MEDIA SKILLS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

MEDIA SKILLS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

GRAPHICS

Computer graphics deals with the generation, representation, manipulation and display of pictures with the aid of a computer. Graphics is an important component of multimedia because a picture is a powerful way to illustrate information. Computer Graphics remains one of the most exciting and rapidly growing computer fields. Computer graphics has now became a common element in the educational field. A graphic is an image or visual representation of an object. Computer graphics are simply images displayed on a computer screen. Computer graphics can be either two or three dimensional.

Computer graphics can be done by utilizing graphics software. These software applications are used for creating, storing and displaying graphics like charts, graphs, maps, drawings, animations etc. There are different types of graphic software packages. Some of them are given below:

1.  Graphics editors or photo editors: - It ranges from simple paint software to complex layer based graphic editing software like GIMP, PHOTOSHOP, CorelDraw, etc.

2.  Presentation graphic software:-Helps to create graphically rich presentations. Can create bar chart, pie chart, graphics and other types of images for slide shows and reports.

3.  Analysis graphic software: - Provides the ability to covert previously analyzed data such as statistical data into graphic formats like bar chart, line charts, pie diagram and scattered diagram.

4.  Animation software: -Enables you to chain and sequence a series of images to stimulate movements. Each image is like a frame in a movie.

5.  Computer aided design software: -This is used mainly for designing. Virtual reality uses 3D graphics to allow users to enter artificial representations of some environment.

GIMP

            GIMP began in 1995 as the school project of two universities. GIMP means GNU Image Manipulation Program. GIMP is a free and open- source image editing software . It is used for image retouching and editing. It is used for free form drawing. It is used for re sizing and cropping. It is used for converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks. GIMP is a full – fledged application. It is available on all distributions of LINUX and Microsoft windows-XP. The file formats supported by GIMP include BMP format, JPEG format ,GIF format, MNG format ,PCX format ,PDF format , PNG format and many others . GIMP can Load, Display ,Convert and Save to so many other file formats.                                       

AUDIO EDITING

Audio editing or sound editing is a process that helps to make changes files of audio format .The audio recording and editing devices like magnetic tape and tape recorders were used first for audio editing. But now the editing is done digitally using specialized softwares. Audio editor is software, which is used to edit audio files in the computer. Audio sections can be cut in to different sections, deleted, mixed. Speed and tempo of the material can be modified. Most audio editors provide support for converting it into different audio formats.

Features of audio editors. It includes sound editing functions such as cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, silence, audio trim and more of sounds. Record audio from one or more inputs and store recordings in the computer’s memory as digital audio. Audio editors supports almost all audio and music file formats including MP3 , WAV, GSM, WMA, AU, AIF, FLAC, REAL AUDIO, OGG, AAC, M4A, MID, AMR and many more.

AUDACITY

Audacity is a free audio editing software. It is easy- to- use, multi track audio. Audacity is open, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds. Audacity is available for Windows Mac, GNU/ Linux and other operating systems.

USE OF AUDACITY

Record live audio.

Record computer playback.

Convert tapes and records.

Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, and MP2, MP3 or OGG VORBIS sound files.

Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.

Numerous effects including change the speed.

1.  Record features

Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from cassette tapes, records or mini disks. Audacity can also capture streaming audio.

      Multiple input and output devices.

      Timer record and sound activated recording features.

      Dub over exciting tracks to create multi- track recordings.

      Record multiple channels at once subject to hardware features.

2.  Import or export features

Import sound files, edit them and combine them with other files or new recordings can be done using audacity.

      Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU and FLAC and files.

      Import MPEG audio including MP2 and MP3 files.

      Import raw (header less) audio files using the import raw comment.

      Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to audio CD.

      Export MP3 files with the optional LAME encoder library.

3.  Editing features

Audacity has a good editing interface for easy editing.

      Easy editing with cut, copy, paste and delete.

      Edit and mix large numbers of tracks.

      Multiple clips are allowed per track.

      Draw tool to alter individual sample points.

      Envelope tool to fade the volume up or down smoothly.

      Automatic crash recovery in the event of abnormal programme termination.

4.  Effects

The sound effect features linked in audacity includes:

      Change the pitch without altering the tempo or vice versa.

      Remove vocals from suitable stereo tracks.

