Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Week 7: Multimedia

Videos – YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion


The Internet is now an interactive, visual space (also known as Web 2.0, new and improved!). YouTube is one of the most popular social networks. Video is great for storytelling, library promotion, instruction or for a comedy sketch. People spread videos online through social media sites. When a video receives thousands of views in a short time, it’s called going “viral.” This video is a great example of using video to tell a story:

 
The tools for making videos are available to nearly everyone. A smartphone, digital camera or iPad can all make videos that can be posted on YouTube. Lots of tips and tools for creating videos can be found online too. Here’s a helpful list:

 
Videos can also liven up a blog post (you see where this is going, don’t you?).

 

THING #16 – Embed a YouTube video in your blog.

Most blogging software has a video component that lets you embed (like “insert”) a video that has been uploaded to a site such as YouTube. When you are in the “create a new post” screen, select the video icon to open a search box.

 
Choose to select a file From YouTube and find a video. Team23 has a particular fondness for Mr. Rogers and auto tuning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM

You may need to adjust for formatting of the video within your blog post. It moves around like a photo, so you can reposition it quite easily.

Note: There is another way to insert a video from YouTube, Vimeo or other sources without using the video icon. On video sites there is usually a Share feature that provides code for embedding the video. All you need to do is copy and paste. 

 

Podcasts 

Another multimedia feature of Web 2.0 is podcasts. Podcasting is like amateur radio. All you need is a microphone and sound recording software and you can create a podcast. People often join together to record their discussions on various topics, from technology news to Harry Potter. They upload their recorded conversations (audio files) to a website or to Apple’s iTunes, and then fans of the show can download the files to their own devices (if you don’t have a device you can just listen through computer speakers).
Team 23 is a big fan of the CBC podcasts available on their website and listened along with Canada Reads.
 
 

DIY Professional Development

Podcasts and videos can be great tools for professional development, whether an author interview, book review, instruction video like we’ve used in our 23 Things posts or debates about library issues (like CBC Radio Q’s debate on the future of libraries which you can hear by clicking on the Listen button).
Many online trainings are archived and made available so you can watch or listen at a time convenient for you.
Try one of the many thought provoking TED talks available on their website. TED is a nonprofit that brings people from Technology, Entertainment and Design together at conferences to share ideas.

 
THING #17 – Find a video or podcast to watch or listen to that relates to libraries (aka DIY Professional Development) using the sites mentioned above.

Summarize some of the key points from the podcast or video on your blog. If you’ve watched a video and you’re really keen, you can even try embedding it in your post!


Cool Extra Thing: Video conferencing


Video conferencing is a great way to feel like you are “there” with anyone, anywhere while saving the money that would be involved in traveling. There are even free video conferencing tools available so you could save the money of having a long-distance call. All you need is a computer or device with a webcam. You can conduct meetings or interviews. Some authors will even do author readings with libraries and classrooms through video chat.

Explore some of the online tools or apps available for video conferencing. Remember that many tools will not work on your work computer.  If this happens, try to use a public access workstation or a device that is not connected to the GNB network.  For example, a laptop that connects to the Internet via the library’s wi-fi service.

Facetime (iOS)
Skype

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