Animations  |   Graphics  |   Presentations  |   Screencasting  |   PDF  |   Podcasting  |   Videocasting

Animations

Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement.

Recommended Readings:
Adopt and Adapt - 21st-Century Schools Need 21st-Century Technology
http://www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt

Animation and Visualization in the Curriculum: Opportunities, Challenges, and Successes
http://elara.tk.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de/publications/2006/avPanel.pdf

Child's Play: Local animation firms look to wheel and deal at festival
http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/309212395649751.php

Educational Animation Gets Things Moving
http://www.highereducationonlinereport.com/educationalanimation.html

Good Flash Design
http://www.animationarena.com/good-flash-design.html

Literature survey "B" - animation in education
http://www.brendanpauljacobs.com/education.htm

Multimedia Learning: Guiding Visuospatial Thinking with Instructional Animation
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=m91B8zm_1qgC&oi=fnd&pg=PA477&dq=multimedia+animation&ots
=kljdYymFvj&sig=zgpl95qAAoZ9U6XQBpH2cmjnZsQ

Tricks to Animating Characters with a Computer
http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/HyperGraph/animation/character_animation/principles/lasseter_s94.htm

Use of Animation for Improvement of Student Understanding of Energy Conversion
http://www.pserc.wisc.edu/ecow/get/publicatio/2000public/GGK.pdf

Tutorials:
Animated GIF Tutorials
http://www.grafx-design.com/anim_tut.html

Animation Creation Using GIFBuilder
http://www.quasar.ualberta.ca/edit202/tutorial/animation/animation-GIFBuilder/animation-GB.htm

Build Animated GIFs in Photoshop
http://www.creativetechs.com/iq/build_animated_gifs_in_photoshop.html

Flash 8 Tutorial
http://www.baycongroup.com/flash/01_flash_5_tutorial.htm

Flash Developer Center
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/?promoid=CABD

Free Flash video tutorials
http://www.video-tutes.com/packages/FDesign1.php

GIFBuilder Tutorial
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/Classes/Jbutler/T389/tutor/GIFBuilder/Index.html

How to make GIF animations
http://members.aol.com/royalef/gifmake.htm

So, You Want An Animated .gif, Huh?
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/web_graphics/article.php/3479881

back to top

Graphics

Graphics software or image editing software is a program or collection of programs that enable a person to manipulate visual images on a computer. Most graphics programs have the ability to import and export one or more graphics file formats.


Some Graphic Software:
ACDSee
http://www.acdsee.com/

Adobe Fireworks
http://www.adobe.com/products/fireworks/

Corel
http://apps.corel.com/

Illustrator
http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/

Microsoft Paint
http://www.microsoft.com/

Photoshop
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/

Recommended Readings:
ACDSee 9 Photo Manager
http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/imagemanagement/gr/acdsee.htm

Adobe Fireworks – Review
http://www.applelinks.com/index.php/more/review_adobe_fireworks_cs3/

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Reviews
http://brainstormsandraves.com/archives/2007/05/16/photoshopcs3/

Corel Paint Shop Pro X - Review
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1855974,00.asp

How to paint the MONA LISA with MS PAINT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2sPl_Z7ZU

Is Photoshop worth the extra $500 compared to Photoshop Elements?
http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/photoshop/f/elementscompare.htm

Fireworks CS3 – Review
http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/reviews/index.cfm?reviewID=758

Photo-Editing Software Reviews
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/photo-editing-software/index.html

Software Comparisons – PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,1639152,00.asp

Tutorials:
ACDSee Photo Manager 9 Tutorials
http://www.digiscrapinfo.com/dsiwiki/ACDSee_Photo_Manager_Tutorials

MS Paint Tricks
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/tutorial/mspaint

Paint Shop Pro X Tutorials
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Section/Display&sid=1047024315119&gid=
1047024331836&cid=1047024353448

Photoshop CS2 Basics Online Course
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshopcs2lessons/Photoshop_CS2_Basics_Online_Course_Index_of_Lessons.htm

back to top

Presentations

Presentation programs often are computer software packages used to display information, normally in the form of a slide show. It typically includes three major functions: an editor that allows text to be inserted and formatted, a method for inserting and manipulating graphic images and a slide-show system to display the content.

Recommended Readings:
Countering 'death by PowerPoint'
http://people.senecac.on.ca/selia.karsten/MRK/Death.html

Death By PowerPoint
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/684871

Death by PowerPoint or Twelve Steps to Better E-Presentations
http://www.marshall.edu/it/cit/Presentations/2002/WVNET/Preventing_Death_by_PowerPoint.pdf

Free Open Office Impress Templates
http://www.presentationhelper.co.uk/free-open-office-impress-templates-91.htm

On the lighter side: Project Manager Leaves Suicide PowerPoint Presentation
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30903

OpenOffice Impress – User Guide
http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0500IG-ImpressGuide.pdf

PowerConverter
http://www.crystalgraphics.com/powerpoint/powerconverter.main.asp

PowerPoint: shot with its own bullets
http://norvig.com/lancet.html

Presentation Software - The Top Ten (10)
http://www.presentationhelper.co.uk/presentation-software-the-top-ten-10-134.htm

Random Thoughts . . . Death by PowerPoint
http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/PowerPoint.pdf

What is OpenOffice Impress?
http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/openofficeimpress/f/070926ooidef.htm

Tutorials:
Introduction to Open Office Impress 1.9
http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/technology/tutorials/office/impress/

Becoming proficient in OpenOffice Impress
http://www.learnopenoffice.org/contents.htm

PowerPoint 97, 2000, 2002, 2003
http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/tutorials.htm

PowerPoint in the classroom
http://www.actden.com/pp/index.htm

Rutgers Writing Program – Power Point
http://getit.rutgers.edu/tutorials/powerpoint/index.html

Tutorial for OpenOffice
http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.org/

back to top

Screencasting

A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, often containing audio narration. Just as a screenshot is a picture of a user's screen, a screencast is essentially a movie of what a user sees on his monitor. Screencasts are useful for demonstrating features of both simple and complicated software and are often used to create tutorials.

