Learn how to Create website or Blog!

GETTING STARTED

2009-12-13T03:52:00.001-08:00

GETTING STARTED
First, there are two basic types of videos you can make:
1. Screen captures
2. Live action
Screen Captures:
Typically, this type of tutorial is one where you are teaching how to use a piece of software (like MS Word for example,) and you need maximum clarity so people can see what buttons you are clicking on or what text you are writing.
On other video sharing sites, these types of videos are resized and distorted by the system. Not so on idea22.com!
Note: When uploading screen captures on idea22.com, be sure to choose the 'screen capture' option so that the video is not resized.
For software tutorials, we assume people are using screen capture programs like:
􀁺 Camtasia (use 30 day free trial)
􀁺 Live Demo
􀁺 Ishowu (Mac - only $23)
... We will have a few tutorials on how to use the most popular of these.
Whichever program you decide to use, you need to output the final video as either an FLV or SWF. When you go to upload your screen capture (on idea22.com), select the 'screen capture' option (on the right) and the system will keep the videos original dimensions so as to not distort the video.

Screen Capture Video Recording Tips

2009-12-13T03:51:00.004-08:00

Screen Capture Video Recording Tips:
1. Speak about 25% slower (when recording) than you would normally. If you screw up a word while recording, be silent for about 4 seconds and repeat the sentence - edit later. The pause in speaking will create tell-tail sign that will make it much easier to edit later.
2. When you screw up a word in a sentence, pause and then repeat the entire sentence. Trying to restate only a word will create a discontinuity in the flow/rhythm of the sentence.
3. Edit only later because constantly stopping and starting while recording is slow and it interrupts the flow of your video tutorial.
4. Imagine you are teaching a single person sitting beside you when creating your videos. Don't think you are speaking to a room full of people because you will sound impersonal and lecturing.
5. Use a conversational / relaxed style in you videos - don't try to be anything but yourself. Whatever you do, don't try to sound nerd-like or hyper intelligent.
6. Avoid the use of um's and ah's and edit out 'pregnant-pauses'.
7. Do sound checks before each and every recording.
8. Wear bass-y headphones (headphones with a lot of base) while recording for instant feedback of the sound.
9. Don't speak to close to the mic or breathe into the mic. Otherwise you will get that windblast distortion. Try to breathe to the side of the mic and keep your mouth about 3 inches from the mic.
10. Keep each segment less than 10 minutes long because people don't like to sit through long video tutorials. If you have a longer lesson (say 20 minutes), just cut it into two videos

How to output screen captures videos

2009-12-13T03:51:00.003-08:00

How to output screen captures videos
We recommend two video files types:
SWF:
The ideal file format for screen captures is .swf. This format produces the clearest video with the smallest file sizes … by far. Small video file sizes are good because people won't have to wait as long to download your video tutorial.
Note: with many screen capture programs, you can choose how many frames per second to output the video at. We've have found that you only need about 5 frames per second to get a nice looking video, when it comes to screen capture tutorials.
… Typically people will select to output videos at 15 to as much as 30 frames a second. This is a complete waste, and will bloat your videos for no good reason. Go with 5 frames a second and your videos will be lean!
FLV:
This format is better suited for live action video because of the way it compresses the video. But it still can be used for screen capture tutorials. Just be aware that the videos will be:
• Much larger than SWF - as much as 5 times the size!
• Not as sharp as the same video in SWF format.
Many screen capture programs will allow you to output either FLV or SWF (Camtasia for example) but SWF is probably best for 99% of the cases when it comes to screen capture tutorials.
MAC OS NOTES:
To get your screen captures to FLV format on the Mac, you will need to download the trial version of Flash and use the built-in video encoder to convert your video (likely in QuickTime format) to FLV.
Note regarding Flash's encoder: Be sure to select the: On2 VP6 video codec at 400kpbs.
This will work fine. But I have to tell you that right now, when it comes to screen captures, Windows beats the Mac hands down.

LIVE ACTION VIDEO TUTORIALS

2009-12-13T03:51:00.001-08:00

LIVE ACTION VIDEO TUTORIALS
There are a couple of ways to shoot this type of video:
1. With a digital video camera.
2. Using a web cam.
Of course, using a digital camera will give you more flexibility in terms of the shots you can get - it would probably be hard to use a web cam to shoot say, a martial arts demo! Web cams can be useful, but typically only for things that can be demonstrated while sitting at a desk. Say for example:
• How to sew socks.
• How to tie a necktie.
• How to pot a plant.
… I'm sure you're getting the idea.

