Saturday, May 7, 2011

Embedding "non-iframe" versions of Screenr Screencasts on Wordpress

EduBlogs blogs run on Wordpress, and Wordpress does not like / does not accept "iframe" embed codes for all user types. If you stay in "HTML mode," don't switch your dashboard post view to "Visual" model, AND are an "administrator" on the blog to which you're posting, "iframe" code can work. For our class blog, however, to which all students are classified as "authors" rather than administrators, "iframe" embed code doesn't work.

For this reason, when embedding rich media in a blog post you need to use alternate embed code which does not use the "iframe" syntax. On Screenr, when you view a completed screencast and want to embed it, do NOT click the SHARE link over the screencast itself. Instead, click GET EMBED CODE to the right of the screencast.

Embed Screenr without iframe code

Next, click USE OLD EMBED CODE and copy the "non-iframe" version of the screencast embed code and copy it.

Screenr - Use Old Embed Code

This is the code you'll want to use on your Wordpress blog, and it should work fine to embed your Screenr screencasts.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Problems with Blog Captcha

Q: I'm having trouble leaving comments on our class blog, when I enter the captcha word it doesn't accept it. What can I do?

A: Here are a couple ideas to try:


  1. Try logging into our class blog first before commenting. You shouldn't have to enter login credentials, and you may not have to enter the Captcha.
  2. Try using a different web browser (like FireFox or Chrome) and see if that makes a difference.
  3. Try leaving a comment on one of the computers in the UCO college of education computer labs, and see if you have the problem again. This would identify the issue as something with your computer.
Let me know if any of these ideas help. Other comments are coming in on the blog so I'm not sure what your issue is, but these suggestions may help.

Friday, February 18, 2011

How to Subscribe to a Website as a Channel in Google Reader, and Categorize / Organize it in a Folder

The following three minute screencast demonstrates how to "subscribe" to a website as a new "channel" of information using Google Reader, and then organize or categorize that "feed" in a folder. Google Reader is a free news aggregator which can be used to create customized, digital newspapers. It integrates well into phenomenal applications like FlipBoard for iPad, but can be used on any mobile device as well as laptop/desktop computer with a modern web browser.

 

 Google just updated its Android-based app for Google Reader this week. This screencast was recorded for free using Screenr, and cross-posted to YouTube from Screenr. This was created for students enrolled in "Technology 4 Teachers" at the University of Central Oklahoma in Spring 2011.

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Scratch Project Won't Open

Q: I can't seem to open projects from the Scratch website on my computer.

A: You may have to select the Scratch program as the one which should open the project.

Alternatively you can right click the download link for the project and save it to your desktop.

Save a Scratch Project

Then when you open Scratch, choose FILE - OPEN and navigate to the desktop and open the project from there.

Open a Scratch Project from the Desktop

If you just installed the application you may want to restart your computer too, and see if that helps.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Organize Google Reader Feeds in a Folder & Share a Bundle

For Quiz #2 in "Technology 4 Teachers" this term, you will need to:
  1. Organize the ten feeds you subscribed to in week 4 in a folder
  2. Share that folder as a bundle in Google Reader
Use the following screenshots to learn how to do both these things. Refer to our Google Reader Resource page if you need help subscribing to feeds - You'll need to subscribe to 10 feeds first before creating your bundle.

Click on a feed not in a folder

Put feed into a folder

Create a bundle

Copy bundle link

After you have copied your bundle link, you can submit it for Quiz 2 in WebCT.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Find the direct link to a KidBlog blog post

For our "checkpoint blog post quizzes" for class, and other assignments, you need to copy and paste the DIRECT URL or web link to the blog post you wrote for a specific class assignment. The following screenshot shows where you can click on our EduBlogs blog posts to get a particular blog posts' "permalink." Make sure you copy THAT link when you are viewing a post.

How to copy a direct link on KidBlog

Find the direct link to a EduBlogs blog post

For our "checkpoint blog post quizzes" for class, and other assignments, you need to copy and paste the DIRECT URL or web link to the blog post you wrote for a specific class assignment. The following screenshot shows where you can click on our EduBlogs blog posts to get a particular blog posts' "permalink." Make sure you copy THAT link when you are viewing a post.




Copy EduBlogs Direct Link

Monday, February 7, 2011

Web Browser Options

Q: What can I do if the webpage I'm visiting doesn't look right?

A: Sometimes different web browsers display content differently. View the links and resources on the "Web Browsers" resource page of our class wiki. Try downloading and using another web browser and see if that 'fixes' your problem with displayed webpage content.


Google Chrome Logophoto © 2008 Randy Z | more info (via: Wylio)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Linking and Embedding Video on Blog Posts

This screencast demonstrates how to create a link and embed a video in a post on a Kidblog site. (Like we are using for our 11 am section this term.) Run time is 11.5 minutes.



This second screencast demonstrates how to create a link and embed a video in a post on a free EduBlogs site. (Like we are using for our 9 am section this year.) Run time is 8.5 minutes.



Both these screencasts were recorded and lightly edited using Screenflow software for Mac. (It is $99 software.)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Suggestions for how to find and use Creative Commons licensed images in blog posts

Q: How can we find and use Creative Commons licensed images in our blog posts for class?

A: I created a 4 minute screencast answering this question. The links I referenced are Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-Online Search, Wylio.com, Compfight.com, and TalkWithMedia.com's Images page.

Guidelines for Video Reflections on our Class Blog

Q: Where are the guidelines we should follow when we write our blog posts, reflecting on different videos?

A: That webpage of guidelines is on wiki.wesfryer.com/t4t/resources/reflections. It's linked from our resources page on our class website, and from individual assignment pages too when the commenting guidelines are referenced.

I'm blogging this.photo © 2005 Jhayne | more info (via: Wylio)

Help Posting to Our EduBlogs Class Blog

Several students in my 9 am T4T class this semester have reported having problems posting to our EduBlogs class blog. Part of the reason for this, I think, is that some students have created INDIVIDUAL blogs on EduBlogs, and are posting there. It's fine to create and use your own blog on EduBlogs, but for our T4T class you need to post on our CLASS BLOG.

After logging into EduBlogs, 9 am T4T students can view our class blog "dashboard" by visiting http://t4tspring2011.edublogs.org/wp-admin/. THAT is where you want to post. This EduBlogs support page can help you in writing your posts.

Live Blogging at Woolfcampphoto © 2006 Sue Richards | more info (via: Wylio)