      Other built – in effects: echo, paulstretch, phaser, reverb, reverse, truncate silence etc.

      Run chains of effects on a project or multiple files in batch processing mode.

5.  Accessibility feature and sound quality.

The accessibility and sound quality features associated with audacity include:

·                 Tracks and selections can be fully manipulated using the keyboard.

·                 Large range of keyboard shortcuts.

·                 Excellent support for JAWS, NVDA and other screen readers on Windows, and for voiceovers on Mac.

·                 Tracks with different sample rates or formats are converted automatically in real time.

VIDEO EDITING

Video editing is the process of editing files in video format. Video editing  the process of giving special effects and changes to video files. There are lot of free softwares available for making changes for video  files according to our wish like kdenlive, windows movie maker, etc. It will help us to bring improvements in quality to the video files. It will help for Cutting Segments, Re-Sequencing clips, Adding Transistors, And other Special effects.

KDENLIVE (KDE NON-Linear Video Editor)

Kdenlive is a powerful free and open source Multi track Video editor, including most

recent video technologies. It is a free software available for making our video files an interesting one to our students. It is commonly used in Linux and windows based operating systems.

USE Of KDENLIVE

The uses of KDENLIVE  are:

o   Rearranging the sections of video clips.

o   Adding or removing the section of video clips.

o   Creating transitions between clips is possible.

o   Apply color correction.

o   Adding tiles and other Synchronization clips.

o   Convert into a wide range of audio and video formats including Mpeg 2,MP4 and h264 video, MP2,MP3 .

o   We can add A wide range of effects and transitions.

o   Tools available to create, Move, Crop and delete video clips , audio clips, text clips and image clips.

ANIMATIONS

Animation is the display of a sequence of images to create an illusion of movements. Animations deals with the generation, sequencing and display of a set of graphic images meant to create and effect of visual change or motion. A small animation clip is even more powerful and useful for illustrating concepts. Animation is commonly used in the instances where videography is not possible or animation can better illustrate the concept than video. Animation can be made either with hand rendered art or by computer generated energy. Animation for an object is made by changing the place and its position. Animation is of two type 2D and 3D.

TUPI

            TUPI is a 2D animation software. It is a free software available in Linux and windows based operating system. Now a days it is commonly used in making animated videos related to teaching different topics. Using animation will bring interested and colorful visualization to concepts.

Uses of TUPI

ü  Helps to create colorful videos

ü  Helps to give movements to image type files.

ü  Helps to convert the created animations to different video format.

ü  Helps to create different multimedia packages.

ü  Helps to give birth to different cartoon characters.

ü  Helps to bring the technique of simulation in classrooms.

E- CONTENT AUTHORING

          E Content Authoring is the process of writing the contents or learning materials in any electronic format. It is the digitalization of materials. Materials that help in e learning are called e - content. It has an authoring tool (or software) and language which allows its user to create multimedia applications for manipulating multimedia objects.

            In the development of educational software, an Authoring System is a program that allows a non-programmer to easily create software with programming features. The programming features are built in but hidden behind buttons and other tools, so the author does not need to know how to program. Generally authoring systems provide lots of graphics, interaction, and other tools educational software needs.

            E-Learning Authoring Tools enable trainers to integrate an array of media to create professional, engaging and interactive training content. With an authoring tool, one can create digitized elements or learning objects from an existing course for use in a new course.

            An Authoring Language  is a programming language used to create e-content. It will be commonly used to create tutorial CD’s, websites, computer based training courses. For example .. PILOT, TUTOR.

Scope of E Content Authoring

            Custom content is at the forefront of the e-learning frontier. Trainers are continually trying to identify ways to create and publish increasingly complex custom e-learning content for use on the internet, intranets or CD-ROMS. Some trainers seek high speed deployment of critical information through an organization, known as rapid e-learning, while others want control of courseware and independence from programmers.

                                    Many organizations are attempting to reduce their training costs by developing e-learning materials. Some organizations want an authoring tool that is easy to learn and can be used by a large team of people with different skill sets; others want to move to a blended training solution by offering a combination of classroom and e-learning courses. Authoring tools offer a way for e-learning managers to achieve their goals.

Different Steps in the Preparation of E- Content

1)      Planning: The first step in preparing e- content involves the selection of topic, format, content, language, e-content authoring tools, learning materials and media.