Web Cams

2009-12-13T03:50:00.004-08:00

Web Cams
If you are using a web cam, it is probably obvious to you that your videos automatically get deposited on your computer. On Windows XP, you will probably find videos in your 'My Videos' folder. On and Mac OS X, videos will probably be placed in your 'Movies' folder.
Camcoders
If you are using a digital camcorder, you will have to upload your videos from your camera using the cable that came with your camera. This cable is probably a USB or a Firewire cable. Look for instructions that came with your camera on how to transfer the videos to your computer.
With you videos on your machine, how will you edit your videos? You need a video editing software to do this.

Software used to edit your videos

2009-12-13T03:50:00.003-08:00

Software used to edit your videos:
Fortunately, both Windows and Mac computers come with built-in video editing programs that are more than capable of creating great video tutorials.
On Windows, you have Windows Movie Maker and on Mac you have iMovie.
(We will have video tutorials that will show you how to use these programs.)
That said, both programs are fairly easy to learn and use, so don't be afraid to start them up and begin to play with them. It's actually lots of fun.

Note to those experienced with digital video

2009-12-13T03:49:00.002-08:00

Note to those experienced with digital video:
If you are pro at video editing, then you will probably be using Premiere or Final Cut and I'm pretty sure you know what you're doing …
Voiceovers:
Sometimes you may need to do voiceovers after having recorded your video. Say in the case of a cooking video where you really need to discuss what's going on after your finished the editing. The advantages of filming and then adding the commentary after filming are:
1. You will probably have much better sound because you can speak directly into a mic in a quiet room.
2. You can edit what you say and make sure you present the information (what's happening in the video) much more effectively.
That said, the disadvantage is that this approach takes a lot more work than if you just talk to the audience while filming … like a live demo, if you will.
Which way to go?
This is a personal choice … but I personally like to avoid voiceovers. It's a lot of work anyway!

Live Action Recording Tips

2009-12-13T03:49:00.001-08:00

Live Action Recording Tips:
1. Plan your shots before you begin shooting any video. A short story board will help. (Provide example)
2. Take footage you need and not much more. Editing can be a pain in the ass … especially when you have hours of extra video to edit!
3. Make sure you have good lighting. Most consumer level digital video cameras can shot descent video if you have very good lighting. If you have bad lighting, your video will probably not be useable. So do a couple of test shots before you start your tutorial.
4. Keep your shots simple: don't try funky angles or moving the camera for different perspectives or zoom factors. Keep it simple!
For example: Don't zoom in for the sake of zooming in. Only zoon in to a shot because you NEED to show a close up.
5. Don't shake the camera. Try getting a tripod to be sure the video is nice and stable. A camera with built in optical image stabilization is something worth getting.
6. Keep each segment less than 10 minutes long because people don't like to sit through longer. If you have a longer lesson (say 20 minutes), just cut it into two videos

UPLOADING VIDEOS

2009-12-13T03:48:00.002-08:00

UPLOADING VIDEOS
We accept the following file types:
For live action video:
• .mov (Quicktime)
• wmv (Windows media)
• mpeg
Note:
• All live action videos will be resized to 240x320
• Video files can be no larger than 90 megabytes.
File types for screen capture videos:
• swf (shockwave Flash)
• flv (Flash video format)
Note: All screen capture videos will keep their original size to maximize clarity.

MAC OSX SCREEN CAPTURES

2009-12-13T03:48:00.001-08:00

MAC OSX SCREEN CAPTURES
Notes:
• You can use iMovie HD to edit screen-casts - just use an HD format project! 720p works fine.
• You can later trim the sides if you prefer a 4:3 aspect ratio when you export to QuickTime.
The Mac screen-capture process:
1. ishowu
2. iMovieHD (750pi) to edit and output as high quality QT.
3. Use the Flash demo software to output your FLV.

