to do so. That's the true beauty behind anything google--you decide how much or little profile info is revealed, while still being functional! Try it today...
]]>The firewire converter we recommend let's you use practiaclly ANY camera (new or old) as long as it has a TV-out cable (many do). Plus we added a mic mixer and two wired newscaster-style microphones, making this a perfect package for any classroom or office. Just add your own Windows PC and camera and the package will get you started!
Although intended for education users, this package also is well suited for business or personal users as well, especially if you'd like to make web videos, video newsletters, etc with high quality results.
See the redesigned package here:
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Participate in our forums for a chance to win Adobe Visual Communicator 3 software ($149 value!)
To help kickoff and encourage participation in the new AskMrZforum.com site, one randomly chosen participant during October 2009 will win a licensed copy of Adobe Visual Communicator software.
It's simple, just participate by posting questions, comments, advice and/or and responses in our new user-to-user based forum for Adobe Visual Communicator users.
So give it a shot during the month of October 2009. Don't just read forum entries--participate! The knowledge you'll gain and questions you post will help the entire community of Visual Communicator users out there.
]]>I'd think that VC would need to see this Skype feed as another camera source, and since you can have up to 3 cams, why not make the skype feed camera 2 or 3?
To accomplish this though, you'd need to have a separate PC running skype, and that PC would need to have a TV-video out capability on its video card. Let's call this computer b. Then feed computer b into a Canopus firewire converter box. Now connect the canopus box as a firewire device onto your computer running Visual Communicator. VC will think this is a live cam, when it's really the skype video feed from another computer...
Make sense? I love these Canopus firewire converters as now you can make ANY video device a camera feed in Visual Communicator! New or old cams work, no need to find just the right firewire camera anymore...
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You can subscribe to receive his newsletters too.
]]>Welcome to a new way for Adobe Visual Communicator users to connect in a new format-- an online community forum for ALL VC users.
The TeachMeVC.com site is now ready and awaiting your questions, comments and ideas. This new method of communication will help us all help each other. Think of it as "teachers teaching teachers" as we collaborate and share ideas and what works and what doesn't in regards to school TV production. Whether working on live newscasts, classroom projects, or having trouble, this is a venue of support that is needed for Adobe Visual Communicator users worldwide.
Please visit the forum to say hello, as you'll see some topics I've started. Feel free to post your own topic starters too.
Enjoy the new TeachMeVC.com site!
]]>Sure we could have pre-recorded these segments, and had the benefit of starting over if we flubbed our lines, but hey what fun would that be? We decided to perform LIVE so parents could see Visual Communicator in all it's simplicity.
Below is the 5th and final performance we recorded, and our performances became better each time we did them. Suffice to say, this will now be an annual event for us as it went over extrememly well and was highly effective showing what we teach in our classrooms.
Production Note-- nearly all of what you see was created exclusively with Visual Communicator, except for the classroom footage which we used our handy Flip Video cameras for, worked great!
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Hi I teach Spanish with web cam. I live in Germany and my students live in Eagan Minnesota, I teach all the classes with a live camera, I want to know if I can use The School TV Made Easy equipment in my class?
I'd say yes, as long as you are doing a "one-way" live broadcast. You could use Visual Communicator's live stream capabilities, or even the SchoolTube streaming capability. We will be doing this soon with our "Live @ 9:05" Newscasts from our school, so I will feature more blog articles when we have the knowledge of how to best accomplish this.
In any case, the Getting Started Package will allow you to use any classroom or office as a greenscreen TV studio, for both live or prerecorded projects like we do at my school.
Hope that helps, leave questions or comments below.
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TO: Past Teach Award applicants and winners
SUBJECT: Best Buy Announces New Teach @15 Grants for Schools
Best Buy Teach Awards change to Teach@15 Awards - $1500 Awarded Every 15 Days
Best Buy is proud to announce the Teach@15 Award program - a new program to help schools serving students in grades 7-12 meet their technology needs. As past participants in the Best Buy Teach Award program we wanted you to be the first to hear about this exciting new funding opportunity.
Teach@15 is a feature of Best Buy's philanthropic focus on teens called @15 - our commitment to fuel teens' power to create positive change in their communities. That's why teens are the ones with the power to nominate and vote for the Teach@15 schools. The whole process is in the hands of teens, which means less work for teachers and school administrators, because there are no grant applications for you to complete. All you need to do is encourage your teen students (ages 13-18) to register online today at at15.com and nominate your school.
Teens (age 13-18) who are registered members ("Members") can nominate their schools (depending on eligibility) to win a Teach@15 Award. Teen members can vote once a day for 15 days for one nomination. Every 15 days, Best Buy will award 3 schools with Best Buy Gift Cards based on member votes. The school with the most votes will win $1,500, second most votes wins $1,000 and third most votes wins $500.
To learn more about Teach@15 visit at15.com/teach.
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