Colorado on itunes U Reference Guide

Transcription

1 Colorado on itunes U Reference Guide A collaborative effort: enet Colorado Centennial BOCES

2 Welcome to Colorado itunes U Dear Colorado Educators, enet Colorado and the Centennial BOCES have joined together to bring Colorado on itunes U to life. This collaborative effort will provide rich educational content to the students, teachers, and community in our state. This packet will help you with the processes and procedures for creating content. You will find additional resources on the enet Colorado website, available for immediate download. We invite you to participate with us by creating and sharing your valuable content expertise with others through this valuable, and free, online resource. We are excited to help make outstanding multimedia content from top educators and school districts in Colorado available worldwide through itunes U. Sincerely, enet Colorado Centennial BOCES 2

3 Table of Contents Welcome to Colorado itunes U... 2 Preparing a Video Podcast... 4 Preparing an Audio Podcast... 6 Preparing a PDF to post on itunes U Audio File Recommendations... 8 Video File Recommendations... 8 Relevancy of Resources Rubric... 9 itunes U Page Considerations for Content Providers...11 Content Submission Form...12 Copyright and Fair Use...13 Link to Original Apple itunes U Documents...13 Content Provider Release Form...14 FAQ s...17 Readiness Checklist...19 Uploading a Podcast...19 Contact Information...20 Credits & Bibliography

4 Preparing a Video Podcast This checklist will assist you in creating a video podcast. It will help you prepare your podcast and implement your ideas. In addition to this list, you may also consider reviewing the link below to the PDF document itunes U, Creating Content made available by Apple, which contains more helpful advice on creating content for itunes U. Advance Preparations. Choose a method to create your podcast. Will you record it in a studio? Will you edit an existing video? Will it be a recording of a live event? Will you create a series of podcasts, or is your single podcast contributing to an existing collection of podcasts? Will you record new episodes, and if so how often? Daily, monthly, weekly, or as needed? Create an outline of your podcast before you begin. This may help keep the content focused in the final digital artifact. Will your podcast require signed release forms from students, guest speakers, or other contributors before posting? Determine where your podcast will reside on the Colorado itunes U page. Equipment Requirements. Computer. A recent version of Windows, Mac OS X or Linux will work best. Microphone. A built-in microphone on the computer, a recording headset, an ipod, or other device designed for audio capture will work. Sound editing, video editing, or slideshow software. There are a variety of available choices for Windows or Mac users. Garage Band, Audacity, Keynote, imovie and Photo Story 3 are common tools, but not the only ones! Video camcorder, or built-in camera on the computer if applicable. MPEG4 encoder. Keynote, Garage Band and imovie will export the content in the correct format, Windows users have a variety of other choices. Recording and Editing Capture your video, if applicable. Consider an appropriate setting with adequate lighting. Convert PowerPoint presentations to images, if applicable. Capture audio. Prepare any background music, and be certain the music is not copyright-protected. Edit your audio, video, or slides, and be certain things are in the right order. Watch your video from start to finish before exporting! Exporting and uploading. Export your podcast as an MPEG-4 file with H.264 compression, with the appropriate file extensions (.mp4,.m4v,.mov) Consider file size when exporting, you may want to reduce the size and/or quality in order to make your content more accessible for download. Files that are too large may be too difficult to access, while too small may compromise the quality. EXAMPLE: An 8.7MB video file, lasting 5 min 47 secs. in length, when converted for ipod/ipad using the servers for Colorado on itunes U, turned into a 33 MB download, roughly 4x the size of the original video. Podcasts should generally be limited to less than 1GB in size. 4

5 It is possible to format video for the ipod, ipad or iphone on a Mac using the built-in ipod converters in QuickTime (Movie to ipod) or itunes (Convert selection for ipod.) Additionally, the servers used for Colorado on itunes U can automatically convert files to ipod/ipad format for you, adding and intro/outro to your video upon upload. Review the Colorado Metadata Requirements and Standards found in this packet when naming your podcast. Your responses will help others find your content when searching on itunes U. Upload your podcast to itunes U. 640 x 480 is the recommended window size for ipods. 5

