As a former educational media producer, I am always on the lookout for quick and easy ways for busy educational professionals to create and use videos in their onsite and online courses. Two emerging educational technologies have converged into one very useful way to achieve this goal: 1. Smart-phones (like the Droid, iPhone, etc.) with built-in video camera and Internet connectivity and 2. Streaming Video sites (like youtube.com, qik.com, etc.) with live Webcast and/or archived videos, searchable content, and “channels” where related video content can be assembled and compiled.
For example, I am experimenting with the use of an app that I have downloaded to my Droid smartphone (Android 2.0 OS) from qik.com that allows me to use the video camera in my smartphone to upload a video sequence via my wireless 3G connection to the Internet and have it broadcast live streaming video on the Qik.com Web site. The Qik.com Web site also lets me create a title and provide a description of the videos which remain archived. Registered users who browse to this Web site and view the videos can also type text comments that remain as part of the archived data.
This is an information system which I am planning to use for my online courses to present live and archived streaming videos of relevant topics – in some cases when I am traveling, attending conferences, and/or witness to relevant live events that emerge.
Comments welcome at http://www.qik.com/docteled and here.
Prego!
Doc
I am very interested to understand the portability of these video to other devices other than the droid. Is that format a standard format or is it proprietary to the droid.
thanks
Thanks Susan for your comment. The mobile app that I am using on the Droid is also available for the iPhone. You can also use the qik.com service to view the videos on your laptop or PC that you are creating. Other Web-casting and streaming video sites are available for transmitting and viewing video from a wider array of devices.
Although these videos are archived and can be viewed by anyone browsing the site (if you indicate the public viewing option), the distinct advantage here is for live video streaming though this site.
You can also place an embedded video frame on a Web site or blog such as in my blog entry to either view an existing video in the archive or to view any streaming video that I might be uploading to qik.com.
Video quality seems poor, although the pizza looks good. You should visit Old Forge, PA for some good pizza. Imagine that video on a 96inch Promethean board. Also, it seems shaky. You’ll need a tripod or stand if you plan to use your phone as a camcorder for high quality videos to use in a classroom setting. For quick reality show like recordings, the video and sound quality is barely adequate.
Thanks for the pointers, I am working on it 😉 Keep in mind that my camera is my hand-held smartphone, so issues of steadiness and quality may never reach high quality expectations. My hope is that relevant educational content will make this lower quality an acceptable compromise.
I’d also add that the ease of creating and uploading these types of videos makes it perfect for even young students to create their own educational content. Kindergartners understand how to point-and-click for digital pictures; I bet that first graders could record themselves reciting their A,B,Cs – and imagine that kind of video in a classroom overseas where they are learning the English alphabet. Priceless.
Hi Laura, Thanks for your feedback on this viability of this application, especially how it might be an engaging and effective medium for capturing the practice or performance of a skill, like young learners reciting the alphabet. It’s free and it’s easy to shoot and Web-cast the videos by teachers, learners, and anyone who is sharing live or archived video. Imagine a live Web-cast of student presentations that can be viewed by those who cannot attend (like their parents, class peers, etc.).
Not bad for a 5 MP camera, I can see this technology being useful for capturing significant bits and pieces of a field trip experience.
Hi Sharon, I think the smartphone camera is adequate for this task. I am capturing live video in natural lighting conditions in busy (and sometimes noisy) environments to test worst-case conditions. My sense is that mobile transmission of live video feeds can be very useful for field trips, travel, conferences, and any other remote location source of audio-video data that people can view live (or archived) from their PCs, laptops, netbooks, and smartphones.
Hi Doc,
Very cool site. I was wondering how does the Blackberry fare compared with the Droid or IPhone in this case, that is, as an alternative for usage here?
Although the video quality is not the best, it is not bad for a phone video. The point is well taken on the videos, the food looks good. I can see this system being used to do science projects in school. Progressive videos of the develpoment and research associated witn the project would be great to see.
I had never tried to post video segments online to watch, but I have to try it one day. I just have a question here, when a teacher decide to post his own video during classroom activity will this be considered as a copyright violation. It is his own work, so what is copyright here will be violated?just wondering !
Thanks Larry, Minnie, and Amal for sharing your feedback about the potential of this emerging technology. Although compatibility is a moving target, it is likely most smartphones will work (but check the list on qik.com). As far as copyright, my non-legal advice based on my own understanding is simply that if you make it, it’s yours – unless you are restricted as an employee. I don’t think that the brief videos that you would use for live transmission or even archiving are much of an issue.
Hi Doc,
I think Qik is a great platform for synchronous video Web-casting and/or asynchronous viewing of the video, and the potential use of this video service is not limited by the shortness or quality of the recording. The ability to take a video and post it to the Internet presents a unique learning opportunity for all users.
Even though I do not have Droid or a phone with an application to upload videos onto the Internet right away, I think this idea encourages me to use my picture and camera phone options more often. Capturing both educational and entertaining moments in short clips is an excellent idea and something I would like to incorporate more while building a web presence. Thanks for sharing!
Rachelle
Thanks Rachelle for sharing your ideas about this emerging educational technology. Keep in mind that whereas a smartphone is required to transmit video to this free Web-casting site, you can use any laptop, netbook, or PC to view these videos.
Also, other Web-casting and streaming video sites are available for transmitting and viewing video from a wider array of devices, such as those described in my conference presentation, Online Presentation Strategies for Visual Learners (where your comments are also welcome):
https://programhouse.com/wordpress/?p=110
Thanks for sharing a great site with us. This is very cool. Great Technology!!!!
I love this video because it was made with a technical device most of us have a cell phone!Most of our students are Visual learners.By observing media pupils can recall what they see. In addition, this video can be sent to them as an example of educational media.
Thanks Netta and Pal for your feedback and insights into how we might use this technology to support live and archived video (with audio) segments taken wherever our smartphones can connect.