Training Videos

If you are like me, you probably have a few hundred people trying to get your attention at the same time, and all of them are thinking that their problem is the one you need to work on first. Fortunately, some of these users have the same problem or it is a problem that you have seen before. In these cases you may be well server to create a training video distribution system. Training videos are very easy to create, convert and distribute if you have the right software.

Here is a list of the software that I use to make my video files. You may know of better ones, if so, let know! These are all OpenSource and FREE to use:

CamStudio
This the main video capture program that I use. It does a great job recording what is on your screen. It can do voice overs while recording, pop-up info clouds, and highlight your mouse for high visibility. If you would rather not have to deal with an AVI file, it can also record to Flash.

SUPER
Is a program that handles video conversion of the .avi files from CamStudio to .mov files so I can use them in iTunes. I am sure it can do more but that is all I need it to do at the moment. It has "drag and drop" file importing and will take an AVI created with the Microsoft1 Video codec that is 857MB and convert it to an 8.61MB MOV file encoded with DivX. (Real numbers!)

PodProducer
Is an audio mixing program that can handle multiple audio inputs such as MP3s, and WAVs and combine them with your voice via the microphone. It has queuing capabilities, audio level control, and instant play buttons that you can configure as well and the ability to
upload it strait from the program interface.

Basically, if you can see it on screen or have to tell someone howto do it, it can be captured with these programs and distributed to your users. I am getting rather long here, so I will save that for later missives...

It's Been A While...

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I hope to rectify this in the coming weeks. I have a few new (To me!) topics that may be of interest to those that work at school districts:

Creating tutorial videos for employees and how to distribute them for FREE.

Creating a podcast entry in iTunes for a LOCALLY created and used podcast.

An interesting use for iPods in schools.

Other truly useful Freeware programs.

That's about it for now...