6 Preparing an Audio Podcast This checklist will assist you in creating an audio podcast. It will help you prepare your podcast and implement your ideas. In addition to this list, you may also consider reviewing the link below to the PDF document itunes U, Creating Content made available by Apple, which contains more helpful advice on creating content for itunes U. Advance Preparations. Choose a method to create your podcast. Will you record it in a studio? Will you edit an existing audio track? Will your podcast be a recording of a live event? Will you create a series of podcasts, or is your podcast contributing to an existing collection of podcasts? Will you record new episodes, and if so how often? Daily, monthly, weekly, or as needed? Create an outline of your podcast before you begin. This may help keep the content focused in the final digital artifact. Will your podcast require signed release forms from students, guest speakers, or other contributors before posting? Determine where your podcast will reside on the Colorado itunes U page. Equipment Requirements. Computer. A recent version of Windows, Mac OS X or Linux will work best. Microphone. A built-in microphone on the computer, a recording headset, an ipod, or other device designed for audio capture will work. Sound recording/editing software. There are a variety of available choices for Windows or Mac users. Garage Band and Audacity are common tools, but not the only ones! MP3 encoder. Keynote, Garage Band and imovie will export your podcasts directly into the correct format. itunes will also convert recordings into mp3 format. itunes is free. Recording and Editing Record your audio podcast. Be aware of background noise. Fans and air conditioners can sometimes add a distracting hum in the background. Consider background music or sound effects when appropriate. If you choose to use these, be certain these elements are not copyright-protected. Edit your audio. Give your podcast a final listen before exporting. Exporting and uploading. Export your podcast as an mp3 file or and AAC file. This is what Apple recommends for audio content. Please be certain the podcast has the appropriate file extension (.m4a,.mp3.) Apple recommends that files over 32MB be in AAC format, rather than mp3. Consider file size when exporting, you may want to reduce the recording rate or bit rate. A basic guideline for audio-only podcasts is a minimum of 32K bits and 64K-128K for podcasts with music. You can import and uncompressed file into itunes and then compress it. Review the Colorado Metadata Requirements and Standards information founding in this packet. Metadata will help others find your content when searching on itunes U. Upload your podcast to itunes U. 6

7 Preparing a PDF to post on itunes U. itunes U can publish PDF content for download. PDF files can be stored and accessed from within itunes, but not on ipod. PDF s may provide supplemental materials to accompany and audio or video podcast. PDF s may provide current forms or documents that accompany a presentation. You may create a PDF from any file using print menu on a Mac. On a Windows machine, you may use another tool to create PDF s. In addition to this list, you may also consider reviewing the link below to the PDF document itunes U, Creating Content made available by Apple, which contains more helpful advice on creating content for itunes U. 7

8 Audio File Recommendations Audio files must be AAC or MP3 format with appropriate file extensions (.m4a,.mp3). For best results during playback, Apple recommends converting MP3 files greater than 32 megabytes (MB) to AAC format. For AAC audio files, Apple recommends the following specifications: Audio Format: Baseline Low-Complexity Profile with AAC-LC (Music) Data Rate: Up to 160 Kbps Channels: Stereo in.m4v,.mp4, and.mov formats Output Sample Rate: 48 khz Encoding Quality: Better Video File Recommendations Video files must be MPEG-4 format with H.264 compression and appropriate file extensions (.mp4,.m4v,.mov). For best results with ipod, Apple recommends using MPEG-4 with H.264 compression with the following specifications: Video Format: MPEG-4 with H.264 Data Rate: Up to 1.5 Mbps Image Size: 640 x 480 pixels Frame Rate: 30 frames per second Key Frame: Every 24 frames Audio Tracks: Baseline Low-Complexity Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps If you are using QuickTime to create and edit video content, it is recommended that you export your videos by choosing "Movie to ipod" from the Export pop-up menu in QuickTime Pro. 8