ABOUT TAGGING YOUR VIDEOS

2009-12-13T03:44:00.000-08:00

ABOUT TAGGING YOUR VIDEOS
Tagging is a new way people classify things on the Web. We added the ability to 'tag' videos so that you can provide more information about your videos.
… You may have a video that could fall into more than one category (it happens allot.) In those cases, choose the idea22 category that fits the your video best, and then add tags that will further classify the video. People can use the tags to find videos, so it is important that you choose tags that make sense!

How to Create a Blog Using Blogger

2009-12-13T03:40:00.000-08:00

How to Create a Blog Using BloggerBlogger is free Google software that lets you create blogs. There is nothing to download and you can edit your blog from any computer. This setup process will take you through the steps to set up a Google account or login using your OpenID account, and then set up a blog with Blogger.1.Go to www.blogger.com
2.If you have an OpenID account, log in and look for “Create a blog”.•What is OpenID? OpenID is the decentralized, lightweight protocol for single sign-on and portable identity.

3.If you do not have an OpenID account or a Google account, click on the big orange arrow that reads “Create your blog now” on the right side of the page.•Fill in the required fields to create a Google account. If you have an OpenID account, you may skip creating a Google account and log in.•You must provide your email address (this will be your login name)•Create a new password for the Google account•Create a blogging display name (this is your blogging ‘signature’ that everyone will see when you post).•Finally, go through the security word validation, accept the terms of service, and submit your information. After a Google account is created, it is time to set up your blog.

4. In step two of the process, create a title for your blog and a blog address.
• The blog URL will be http://name.blogspot.com
• Note: The title and URL are not permanent! Both of these can be changed at any time during your blog’s life. (change under Settings – Title and Publishing)
i. The name can be whatever you want it to be when you change your blog later; such as http://bearcatsports.blogspot.com. Keep it simple so it’s easy to type and to remember. Also, this URL must be unique. You will be the only blog in the blogosphere with that address!

5.Choose a pre-made template. Again, this is something you can change at any time.•After your blog is set up, you can customize the template to meet your needs and give the blog your own personal look.

You should get an encouraging message from Blogger telling you that your blog has been created. You did it! You are now ready to become a blogging professional. Click on the big orange arrow that says "Start Posting" to begin your blogging.

Blog Settings

2009-12-13T03:37:00.000-08:00

Blog Settings
Before posting to your blog, take a look at your blog settings. Go to http://www.blogger.com/ and log into your account.
Type in your username (email address) and password, then sign in.

Click on Settings

You can adjust settings in 8 different areas.
Basic: change your title, add a description, choose settings, save or delete the blog
Publishing: change your URL, switch to a custom domain (not recommended unless you have your own domain set up)
Formatting: set things like number of posts on the page, format of date and time stamps, etc. A post template is a way to pre-format a post editor, usually in html, as a template to use for each post.
Comments: set up who can comment, comment moderation if desired, backlinks, etc. OpenID is an open standard that allows users of OpenID-enabled services to log in to any OpenID-supported site with one set of login credentials. Which means a reader doesn’t have to have a Google Account. Backlinks enable you to keep track of other pages on the web that link to your posts.
• Archiving: set archive frequency and whether each post has its own page
Site Feed: settings for site feed basic and advanced so others can add your blog to their RSS feed readers like Bloglines. FeedBurner promotes your Blog (may or may not be desirable).
Email: if you want to post to your blog via your email, fill in the info
Permissions: invite others to author your blog either as administrators or visitors. As visitors they can post but not do anything administrative. Choose who can view the blog.

Template

2009-12-13T03:36:00.000-08:00

Template
• Four layout and formatting tabs to work with: Page Elements, Fonts and Colors, Edit HTML, Pick New Template
• Page Elements: look at all sections later; work with Page Elements right now. Click on Add a Page Element.
o Choose Picture > browse to the desktop and insert the UC logo
o Go back to Add a Page Element and add a Link List to the blog
o Now click on the View Blog tab
　
How to Post to Your Blog
If you’re in the blog view, create a post by clicking on New Post next to your email address in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

If you’re in "Dashboard", find the blog that you want to post to and click on the "New Post" link (it will have a green plus sign).

