Screencasting 099 (Remedial)

Less reading, more watching! This short blog entry is about screencasting. It’ll basically be a quick run-down of screencasting, a short example video made with Camtasia, and finally a brief word on how this medium might benefit you as a student and young professional.

Screencasting falls under the umbrella of “enhanced podcasting.” There are numerous great programs for doing this; for this entry, Camtasia was used (you can download the free trial version here).

Screencasts combine video, images, audio, and on-screen activity, to create a multimedia presentation. Primarily used for instructional videos, screencasts and other forms of enhanced podcasting are becoming more common, as people get creative and explore new ways to apply this kind of media.

It’s a lot easier to just show you, so here is the first official Free On Campus screencast!

The potential applications for screencast are pretty wide-open. The biggest advantage that they hold now is their novelty – they offer a bigger, more complete media experience than a slideshow, and also allow you to more fully flex your creative muscles.

Is the classroom an endangered species?

Have you ever found yourself nodding off in a cavernous lecture hall? Would you rather just sleep in past that 8:30 am class start, yet worry about your GPA slipping when the syllabus says that quizzes will be based on class notes?

Surely, there must be a way to avoid these boring lectures and surprise quizzes!

According to a study done last year, there is a way. An article in New Scientist magazine claims this study found that students who went to class and took notes did slightly worse than students who skipped and took notes from the podcast of the class. The scientist who led the study hypothesized that one major reason for this was that a podcast allows the student to keep up more effectively with what the professor is saying, and also stop or playback difficult portions.

Hold it there, champ. Before you turn your alarm off and sleep in until noon, remember that the podcasting thing is still a relatively foreign concept to most professors (this holds also true for UVic, where few profs podcast their lectures, though you can find some podcasts from in and around campus here.

And really, the point of podcasting is the same as the point of mobile devices, ubiquitous computing, tweeting, and effective blogging: it works best when used in conjunction with the work you are already doing. The best strategy for using podcasts to boost your grades would be to go to class, pay attention to the lecture, ask questions, and then download the podcast after class and take notes from the second reading. That way, you’ve heard it twice, absorbed a lot of information from the first time, and will likely start to consider the broader subjects of the topic while taking notes from the second listen (you’ll also get to hear the answer to your question again, too).

Unfortunately, this isn’t quite possible yet at many universities. Though about 800 universities offer podcasts via iTunes U, many professors at other schools are reluctant to embrace the idea of podcast lectures, probably because they suspect that it could replace the classroom. But the truth is, scholastic success is tied to attendance. One of the best ways to learn is to ask questions, something that can only be done in person.

Sound good? Then get involved! Suggest podcasting to your professors, and explain how this will mean less repeating of the material to students who don’t show up or don’t pay attention (“you’ll find an answer to your question on last Wednesday’s podcast.” See? So easy!). Or write it in your course evaluations (profs claim that they read these). If enough profs hear about podcasting their lectures enough times from enough students, they might start to entertain the idea.

That little icon in the corner; and, how to “Feedly” your newsreader

Because you are an intrepid, bright university student, surely you’ve noticed the little icon found on nearly every web browser. You know the one, it looks like this:

(And please, don’t call me Shirley.)

This icon is the link to RSS (Really Simple Syndication), otherwise known as social bookmarking. This blog will show you how to set up a newsreader through your Google account, and then make it really, really pretty by using an application called Feedly.

Part I: Google Reader

*NOTE: If you already use the Google newsreader, skip ahead to Part II.

Like Twitter, social bookmarks are a way to tailor-make your own web browsing experience. These bookmarks are saved through a customized account called a “newsreader.” This is perhaps the most useful way to maximize efficient web usage.

Rather than read a huge paragraph detailing the steps to set up a newsreader, why not just follow these steps (these steps are for the Google Reader, for reasons to be explained in Part II):

1.     Sign in/up for your Google mail account.

2.     See the menu bar in the top left corner? Click on “Reader.” This will direct your to the Google newsreader page:

3.     Follow the directions on this page, which gives you directions on how to set up the newsreader service.

From there, it’s just a matter of picking the RSS feeds you want to see in your newsreader. Whenever you find a site that you’d like to receive a feed from, click on the RSS icon or link, and you’ll be directed to the subscription setup. Choose Google from the choices, confirm the subscription on your reader, and you’re finished. You’ll receive feeds from that site on your Google account.

Part II: Feedly

The Google Reader process was used specifically for two reasons: first, because it’s the reader I use, and second because I found it visually unattractive.

Wait . . . why choose a newsreader service because it is unattractive?

Well, because the whole point of “Web 2.0” is to make a customized web experience. This is what is referred to as the Semantic Web – the more you interact with the web, the more you tinker with things, the more enjoyable and intuitive it becomes.

Enter Feedly. Feedly is an application that transforms your Google Reader into create an elegant, completely individualized “magazine-like web page.” Installing Feedly is easy; because it is a conventional application, it can be downloaded from the Feedly website.