9 Relevancy of Resources Rubric Use the table below to review your content before publishing. It is recommended that your content fit the ready to upload standards outlined in the rubric before it is published on itunes U. Content Ready to Upload Needs work Accuracy Information is accurate. Sources are cited when appropriate. There may be inaccuracies in the content, and the work does not cite sources. Main idea, focus Relevancy Digital readiness Syntax and Grammar Copyright and Fair Use Video Audio PDF Metadata The digital content states its purpose and maintains its focus on the stated purpose. Content is well organized. The title accurately describes the content. The topic is educationally relevant, and aligns to Common Core Standards or other National or State educational initiatives. Content is of interest to the intended audience. File is an appropriate size. Sound quality is clear. Video is clear. The artifact is free of syntactical and grammatical errors. The work is original and the authors are identified. Dates are accurate. All media/information used or referenced in the digital artifact has been cited, and/or the owner has granted permission for its use. The video is clear, not grainy. The editing is smooth. Subjects are well lit, areas are well-staged and enhance understanding of the content. The audio is clear and audible. Background music enhances the artifact, and does not distract the listener. Volume levels are consistent. The PDF matches the stated purpose, has readable text, and is free from grammatical errors. PDF will print on standard paper. Metadata has been attached to the digital artifact, and it aligns with the Metadata Requirement and Standards outlined in this document. The digital content does not state it s purpose and lacks a clear focus. The title may lack specificity. The content may meander into unrelated areas. The topic is not educational in nature. The artifact may contain explicit or other inappropriate content. The nature of the content isn t relevant to the intended audience. File may be too large, making it less accessible to potential audiences. Sound quality may be compromised, and might be difficult to understand. Video may be grainy. The artifact contains syntactical or grammatical errors that need correction. Authors may not be identified. Copyright issues might exist. Media and information might lack proper citations. The video may not be clear. Subjects might be poorly lit, transitions and effects might need improvement. Voices may not be audible. Loudness may vary, distracting the listener from the content. Background noise may be evident and volume levels may be inconsistent. The content of the PDF does not match the stated purpose. The text may contain grammatical errors. The text has alignment, size, or other issues when printing. Metadata has not been included. 9

10 File size File format Accessibility Video, audio or PDF file does not exceed 1GB. File is in one of the recommended formats (AAC or mp3 for audio, MPEG-4 with H.264 compression for video.) Digital artifact ensures accessibility for all users (e.g. closed captioning, or written transcript included in the metadata.) Video, audio or PDF file is larger than 1GB. File is not in one of the recommended formats. For more information and details on recommended formats, please review: /docs/itunes_u_creating_content.pdf Digital artifact does not address accessibility. More information on itunes U and accessibility can be found here: s/itunes_u_and_accessibility.pdf 10

11 itunes U Page Considerations for Content Providers 11

12 Content Submission Form Please fill out one box per artifact submitted. Digital Artifact 1 Title of COLLECTION Author of COLLECTION NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION of the entire collection NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION of each individual artifact, including Colorado standards and keywords if relevant Individual ARTIFACT TITLE Link to Hompage 300x300 graphic Additional Information? Digital Artifact 2 Title of COLLECTION Author of COLLECTION NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION of the entire collection NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION of each individual artifact, including Colorado standards and keywords if relevant Individual ARTIFACT TITLE Link to Hompage 300x300 graphic Additional Information? Digital Artifact 3 Title of COLLECTION Author of COLLECTION NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION of the entire collection NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION of each individual artifact, including Colorado standards and keywords if relevant Individual ARTIFACT TITLE Link to Hompage 300x300 graphic Additional Information? 12

13 Copyright and Fair Use It is important to review your digital artifact to ensure it adheres to copyright and fair use laws. Below are some helpful documents that can provide details about how to interpret these laws. The TEACH Act of New Roles, Rules and Responsibilities for Academic Institutions, with FAQ a from the American Library Association. Link to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of International agreement on digital copyright. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998 Apple Education on Copyright. Copyright basics, copyright on the Internet, Getting Permission, Creating and Using Content. Link to Original Apple itunes U Documents Main Support Page Accessibility Creating Content Copyright Overview Documentation/iTunes_U_Copyright_Overview.pdf Creating your itunes U Site Download itunes itunes U User Guide Marketing itunes U 13

