I’d like to learn how to create eBooks. ePub sounds like its the best format to go with, as it is the beginning of an industry standard and is supported by Apple and its iPad.

The reason I love the iPad over other eBook readers, is that it supports basic HTML5 – which allows for the inclusion of multimedia. For a long time you have been able to create eBooks using programs like Sigil and Calibre. These are free OSS products which support the basic ePub standard. Apple’s Pages then had the ability to export documents with video embedded to create an ePub document which would support multimedia embedded. It meant though that Apple was using proprietary software to create a proprietary format, and hijack the epub format.

I don’t have a Mac any longer, and am back to Windows. I needed to find a product which would allow me to start creating eBooks with the primary aim the inclusion of multimedia of sound and vision. Here are the ones I found:

• Sigil - Great to create simple eBooks (think static almost ‘PDF’)
• Calibre - This also has more widely supported conversion options, as well as some fancy aspects of creating content from RSS feeds and automated content from websites. It also has a built in ‘library’ interface for your eBook management with a web-server to support the interface. For FOSS, its great to see such a full-featured commercial product.
• Adobe InDesign CS 5.5 – The really disappointing thing about it being CS 5.5 is the subtle changes from CS 5. I have purchased a site license for CS 5 for school – and not the maintenance option. In CS 5, you can export as an ePub, but doesnt support the HTML 5 embedding of multimedia. It packages the eBook for Adobe’s desktop reader – Digital Editions. The CS 5.5 update for InDesign however specifically includes an update to the export tool which allows the exporting of multimedia. There is no patch to support the upgrade to CS 5.5 from CS 5 – its a re-install, new version situation. Bummer!
• Jutoh - I may have found the holy grail of eBook creation. It is basically a desktop publishing client – albeit simple – but allows exporting of embedded multimedia files. It is platform independent (client for most OS’s). It cost’s money.

Some sites I have been reading to find out more information about ePub documents and creation:

• http://www.elizabethcastro.com/
• http://ereads.com/2011/06/dont-get-too-used-to-epub.html
• http://tomorrowsbook.com/20100409147/dev-tools/news/epub-creators-epub-sucks.html
• http://www.ghacks.net/2011/04/22/firefox-epub-reader-read-epub-ebooks-online/
• http://www.ghacks.net/2011/05/29/create-ebooks-in-epub-format-with-grabmybooks-for-firefox/

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Something happened to me this week. I was lucky enough to go with a crack team of fellow educators to visit some standout schools in Victoria.

Edutopia by The George Lucas (yes, of StarWars fame) Educational Foundation has an excellent resource about the Top 10 tips for working/teaching with New Media.

Briefly summarised, these are:

1. Break the Digital Ice
   • Use Web 2.0 solutions like VoiceThread to get better aquainted with your students.
2. Find Your Classroom Experts
   • Take advantage of your student’s technical KnowHow – ask your learners, who is doing what in their spare time with technology?
3. Get Off to a Good Start
   • At the beginning of the year, use Web 2.0 tools to help students better manage their own learning.
4. Think Globally
   • Turn your classroom into a Gateway for learning about the world.
5. Find What You Need
   • Be creative with your supplies and furnishing. There are a load of US-based examples to put you in touch with corporate.
6. Make Meaning from Word Clouds
   • Use word clouds to encourage lively conversations about words with tools that convert text into visual displays
7. Work Better, Together
   • Use Collaborative workspaces in your classroom.
8. Open a Back Channel
   • Take input on how your class works. Ask for feedback
9. Make it Visual
   • Use visuals to inspire, create curiosity, brainstorm and engage your learners.
10. Use the Buddy System
    • Spend time with your peers sharing and collaborating. We have loads of resources available to us in Education Queensland. Consider the use of the ListServs, ICT Community and the fantastic guys at the Learning Innovation Centre.

Check this document out for yourself. Its excellent!

Not Flexible Learning Spaces.

So what’s the difference?

Stephen Heppell says the main difference is that Flexible Learning Spaces sometimes requires the input of an ‘expert’ to reconfigure the learning space. You might need the janitor to unlock some walls, or a simple cherry picker to adjust a layout.

Agile learning means that the learning space can be modified and adapted on the fly.

Stairwells take on new meaning, (assuming you are not focussing on the WHS aspect) – they can be readily used for a brief amphitheatre reconstruction.

The thing that stood out from the webinar I participated in, was that Stephen said we should even be reconsidering the use of data projectors in the room, because of the technical nature of them at times, as well as their light requirements. Adding lighting control such as curtains or blinds simply blocks a room out and we need students to engage with their environment.

This doesn’t always have practical application, but its certainly some interesting food for thought. He is recommending the use of LCD flat panels – even multiples in a classroom, instead of just the one big screen at the front.

He also talks about the use of mirrors to allow students to engage with the teacher, as well as other learners.

Playfulness, Scale, Collaboration & Mutuality

“Usness”

Other Links:

http://principalville.blogspot.com/2009/08/agile-learning-spaces.html

http://heppelltv.blogspot.com/

Brand new iPod Nano - 5G

Today I got myself an iPod Nano 5th Generation.

I had an ipod classic 5G (the U2 model) a few years ago, and I loved it while it worked – but gravitated towards alternative solutions in the portable mp3/mp4 player space.

I have of late been encouraging myself to give Mac a go. I am a dyed in the wool user of MS/PC based products, but think this narrow mindedness may need to change.

What really got me going with this device, is the new inclusion of a video camera. Now while I don’t have one, the Flip has always been something I can see has filled a real void in this market. Cheap, reliable and simple technology to use to record both voice and video.

Its pretty hard to beat for $188 bucks.

This importance of ‘good-enough‘ I think is an important one. Especially in the classroom.

Now for under $200, a student can have a voice recorder and a video camera. Instant pod/vod-casting at the tips of your fingers.

Small, damn small

Lets look further at this device. Its tiny. Really simple to use. To kick the video camera over, you just need to select that option from the menu. Simply point and click. The main pain I can see with it, to hold it without your fingers going over the lens you need to either hold the razor thick edges, or whack your thumb over part of the screen.

The tech specs state that it will absorbs your surroundings at 640×480 at 30 frames per second. This higher than average frames per second (average being 25 fps) means that its a very smooth video experience.

Using the nano for video inside is a downside. If the room is well-lit I couldn’t imagine it being a problem, but I haven’t had a chance to examine/test this further in a classroom environment, or even in the shadows of a building with bright sunlight nearby. I noticed some shadowing when just filming inside near my laptop’s screen.

Your eye on the world

The lens is small, I guess it doesn’t need to be any bigger, and right next to it is the microphone. This microphone is quite sensitive, but also quite directional. It picks up audio quite nicely from the talent, but if you are speaking while filming it deadens your voice a little.

I haven’t tested it fully for length of time in recording, but from my estimates I think I could get at least 1 hour of record time, which is more than enough for the most avid learner creating content.

The files are easy to access from windows explorer. I was quite surprised that these didn’t show up as video files from within iTunes (even version 9), but you need to enable disk access mode and then browse to it as if it were a flash drive.

Downloading Video from the Nano

It also saves them as MP4, which isn’t a problem in itself, but you can see the user beginning to be locked into Apple’s world. These can be readily converted using a freeware media conversion utility such as Super©

I’ve included below finally a short clip of the video it creates. This is taken in a shopping centre, middle of the day. I think the light levels would be brighter than the average classroom.

Enjoy!

See some more reviews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohOysT0SCTs

http://www.multimedia-pcs.com/video-comparison-ipod-nano-vs-flip-video-sd/