Do you cringe at this ungainly mess?

This is what that same reader looks like through Feedly:

As amazing as Google is, its colour scheme is gaudy, to say the least (with apologies to those who love its Brazilian-flag motif). Feedly is sleek, simple, and absolutely addictive; play with it, use your newsreader, impress your friends, and bask in your increasingly-advanced web savvy.

Twitter: a Meta-Melodrama in One Act

Cast:

Reader: The young, dashing reader of this blog

Blog: The handsome-sounding, disembodied voice of the writer of this blog

ACT I

[Scene: Reader sits staring at a computer screen, fixated on a blog about social media written]

Fade in

Reader has untagged his or herself from the embarrassing pictures from last summer’s Beerfest, and has decided to give social media a new look.

Reader [soliloquy]: Where to start? Facebook has been fun, but it’s just so, well, friendish. I feel daring . . . I want something fresher than Facebook. Starting a blog seems a bit ominous and daunting. But Twitter . . . hmm, seems fairly light; maybe that’s a good place to start. But what is it? It seems like it could be really great, but also like a big waste of time.

Blog: Twitter is most definitely a waste of time, but not in the what-am-I-doing-with-my-life kind of way. It’s a time waster because of its usefulness. It is a laser beam, guiding you straight to the heart of what you use, want, or need the internet for. A Twitter account offers as much useful or useless information as you  could possibly want. Since it clarifies the web so effectively, it can be hard to peel yourself away from it.

Reader: Sounds promising, but those little 140-character blurbs . . . isn’t the site geared towards people with minuscule attention spans? (Anxiously) How can this be the future of the internet? What an outrageous statement!

[Turns away from screen and yells]

Help!

Blog: Wait! Think about this: those little blurbs are tiny gateways to incredible amounts of information. Consider that as humans spend more time reading from computer screens, they’ve changed the way they read. The human eye tends to scan text in a diagonal fashion, starting at the first word, and moving through the center of the paragraph, seeking only information and skipping the rest. Humans respond more actively to smaller amount of text; therefore, Twitter is the ideal new medium, because gets straight to the point.

Reader: Okay, that makes sense. So what am I gonna find in these blurbs? I don’t need to know what Justin Bieber had for breakfast.

Blog: This is absolutely true. [NOTE: many people need to know what Justin Bieber had for breakfast. At last count, @justinbieber had over 6.2 million followers.] But those who use Twitter effectively know that they can trim all the excess, superfluous communication and strike right to the essence of a message. This is what “microblogging” is all about.

Reader: Okay. This is starting to sound better. So I can get straight-to-the-point messages. But how important can the message be if it is so short?

Blog: Like I said, the blurb is the gateway. Thousands of reputable magazines, websites, and organizations use Twitter. Scientific American cannot possibly tell you about the theories regarding the end of the universe (only Douglas Adams could do that). Instead, you’ll get a headline, followed by a tiny URL. You can click the link to read the article. It’s a hyper-efficient way to browse a load of information and actually absorb what you want.

[Pause. Reader looks up in contemplation to a nearby window. A little blue bird lands on the tree branch outside, and begins to sing in short, concise tweets.]

Blog: See? Twitter. It’s so . . . natural.

Reader [cringes]: Wow. That just happened.

[Camera closes in on over Reader’s shoulder, focuses on the URL bar of Reader’s web browser. Reader deletes “freeoncampus.wordpress.com” from the bar and types in “twitter.com” as the shot fades to black.]

End.

The Leg up! Blogs = awesome

Many students have their own blogs. Though often related to personal interests, some (most notably students of journalism) use blogs to display their abilities and generate a portfolio for prospective employers. But many other students spend little time utilizing blogs, except to read the odd site that appeals to their own interests. Though these blogs can be amazing sources of inspiration and creativity, they are but a small part of the blog universe.

So how else can students utilize blogs, and what benefits are there for those that do? Here are some things to consider:

Your career

Like your journalist friend already knows, a well-written blog is a perfect showcase of your abilities. It also throws your name into the hat of any field that you are interested in. Blogging about political events around your city might not guarantee your future tenure as mayor, but it involves you in that world. The blog becomes another part of your networking toolbox; this means that your chances of being noticed are only boosted.

“Legging up”

Did you see The Social Network? (If you didn’t, stop reading this, and see it! And then read on). One of the most amazing parts of the movie is how Mark Zuckerberg gains probably the most important leg up since Charles Darwin (ever heard of Alfred Russel Wallace? Exactly. It’s the reason they don’t teach “Wallacism” in school today). By beating his rivals to the punch, he put distance between his own work and theirs. He was always one step ahead. Now he’s a billionaire!