14 Content Provider Release Form CENTENNIAL BOCES Colorado on itunes U Content Submission Form and License Name of Submitting Party: Date: Content Description: ( Content ) Thank you for wanting to be part of Colorado on itunes U, a project supported by enetcolorado and Centennial BOCES. This form contains information regarding Colorado on itunes U and instructions for submitting content for inclusion in Colorado on itunes U. If you wish to have Centennial BOCES consider Content for inclusion in Colorado on itunes U, you must read and sign this Submission Form and License and submit it with the Content to. Content will not be considered for inclusion in Colorado on itunes U without a signed Submission Form and License. Centennial BOCES will review and select submissions that Centennial BOCES, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. Centennial BOCES will notify you in writing of its decision to either include or not include Content in Colorado on itunes U. The decision of Centennial BOCES to accept or exclude Content shall be final. Introduction itunes U is a digital library of educational materials available to the general public. The Colorado Department of Education and enetcolorado have partnered with Apple, Inc. to develop Colorado on itunes U, a space on itunes U for K-12 education in Colorado. enetcolorado, in turn, has partnered with Centennial BOCES to create professional development content available to Centennial BOCES teachers and members of the general public through Colorado itunes U. enetcolorado and Centennial BOCES welcome the submission of content proposals subject to the terms and conditions of this Submission Form and License. Acceptable Content Content must be in a format that is supported by Apple and itunes U. You are expected to familiarize yourself 14

15 with and to prepare submissions in accordance with Apple s format requirements. Information about supported formats and other issues related to itunes U is available at Neither enetcolorado nor Centennial BOCES is responsible for reformatting Content to meet itunes U standards. Acceptable content must be original work. To the extent that Content incorporates any material in which others might claim an interest, you are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and for ensuring that Content does not infringe upon others intellectual property interests. You are likewise responsible for making appropriate attribution to others. Apple provides a helpful discussion of general copyright issues at support/itunes_u/docs/itunes_u_copyright_overview.pdf. If you have questions regarding copyright issues, you are encouraged to consult with an attorney. Additionally, Content must be of a nature and quality that is consistent with the educational purpose of Colorado on itunes U. Centennial BOCES is solely responsible for reviewing content submissions and for selecting content to be included in Colorado on itunes U. Centennial BOCES may exclude or remove content from Colorado on itunes U if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the content submission is not of a nature or quality that is consistent with the educational purpose of Colorado on itunes U. Content Ownership and Intellectual Property Rights If Content is accepted for inclusion in Colorado on itunes U, you will retain ownership rights in Content subject to the rights granted to Centennial BOCES and Apple, Inc. in this Submission Form and License. The itunes U model allows for Apple, Inc. to modify the look and feel (but not the substance) of any content posted on Colorado on itunes U. Apple might also make modifications so that only a portion of your Content is presented on various pages of the site. By submitting Content to Centennial BOCES for consideration and signing this Submission Form and License, you verify that you understand Centennial BOCES and Apple s rights to use Content. You also verify that you understand that neither Centennial BOCES nor Apple is able or responsible to control third-party use of Content posted on the Colorado on itunes U website. Obtaining Permissions From Students or Other Third Parties In the event that Content includes pictures or video/audio recording of students or any other third party, you may need to obtain written permission from them in advance of submitting Content to the Centennial BOCES for potential inclusion in Colorado on itunes U. You are responsible for maintaining all obtained permissions in your records. Preservation of Original Work Although Centennial BOCES will facilitate posting of selected content on the itunes U site, it will not be responsible for ensuring that such content is preserved. Please note that materials presented on Colorado on itunes U may reside on servers that may or may not be owned or operated by Centennial BOCES. You are responsible for ensuring that Content is preserved for your use. Public Use Content posted to Colorado on itunes U will be available to members of the general public. 15

