The World Wide Chalkboard » Uncategorized http://wigington.edublogs.org Working with teachers using technology in the classroom. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:03:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Video Download, Part 3 – Why Won’t It Play? http://wigington.edublogs.org/2008/04/29/video-download-part-3-why-wont-it-play/ http://wigington.edublogs.org/2008/04/29/video-download-part-3-why-wont-it-play/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:03:56 +0000 wigington http://wigington.edublogs.org/2008/04/29/video-download-part-3-why-wont-it-play/ In the last article I wrote about how to download flash video file from a site like Teacher Tube.  But probably when you doubleclicked the file it wouldn’t play.  That’s because the application to play the file online is itself an online application, embedded in the site.  It’s a flash video (different from a computer or DVD video) and you will need to download a flash video player.  Fortunately for you there are a number of free players available.

My suggestion is the GOM player (yes, that’s its name).  To download you get to visit one of my favorite sites: www.download.com  .  It is sponsored by CNET, one of the original tech magazines in San Francisco, and it’s very good.  Here you can download tons of software that is partially or completely free.  Some downloads are trial versions: you get to use it for thirty days, and then you either pay or it won’t work (Same sort of deal with demos).    Some downloads are shareware: You get the full version, but the company asks for donations.  And some are completely free.  GOM is one of the free ones.

Do an onsite search for “media player” or for “GOM”.  When the list shows up you can click on the download arrows.  Follow the directions for download and installation.  When installing you will encounter a window that asks what kind of files you want GOM to be the default player for.  Choose only the option that contains the “FLV” suffix, or GOM will open everything for you.

(Note: if you are interested in other programs from “download.com”,  be very careful to read the CNET reviews and the user comments.  Some bad stuff gets on the site.  Personally I only use downloads that get a good CNET rating.)

Now if you look at the file icon for your video, it should look like an orange balloon foot (or something like that).  Double click the icon, and your video will play.  Buttons at the bottom right will let you show the full screen version.  You can now play any flash video without connecting to the internet.

But what do you do if you only want to show part of the video?  That’s for next time.

]]> http://wigington.edublogs.org/2008/04/29/video-download-part-3-why-wont-it-play/feed/ 2 Economics 101 (Or: How To Survive the Holidays) http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/economics-101-or-how-to-survive-the-holidays/ http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/economics-101-or-how-to-survive-the-holidays/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:48:12 +0000 wigington http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/economics-101-or-how-to-survive-the-holidays/ It can’t really be this simple, can it?

]]> http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/economics-101-or-how-to-survive-the-holidays/feed/ 0 Students, Sleep, And Learning http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/students-sleep-and-learning/ http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/students-sleep-and-learning/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:35:08 +0000 wigington http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/students-sleep-and-learning/ Sleep

You now have an excuse: “Sorry I’m late.  I overslept because I’m trying to become smarter.”

 Melissa Hicks, media specialist at Remington passed this link along.  I was stunned by the difference just a little sleep makes.  Check it out.

]]> http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/29/students-sleep-and-learning/feed/ 0 Are We Preparing Our Students for Tomorrow? http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/19/are-we-preparing-our-students-for-tomorrow/ http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/19/are-we-preparing-our-students-for-tomorrow/#comments Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:39:15 +0000 wigington http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/19/are-we-preparing-our-students-for-tomorrow/ I am old fashioned about some things (I like books, I don’t have cable, I don’t have a “My Space” page, etc.).  But I sometimes wonder if we are so comfortable with what we grew up with that we forget what kind of world our students will face.

 This video has been making the rounds, but it still is sobering.  Take a look.

]]> http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/11/19/are-we-preparing-our-students-for-tomorrow/feed/ 3 We’re Baaaack! http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/08/15/were-baaaack/ http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/08/15/were-baaaack/#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:26:23 +0000 wigington http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/08/15/were-baaaack/ I hope you have had a great summer.  There are lots of new ideas coming in technology and curriculum, and I look forward to your ideas and imput. 

]]> http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/08/15/were-baaaack/feed/ 0 Ideas for “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/04/23/ideas-for-the-mouse-and-the-motorcycle/ http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/04/23/ideas-for-the-mouse-and-the-motorcycle/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:28:13 +0000 wigington http://wigington.edublogs.org/2007/04/23/ideas-for-the-mouse-and-the-motorcycle/  Mouse and Motorcycle

The Tulsa World is printing Beverly Cleary’s book, The Mouse and the Motorcycle in serial form.  Some teachers in the the area are taking advantage to teach thematic units and provide a different venue for reading (anything that gets students to read the newspaper I consider extremely cool).  For those of you who are looking for resources, try this site.  It contains downloadable versions of the book (in English and Spanish), illustrations, a teacher’s guide, and other valuable links.

 You might also look at this site.  It’s a webquest for a second grade class, but Mrs. Ruby has her class doing some very advanced work.

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