This is an example of the kind of work your pupils can envisage doing. Read the advice on creating Digital Video (DV) before undertaking it. Spot the angles, close-ups etc... and share these techniques with your students.

Example Promo Video of Stirling Management Centre and University

As this video is also on a weblog, XML with enclosures, this could also be known as a 'Vlog'. This is a video diary published on a weblog, where regular readers are informed of new updates as they appear.

The built environment
Investigating our built surroundings is a valid rewarding activity for pupils at all levels.
It encourages reflective thinking and develops knowledge of design and architecture, enhancing pupils critical skills and their ability to think independently.

Virtual tours do not replace first hand experience but can open up areas which are otherwise difficult areas to explore in reality.

Recording these investigations graphically develops a far clearer understanding of detail, structure, pattern and materials forming the elements of our towns and cities.
Again, first hand exploration is ideal, but being able to access varied areas with a virtual tour can make it much easier to draw comparisons between very different surroundings.

3D image to Map
Relating a photographic image to a map or diagram can be testing. Clue need to be translated for this to happen effectively. Again this requires close observation and making connections.

What are VR movies?

The term VR means virtual reality.

Movie is false because nothing moves actually.

Simply put, VR movies are just a bunch of still picture taken in sequence of a scene around you.
So really it’s a bit of a con. However, they can be very effective and can give a sense of reality to an otherwise, ‘flat’ image.

What you need
Digital stills camera
Any type will do, obviously compatible with your computer.
You’ll need special ‘photo stitching’ software, but that may well come free with your camera.
If not there are some freeware programs available to download.

Creating VR movies
First you get pics
Exterior or interior shots work.
Stand in one position
Practise your panning action (usually clockwise is best)
Set yourself up
Keep the camera level (a tripod is ideal – That’s a tripod not iPod)
Remember you need to create an overlap between each shot (about 10 – 20% so that the software can match the two frames)
As you move round,keep a picture in your minds eye of the previous frame and the starting frame.
Take each shot in turn, until you arrive at your starting point (overlap here also)

Transferring to your computer
Any way you like for this-
(remembering your image format will have to be compatible with the software)

Using the software
The software is usually easy to use. There are basically 3 steps. To using the software
1 Collect your images together on the pasting area of the program
(You need to arrange them here in the correct order)
2 Stitch the images with a ‘Stitch’ button
(This is usually takes the form of a preview)
2 Save you stitched image
3 It’s important to save the file in the correct format
4 Apple use ‘Quicktime VR’
PC’s may use a different format
5 When the file has been saved you can usually view the result immedialely

Some tips and pitfalls
Lighting
Flat lighting is good
Low sun is bad

Position
Centre of an area – not in a corner

Horizon
Keep horizon level as you move round
(tripod is good but with practice hand held works fine)

Unexpected movement
Cars,people, animals etc – try to minimise this or you can get ghost effects.

Here is an example of how Quicktime VRs can be used in an Art and Design class as a means to teach pupils how to use the equipment as well as providing pupils an opportunity to examine architecture and local geography.

Click here to go to the Virtual Reality Tour.

Choosing the equipment is important - getting the right price for your budget but still fit for purpose. If you are unsure about what equipment to get, advice can be sought from Media Matters Education Consultancy.

Contact: Angela McEwan, 104 Barscube Terrace, Paisley, PA2 6XH
www.mediamatters.co.uk

Possible kit

Glasgow and Edinburgh Camcorder Centres provide a ‘Digital Video Classroom Kit’
In June 2005 the budget price was £469 which includes a DV camcorder; tripod; spare battery; carry case; boundary microphone; 3x60 minute tapes and a DV Firewire cable.

For up to date information see Camcordercentre.com or contact The Glasgow & Edinburgh Camcorder Centres at either

717 Great Western Road
Glasgow
G12 8QX
Tel 0141 339 3722

78 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5LQ
Tel 0131 313 5166

Planning a video shoot

Whilst it may appear a good idea to go ahead and shoot video and then edit it, it is not a good idea and a waste of very valuable time!

It is STRONGLY recommended that time is taken to write up a plan for the shots (use these planning sheets) and have an accompanying storyboard.

Terminology

In planning the shots it is useful to think in terms of the size of their content, see
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/ or search for other web pages.

Shooting the video

• Use a tripod otherwise the ‘shake’ will make it unwatchable! (insert link).

• Lighting is important and makes a huge difference to the quality of the shots. See this great info sheet.

• Remember to pause or switch off camera between locations otherwise you waste a lot of video minutes/hours!

Digital video editing

To edit the video, download to a computer using the Firewire then use editing software such as Pinnacle.

Go to http://www.quia.com 

If you are subscribed log into Instructor zone – If not there is a 30day trial available

Once logged in to Quia activities select create a new scavenger hunt (using the drop down menu) click go

Enter your Title and description, and then all you need to do is paste in the URLs (web address) of any web pages recommended for research.

Type in your questions and answers when finished beware the answers given must all be possible correct answers (If you want multiple choice you need to choose “Rags to Riches”(however this will not give you the web links)

When ready click “done” at the bottom.

You then get a message giving you the URL of the online scavenger hunt

Enjoy!

As a music teacher or student there is the challenge of creating suitable music as a backing for a digital video or podcast radio show. The worksheet below explains the pitfalls and sets out some aims for teachers who wish to use a free programme, Ejay, to get pupils thinking about structure in music-making. This feeds into the whole-school enterprise project of VisitMe.