16 License By submitting Content to the Centennial BOCES for inclusion in Colorado on itunes U, I,, hereby agree as follows: 1. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand the provisions of the Submission Form and License and the terms and conditions of the Apple itunes U website. 2. I hereby grant to Apple and Centennial BOCES a nonexclusive, royalty-free right and license to use, reproduce, modify the format and display of Content (not the substance of any content), distribute, transmit, perform and display Content on the itunes U and itunes Store sites, and the Centennial BOCES and member school district sites, throughout the world, in whole or in part, by any means now known or hereafter developed for the purposes consistent with this License. I hereby agree that Apple and Centennial BOCES may, but are not required to, store or cache Content on their respective servers, and consent to such storing and caching. This license shall include the nonexclusive, royalty-free right by Apple and Centennial BOCES to use Content for promotional and marketing purposes. 3. I hereby grant to Apple and Centennial BOCES the right to use any trademarks, service marks, logos and trade names in connection with the exercise of this license. 4. I represent and warrant that to the best of my knowledge: (i) I am the sole owner of Content or that I have otherwise been authorized by the owner of Content to use the Content as contemplated herein, and have secured all necessary licenses, consents and authorizations with respect to use of Content and all elements thereof to the fullest extent contemplated herein; and (ii) no part of Content violates or infringes upon the patent rights, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks or constitutes defamation, invasion of privacy, or the violation of any rights of publicity or other rights of any person or entity. 5. I shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Apple, Apple s parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and Centennial BOCES, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, subcontractors and sublicensees from and against all claims, actions, liabilities, losses, expenses, damages and costs, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys fees, that may at any time be incurred by reason of (i) any claim arising out of any breach or alleged breach of my representation and warranties contained in this Submission Form and License; (ii) any claim in connection with Content; or (iii) any virus, worm, Trojan horse or other contaminating or destructive feature contained in Content. Signature Date Print Name , v. 2 16

17 FAQ s What is itunes U? itunes U is a free media distribution portal for Macs and PC s. It enables educational institutions to create and share educational content with anyone in the educational community, even the world. The educational material can be recorded lectures, narrated PowerPoint presentations, audio interviews, PDF s, movies, and much more. What are the system requirements for itunes U? itunes U requires itunes version 6.0 or later for Mac and Windows. Apple recommends using itunes version 7.0 or later, and in order to guarantee a consistent user experience, always using the latest version of itunes. The most current version of itunes can be found at the itunes website. itunes U works with most modern, standards-compliant browsers. Apple recommends using one of the following browsers: Safari 2.0 or later on Mac Internet Explorer 6.0 or later on Windows What is a digital artifact? A digital artifact is a video, audio or PDF file that can be downloaded from itunes U. Digital artifacts are organized in collections. What is a collection? A collection is a group of digital artifacts around a topic of interest. A collection may be content from a specific department or group, for example, The CDE Office of Language, Culture and Equity. Or, the collection may come from a variety of contributors, for example, Calculus. Who will use the Colorado itunes U site? Anyone in the world can access the content posted on the Colorado itunes U site. Colorado educators may find the content particularly relevant to their needs. Do I need an Apple computer to use itunes U? You do not need a Mac to use itunes U. Any Mac or PC with itunes can access itunes U. itunes is a free download, available here: Do I need an ipod or iphone to use the Colorado itunes U site? You do not need an ipod or iphone to access the content on the Colorado itunes U site. You can access the content directly from a computer through itunes. Where can I find more details on how to use itunes U? Apple publishes a PDF called the itunes U User Guide that describes the itunes U interface and explains how to navigate inside itunes U. The PDF document can be found here: Is there a fee to use the Colorado itunes U site? There is no fee to use itunes U. There are thousands of available podcasts from educational institutions worldwide that are free to everyone. Who can distribute podcasts on the Colorado itunes U site? enet Colorado is soliciting content from educators in the state around topics of interest to educators. The content will be organized in collections, which contributors may suggest based on perceived need. Examples: ELA, Special Education, SB 191, Algebra or Educational Leadership. 17

