Screen Casting and E-Learning on a Shoestring: By-Karen Coombs and Michelle Boule
Todd here reporting some information I picked up this afternoon. With the overall focus of this year’s conference being delivering Web 2.0 (interactive online activities and applications) programs to our library patrons, this presentation was based on how to deliver such programs when your library is on a tight budget. I came out of this presentation with some ideas about how we might implement some of these activities in the Tech Center, to compliment our excellent computer instruction classes. Here are some of the tools they recommend.
Online Chat -
Drupal Chat – popular chat platform, highly recommended by speaker
Single Party Clients = AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GTalk (group chat that requires login/accounts)
Third Party Clients = Trillian, Meebo (web based multi chat client)
Group Clients = Campfire, Meebo Rooms (no accounts, logins)
Blogs-
Blogger – newer features, more themes, more settings
Word Press – open source, auto save features; “A lot of bang for your free buck”
Movable Type – free for personal use only, extra features cost extra (non hosted, must be downloaded)
Screen Casting Tools-
Camtasia – great for screen capture, (not free)
Macromedia Captivate – simple to use, exports as Flash, (not free either)
Camstudio – free version, open source, Windows only, exports as AVI or Flash
Mac Users- ishowU
Blip.tv –good site to store your screen-casts
Web Casting tools-
Expensive software exists for large corporate budgets, but for libraries here are some budget friendly ideas
OPAL – Online Programming for all Libraries
DimDIm – open source, free
Zoho Meetings- free while in BETA, requires install
VMukti Meeting Place - free, open source, no install, open or private meetings
Pod Casting -
Audacity – create audio files, import existing files, volume adjustment, edit tools
OurMedia – create a podcast feed, upload audio and video
FeedBunrner – create feeds for podcasting, statistic and usage tools.
PodPress – wordpress plugin, create a podcast feed off your wordpress blog, statistic and usage tools
Slide Shows-
(Cheaper alternatives to PowerPoint)
Slideshare
Zoho Show
Google presentations (located in Google Docs)