Download Ejay Guide (MS Word)

Download Ejay Guide (RTF)

Visiting the Stirling area? Here is a quick audio overview of the National Wallace Monument:

Download WallaceMonument.mp3

Don't want to miss a Virtual Tour of Stirling? Subscribe to our Enterprise Project tour:

Want to know how to make a Podcast? Go to our guide.

Visiting the Stirling area? Subscribe to our Podcast to receive regularly updated guides on the area. This edition: the Stirling Management Centre and the University of Stirling.

Download StirlingTour.mp3

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Stirling Enterprise tours by copying the link below into your iPodder or podcatching application:

Want to know how to make a Podcast? Go to our guide.

A Podcast is a broadcast that can be put on an MP3 player or iPod automatically every time the broadcast is updated. Each broadcast is one MP3 file.

The simplest way to podcast is to first create a weblog onto which you will post each file in turn. Blogger shows you how to create a weblog in three steps, but does not provide hosting for your MP3 files. Try Typepad instead, which costs a small fee ($5 per month) but allows you to store your files. There is also a free 30 day trial which is just long enough for this project.

Once you have posted your MP3 file as a weblog post you need to "redirect your feed" to a service that will create an XML code with enclosures. This allows people to see every time a new MP3 file is posted without having to surf individual pages of the net. It also provides you with a small button to paste into your post. Users can use this button to update their 'podcatcher', the programme on their computer that scours the internet every time you log on for any new programmes.

WHAT SERVICE CAN YOU USE TO CREATE THIS CODE?
Feedburner gives instructions on how to turn your weblogged MP3 file into a Podcast so that listeners don't miss an update or show. Generally you just copy and paste the weblog URL into its system and it does thbe rest of the work, looking only for audio or video MP3 files to play.

EXAMPLES
Look at our Podcast examples from Stirling and subscribe to never miss another one.

ILLUSTRATED GUIDE ON CREATING PODCASTS:
David Baugh's article on creating a podcast covers the basics.

Mac users:
SETTING UP:
Attach the USB microphone and headphones to the Mac.
Go to System Preferences > Sound. Make sure that the input is set to the USB microphone.
Open 'Garageband'. Turn off the Metronome in Control menu.

CREATING A NEW VOCAL TRACK:
Create a New Track from the Track menu (Real Instrument > Voice > No effect > Monitor On.
Press the record button and the pupils can say their text.
Double-clicking on the sound block will open an editing window. This allows pupils to take away any mistakes and re-record in the gap left over.

ADDING A BACKING TRACK OF MUSIC:
Add another Real Instrument > Voice > No effect track for some background music.
Drag the Freeplay.com music from iTunes into the desired point.
Lower the volume of the track so that the voice can still be heard: Click the downward arrow and change the volume line as desired.

SAVING AS AN MP3 FILE:
In the File menu, go to 'Export to iTunes'.
The computer transfers the file from Garageband format to iTunes.
In iTunes, make sure that your import settings convert new files into MP3 format.
Find the file in iTunes. Control-click the file and select "Convert to MP3".

TRANSFERING FILE TO iPOD:
Update the iPod with the new file from iTunes.

PC users:
Use Audacity. It is more 'clunky' than Garageband but uses the same principles.

NEXT STAGE: Making your MP3 file into a Podcast.

After the study of a unit on Tourism, Travel, Home Region or Giving Directions the teacher can consolidate language work by asking pupils to prepare a presentation. Do this in written form, which can be used in SQA assessments, and then this can act as a script or be done from memory, again, ideal for SQA purposes.

It is vital to prepare the text in advance before recording an MP3 file and then, perhaps, turning this into a Podcast.

Next stage: Create an MP3 file

This enterprise project involves pupils in several subject areas, but is an ideal opportunity to consolidate work in any unit about 'My Region', 'Activities' or 'Giving Directions'.

Time scale: 6 periods

Project Aim:
Create a script and record an audio guide to a local place. The audio guide might also be converted into a podcast for tourists or conference delegates.

Objectives:
At the end of the unit pupils will be able to:
• Use a computer to record MP3 files
• Give directions and information in the foreign language

Resources:
Mac: Garageband, USB microphone, Headphones, Freeplay.com music.
PC: Audacity (free download), USB microphone, Headphones, Freeplay.com music, Sound Card.

Prior knowledge or skills to be learned:
• Vocabulary and written work on the topic of ‘My Town’ and 'Directions'

Considerations for students:
• How long is each video segment? Make music to fit. Try adding or removing repeated/looped segments to lengthen or shorten the soundtrack.
• In what order do different places appear? Can you make music that fits the scene (fast, slow, energetic, relaxed…)? How are the visuals going to be reflected in the audio?
• What effects can you use to create links between sections in the music? How can you link between the more energetic sections (A) and the lighter breaks (B)?

Welcome to VisitMe, the enterprise project which will promote your region and will attract tourists and visitors to your village, town or city. This weblog is intended for teachers to act as a template and give some inspiration to get you and your colleagues started on this National Priority related project. To achieve this you will learn how to:

• Create a weblog
• Create a promotional Digital Video, and edit it on the computer
• Create a MP3 files that can be made into virtual tours or Podcasts
• Create visual virtual tours using Quicktime VR
• Create a quiz on what your pupils have learned

• Record a commentary in a foreign language (MFL)
• Learn how to promote your area in the business world (Business Education)
• Create music as a backing to video and/or audio (Music)
• Learn about built-up environments and analyse local architecture to create a virtual tour (Art & Design)

Use the category list on the right to find the information you require to get started.