Some Screencasting Software:
Camtasia
http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp?

Captivate
http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/

SnagIt
http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp?

Recommended Readings:
A Quick Look at Macromedia Captivate
http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/feb2005/clothier.htm

Camtasia vs. Captivate Studio
http://themarketingbooth.blogspot.com/2005/03/captivate-vs-camtasia-studio.html

Camtasia vs. Captivate
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2005/04/16/camtasia-vs-captivate/

Tutorials:

Camtasia Tutorial
http://itdp.providence.edu/Help/Camtasia.htm

Captivate Developer Center
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/captivate/

Creating a Captivate Movie
http://www.communitymx.com/content/article.cfm?cid=A8847

How To Work with Audio in Macromedia Captivate
http://mxdj.sys-con.com/read/114249.htm

Learning to use Camtasia
http://www.iddl.vt.edu/instructors/camtasia/

SnagIt Learning Center
http://www.techsmith.com/learn/snagit/default.asp

Creating Interactive Simulations using Macromedia Captivate
http://itrc.wvu.edu/openhouse/resources/captivate_handout.pdf

Enhancing the “Show and Tell” Aspects of Class Engagement Using Camtasia
http://www.mtsu.edu/~itconf/proceed04/hoyer.pdf

Allow Me to Demonstrate
http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?editorialsid=557

back to top

PDF

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a proprietary file format developed by Adobe Systems. PDF files don't encode information that is specific to the application software, hardware, or operating system used to create or view the document. This feature ensures that a valid PDF will render exactly the same regardless of its origin or destination. PDF is also an open standard in the sense that anyone may create applications that read and write PDF files without having to pay royalties to Adobe Systems. While the PDF format can describe very simple one page documents, it may also be used for many pages, complex documents that use a variety of different fonts, graphics, colors, and images.

Recommended Readings:
Planet PDF
http://www.planetpdf.com/

PDF Zone
http://www.pdfzone.com/

PDF Reference
http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/pdf/index_reference.html

From RSS To PDF: Acrobat 7 Does It
http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2005/02/11/from_rss_to_pdf_acrobat.htm

Tutorials:
Download the latest version of Adobe Reader
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Creating a PDF file
http://www.espere.org/pdffile.htm

Acrobat For Educators Quick Reference Sheet
http://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/acrobat/pdfs/creatingPDF.pdf

Creating Your Own Acrobat Documents
http://www.bgsu.edu/cconline/sammons/creating.htm

back to top

Podcasting

Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The distribution format of a podcast uses either the RSS or Atom syndication formats. The term podcast, like "radio", can mean both the content and the method of delivery. Usually the podcast features one type of "show", with new episodes either sporadically or at planned intervals, such as daily or weekly. Podcasting's essence is about creating content (audio or video) for an audience that wants to listen or watch when they want, where they want, and how they want.

Tutorials:
How Podcasting Works
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/podcasting2.htm

Podcasting Explained
http://www.rss-specifications.com/podcasting-explained.htm

Podcasting Tools
http://www.podcasting-tools.com/

Podcasting Tools and Downloads
http://www.deitel.com/Podcasting/PodcastingResourceCenter_Page4.html

The new podcasting tools
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6450_7-6212319-1.html

Tools for Podcasting
http://www.feedforall.com/tools-for-podcasting.htm

back to top

Videocasting

Video podcast (sometimes shortened to vidcast or vodcast) is a term used for the online delivery of video on demand video clip content via Atom or RSS enclosures. From a web server, a video podcast can be distributed as a file or as a stream. A podcasting client may work with a separate, or integrated player. One such example of the latter is iTunes, which is an unusual case of a web feed aggregator being added to a media player rather than vice versa

Sites to check:
Tools for Videocasting
The tools of the trade for every videocast creator. On this site, you will find everything you
need to run, improve, and promote your videocast online.
http://www.rssray.com/business-videocasting-tools.php

Capture, Edit and Share your Life!
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
Film lovers, family historians and YouTube enthusiasts, you can produce professional
looking video clips easily, without high tech editing equipment — with Video Editing
Software. Good video editing software provides you with the tools needed to capture, edit
and share your video creations. Comparison of:

ShowBiz DVD - http://www.arcsoft.com/products/showbiz/
Ulead Video Studio - http://www.ulead.com/vs/
Easy Media Creator - http://www.roxio.com/
Adobe Premiere Elements - http://www.adobe.com/products/premiereel/
Pinnacle Studio Plus - http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Home/
WinDVD Creator - http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVDCreator_Profile.jsp
Nero Ultra Edition - http://www.nero.com/enu/index.html
Vegas Movie Studio DVD - http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=446
DVD Movie Factory - http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

back to top