Create a Welcome post

2009-12-13T03:30:00.000-08:00

•Create a Welcome post.•Title: Type Welcome in the title field. It will appear in bold looking similar to a newspaper headline. You cannot perform any special formatting features with the title of your post.
•Body: Type a welcome message. “Welcome to my blog! My blog will primarily be my views on what’s happening in the news. Please feel free to add your comments to my posts.” The body of your post can be formatted in a limited way. Some of the formatting features include a few fonts to choose from, colors, sizes, bold, italics, justifying, bulleted lists, and spell check.•Picture: If you want to insert a picture into your blog with a post, this is the place to do it. Use the image icon from the formatting toolbar (located the second icon from the right).

Insert a picture into a post: browse to image location > insert image > choose a layout > upload image > move image into position.

After you’ve added text and an image, click on the orange button "Publish." You've now created a post. Go view your blog.
Edit Posts – click on "Customize" to get to Settings where you can edit the post.

Creating A Blog

2009-12-13T03:26:00.000-08:00

Web Logs, or Blogs, are a popular way to share ideas and stay in touch with people over the
internet. They are similar in style to keeping a journal and it is easy for anyone to create and
maintain one. There are many websites that can help people to create Blogs. This Quick Tip will
instruct you on creating a Blog using Blogger.com, one of the more popular Blogging sites.
Creating A Blog
1. Open your Browser (e.g. Internet Explorer)
2. Type in the following URL in the Address box: www.blogger.com. A new page appears
bringing you to the Blogger homepage.

3. Once there follow the three steps to creating a Blog:
• Create an account for yourself
• Give your Blog a name
• Choose a template to determine how your Blog looks
Creating An Account
You will first need to create an account on www.blogger.com in order to be able to create your
Blog. This will require setting an account username and password.
4. In the Blogger homepage, click CREATE YOUR BLOG NOW.

5. In the Create a Google Account page, enter your Email address in the Email Address
textbox.
6. Re-enter your Email address in the Retype email address textbox.
7. Enter a password in the Enter a password textbox.
• HINT- Try using your Blackboard password.
8. Re-enter your password in the Retype password textbox.
9. Enter a display name in the Display name textbox. This is the name that will appear on your
posts and comments.
10. In the Word Verification textbox, enter the letters you see above.
11. Check the I ACCEPT THE TERMS OF SERVICE checkbox.
12. To see the Terms of Service follow this link: http://www.blogger.com/terms.g
13. Click CONTINUE on the bottom right of the page.

Naming Your Blog

2009-12-13T03:25:00.001-08:00

Naming Your Blog
Now you must give your Blog a name. This is the title that will be displayed at the top of your Blog
for everyone to see, so make sure you give the name some thought before picking one.
1. On the Name your Blog page, enter the Blog name in the Blog title textbox.
2. Enter the Blog address in the Blog Address textbox.
HINT- Try using your email address.
3. Click CHECK AVAILABILITY to make sure the name you want is not already taken.
4. Click CONTINUE.

For future reference, record the following:
1. Blog title ________________________________
2. Blog address (URL) http://__________________________.blogspot.com

Choosing A Template

2009-12-13T03:22:00.000-08:00

Choosing A Template
Now it’s time to choose a template. This is the visual style of your Blog and there are a number of
options available to you. After you’ve chosen a template it’s time to make your first post. You may
want to make it an introductory one, as this is a brand new Blog.
1. On the Choose a template page, pick the design you like best by clicking on it.
2. Click PREVIEW TEMPLATE to get a better idea of what a design looks like.
􀂃 Don’t worry, you can change the design later if you so choose.
3. After selecting a template, click CONTINUE.

4. Click START BLOGGING.

Creating Your First Post

2009-12-13T03:20:00.000-08:00

Creating Your First Post
1. Enter a title for your post in the Title textbox.
2. Enter the body of your post in the white textbox provided.
3. Enter all relevant labels for your post in the Labels for this post textbox.
• These labels are used as keywords for searches. Filling in labels will increase the amount
of people who will find your post when performing a search.
14. Click SAVE NOW if you would like to save your work without publishing it to your Blog.
• This function will allow you to save your work and then return to it later, while keeping the
unfinished product from being displayed.
15. Click PUBLISH POST to publish the post to your Blog on the internet.
16. Click VIEW BLOG when you’re done to see what it looks like.

17. Return to your Blog by going to www.blogger.com and logging in using the email address and
password you entered to create your blog.
18. To share your Blog with others, send them the URL that you entered as your “Blog address.”