Starting a blog is a leg up. Even if your blog about your culinary experiments doesn’t land you a prime slot on the Food Network, it still gives you experience with blogging and utilizing the Internet in a new way. And a failed blog is not a failed experiment; think of it as a draft of a future masterpiece. Start now, then when you feel comfortable, you’ll be ready to delve further into utilizing the web to your own advantage. This puts you ahead of everyone else around you or in your field who hasn’t started yet. Being ahead of the crowd by even a few weeks or months can be the difference between recognition and anonymity. The web is absolutely where innovation and progress is happening; embrace it!

More good reads on students and blogging

5 reasons why every student should blog – http://tiny.cc/5x60p

Learning through blogging: Graduate Student Experiences – http://tiny.cc/vst2v

Blogs help students think for themselves – http://tiny.cc/i2bpd

“A Piece for Peace”

Freebie alert!

Where: Monday, November 8, 12:00-2:00 at the entrance tables in the SUB

What: The Jewish Student Association (JSA) and Israel on Campus (IOC) are giving away free pieces of cake in the SUB building. Why? Because the club seeks to bring together Jewish students and lovers of peace in a socially accepting atmosphere where things like peace and life can be discussed. Also, Irina wanted me to tell you to “come out to support a message for peace with cake, a button, and an info for a free (and inspirational) movie screening that evening.”

Also, these groups have a FREE BAGEL giveaway EVERY TUESDAY in the SUB! Come if you are interested in learning more about these clubs, or if you are interested in connecting with the Jewish community on campus.

Thanks Irina and Carrie for the scoop!

Facebook minimalism, or 3 easy ways to better utilize social media

Free On Campus is so much more than a place to find freebies. There are also fun topics, like this post! Read it, become fabulously successful, and then one day give away your own freebies (which will obviously be posted here).

Everyone loves lists, right? Here are three things you can/should do to increase the benefits of social media for your professional potential:

1. Become a Facebook Minimalist

Remember that camping trip album you created last month? You put 65 pictures in it! Do you think that you could have expressed the awesomeness of the trip with, say, one picture? Since privacy settings now allow you to limit what any friend or stranger can see on your site, you can technically get away with picture dumps on your page. But why not practice “Facebook Minimalism”? Less is much, much better, and minimizing what you put on your Facebook page is good practice for the sort of personal discretion that sells your “brand” to the professional world.

Think of your page as your character portfolio. When future professional contacts become your friends, you’ll want to filter yourself before you filter your friends. Put that one quintessential camping picture on your page and let everyone see it; this will showcase the dynamic elements of your personality.

2. Embrace the Tweet

Many people still see Twitter as either a silly narcissistic exercise or a harbinger of social doom. You might think that constantly broadcasting 140-character nuggets of insight sounds exhausting (it probably is, unless you are Justin Bieber or Chad Ochocinco). But Twitter is not about what you say, but what you see. Every group, organization, company, and brand is either already on Twitter or joining it soon. You can subscribe to just about anything; Twitter functions as a platform where you can see everything you want to. Stay connected with any essential source – most of the Tweets that come from these sites provide links to full articles that you can read to stay aware of new trends, find important news, and improve your general savvy.

3. Love your newsreader

This point follows from the importance of getting a Twitter account. RSS (which stands for Really Simple Syndication) is that little symbol you see on nearly every website (see that little link at the top of this page?). This button allows you to subscribe to that site via your newsreader (if you have a google account, you’ve already got a newsreader – check the top menu bar when you sign in to Gmail, you’ll see “Reader”). RSS allows you to tailor-make your browsing experience. Smaller sites subscriptions will probably feed you everything they post, and larger sites will allow you to select only the part of the site you want to see (for example, you can receive only stories on money or sports from a site like cbc.ca).

Newsreaders are enormously useful. You can get news feeds for everything, from job posting sites to the latest campus freebies. By having all the information you need come to your newsreader, you’ll avoid the endless site searching. This fundamentally changes your browsing experience, giving you a stronger focus with what you want (when you get that new tech job, you can seek out pertinent news feeds to subscribe to, rather than checking twenty sites a day).

So there it is. Seriously, do these things. The Internet is a rewarding experience when you know how to use it effectively. And contrary to the open-ended ocean of information you used to face, following these tips will give you more free time to use for the important things, like networking and gaining wider exposure. And camping.

Back with more freebies soon . . . have a safe Halloween!

Free food . . . AND yoga!

Just saw someone putting up this sign on the University Centre wall . . .

That someone was Jenny, who runs the UVic Yoga club. If you go for the yoga, stay for the food!

If you are interested in the UVic Yoga club, but you can’t make it to the SUB tomorrow, you can email Jenny for more information: yoga@uvic.ca

UPDATE (Wednesday): If you can’t make it today, the yoga club is having a bake sale in the ECS main lobby tomorrow. Not free, but cheap baked goods! The proceeds are going to Kidsport, a local charity that provides extracurricular actitives to underprivileged children. Go support!