18 What types of content can be published on the Colorado itunes U site? Content should be educational in nature. Digital artifacts can be recordings f direct instruction, informational updates, recorded events, or live interviews, to name a few. Content should be clean (not explicit in nature) and the digital artifact must comply with all copyright laws. Please review the Relevancy of Resources Rubric found in this packet, and explore the Copyright and Fair Use links suggested in this packet for more details information. Is the content on the Colorado itunes U site aligned to Common Core Standards? That depends. Content may be aligned to Common Core Standards, if the author of the content has aligned it to Common Core Standards and if the author has tagged the digital artifact with the correct metadata. It is the responsibility of the author of the content to make this connection. enet Colorado cannot align the content independently. Do I need special software to allow users to view my podcasts? No, your content can be downloaded automatically, using an RSS feed. When I want to preview a track in itunes U, it sometimes takes a while. itunes provides 30 second previews of music content, but itunes U plays a file in it s entirety. Depending on the available bandwidth on your computer, this can take more time. Be certain that the most current version of itunes is installed on you computer. It may help. Can access to my content be restricted to only certain users? No, all published content on the Colorado itunes U site is open to the public. My district blocks itunes U. What can I do? Have a conversation with educational leaders in your district (both IT and curriculum leaders) about the value of itunes U, and ask that the ports be opened to allow access. Or, you may access itunes U from your home internet connection. How do I contribute content to the Colorado itunes U site? enet Colorado is currently seeking contributors of content for itunes U. Contact Julie Rieken at riekenfive@gmail.com to discuss your ideas, and then use this packet and the suggested resources mentioned in this packet to guide you as you create your digital artifacts. Does Apple own my content if I upload it onto itunes U? No, itunes U is a distribution mechanism, but the creator of the original content retains ownership of the content. However, content providers do grant Apple nonexclusive, royalty free rights and license to use, reproduce, modify the format and display of the Content (not the substance of any content), as well as the rights to distribute, transmit, perform and display content on the itunes U Site and and Public Content on the itunes Store throughout the world, in whole or in part, by any means known or hereafter developed. What formats are required for itunes U? There are many types of formats that can be used for audio and video files on itunes U. It is recommended that you refer to the PDF below for easy to read information about the types of digital formats required for itunes U: What about copyright issues? Please refer to the Copyright and Fair Use links found in this packet for information that will help you adhere to copyright law in the USA. 18

19 Readiness Checklist Please use this final checklist to assist you. Yes Task Notes Have you read this packet in its entirety? Have you created podcast content that is aligned with Colorado Common Core Standards or other educational initiatives? Have you filled out a Content Submission form for each artifact in your collection? Is your file in the correct digital format? (Please reference itunes U Support Materials, Apple s Creating Content for ipod + itunes, and Apple s itunes U User s Guide, pp. 7-8)? Is your file less than 1GB in size? Have you included a descriptive title for your podcast? Have you included a 300 x 300 graphic for your collection of artifacts so that others may more easily identify your resources? Is your podcast part of an existing collection, or do you wish to start a new collection? Have you identified where it should be loaded on itunes U? Do you have a supporting PDF to post alongside your artifact? You may do this (optional) PDF s may also stand alone in a collection. Have you reviewed the Relevancy of Resources Rubric? Have you reviewed the itunes U Page Considerations for Providers to envision how your collection will appear on Colorado on itunes U? Have you given your content one final watch/listen/proofread? Have you reviewed the itunes U Content Provider Release Form? Uploading a Podcast Contact Julie Rieken, enet Colorado, at riekenfive@gmail.com to submit digital artifacts. She will be able to assist you in the upload process. Content providers will need an SFTP client in order to upload content. There are many free ones available for both Mac and PC. Content providers will be provided with a user name and password, as well as a server location to upload files. Providers will have the opportunity to ask for assistance throughout process. 19

20 Contact Information Dr. Teresa Yohon Senior Consultant - Educational and Instructional Technology Colorado Department of Education 201 E. Colfax Denver, CO Voice (303) Fax (303) Yohon_T@cde.state.co.us Doug Conrey Database Administrator Centennial BOCES 830 South Lincoln St. Longmont, CO ext 2337 dconrey@cboces.org Julie Rieken enet Colorado riekenfive@gmail.com

21 Credits & Bibliography We d like to thank several institutions from which much of the was adapted. Because of their early work, Colorado was aable to adapt may of their materials in creating the. Below is a list of the documents that were referenced to help create the : Thanks to Texas A&M for creating a comprehensive list of FAQ s that arise around itunes U. Their original list of questions and answers can be found here: Thanks to Dr. Tammy McGraw, Director of Educational Technology at the Virginia Department of Education and her team for the hard work they put forth on their Virginia itunes U packet. Colorado adapted many of their concepts and their organizational structure in writing the Colorado itunes U Reference Guide. Their original work can be referenced here: Thanks to New Mexico State University for their work on how to create checklists and user guides on creating video and audio podcasts. Colorado like the idea and adapted the concept to meet the needs in our state. NMSU s original documents can be found here: 21