2)      Analysing: Here, the teacher analyses how to prepare the e-content material in an easy way.

3)      Organising: It includes the collection of images, videos, audio, pdf files, animated files and all other materials, and arranging them in a systematic manner.

4)      Preparation of design for e- content.

5)      Production of e- content with the help of authoring tool.

6)      Evaluation of e- content prepared.

7)      Obtaining copyright on it. 

ROLE OF EDUSAT IT’S FUNCTIONS IN EDUCATION

EDUSAT was India’s first full fledged educational satellite. It’s first operational flight took place on 20^th September 2004 from the Satish Dhawan space centre Sriharikottah . The projected life of the EDUSAT is 7 to 10 years and it can cover whole geographical India. EDUSAT is mainly indented to meet the demand for an interactive, satellite based distance education system for the country. It is collaborative project of the MHRD, IGNOU and the ISRO.

EDUSAT can cover the whole geographical India with it’s five spot beams covering the northern, north eastern, southern and western region of the country . As a result, it’s signals can the received with a smaller satellite dish and consequently the reception terminal is cheaper.

            The EDUSAT is specially configured for an audio visual medium, employing a digital interactive class room and multimedia multi-centric system. It is primarily meet for providing connectivity to the school, college and higher levels of education and also to support non formal education, including developmental communication. 

 FUNCTIONS 

1)      It covers all geographical area inside the country

2)      It can provide interactive and cost effective education.

3)      It can provide consistency to information.

4)      EDUSAT are more powerful and signals can be received with a smaller satellite dish.

5)      It is a satellite fully dedicated to the cause of education.

6)      It is useful to implement virtual class room in remote and rural schools. This process can help in overcoming shortage of trained teachers .

7)      It can provide audiovisual medium and interactive multimedia facility.

8)      It can open up many possibilities like online teachings, video conferencing etc.

9)      It can be used at all levels of education, from primary schools to professional courses.

10)    It can provide live lecture session from the best and expert teachers.

11)    It can facilitate provision of equality in educational opportunity. Before establishing the EDUSAT quality classes and classes handled by experts benefited only urban students. But with the working of the EDUSAT ruler students also can enjoy it’s benefit.

12)     EDUSAT has enhanced distance education in the country, especially in medical, technical and higher education streams.

13)   Students will get the facility to see what they read in there textbooks and to do experiments with the help of multimedia technologies.

CONSORTIUM FOR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATION

             The Consortium for Educational Communication popularly known as CEC is one of the Inter University Centres set up by the University Grants Commission of India. It has been established with the goal of addressing the needs of Higher Education. Subsequently CEC emerged in 1993 as a nodal agency to coordinate, guide and facilitate such educational production at the national level. Today 22 media centres are working towards achieving this goal under the umbrella of CEC. Realizing the potential and power of television to act as means of educational knowledge dissemination, UGC started the countrywide classroom programs in the year 1984. For production of such programs media centres were setup at 6 universities.

CEC’s learning management system centre to educational requirements of the country and world over. The CEC provides various worldwide e - courses through its virtual learning system for the masses across the country and can be used by Universities, Colleges and Students as a supplement material to the conventional teaching system.

            The objectives of CEC is close coordination, facilitation, overall guidance and direction towards the activities of the Media centres set up by the UGC in various universities throughout the country. Research activities related to optimizing the effectiveness of such programs. Providing a forum for the active involvement of academic and other scholars in the creation of appropriate educational programs. Studying, promoting and experimenting with new technology that will increase the reach and/or effectiveness of educational communication.

            EDUSAT is the satellite exclusively devoted to meet the demands of educational sector.Consortium for educational commission (CEC) is one amongst the five primary users of this educational satellite. CEC EDUSAT network is empowering students through cutting edge technology and the needs of students across the country. Thus the student can benefit from experts located in various educational institutions across the country. The expert can address the queries of the students in the live mode. The students can interact and ask questions using one following three methods (1) Audio/ Video Conferencing (2) Text Mode (3) Through Telephones.

Educational Multi Media Research Centre

            EMMRC  stands for Educational Multi Media Research Centre. The UGC setup media centres in various universities and institutions in the country with the objectives to produce quality educational programs for electronic media. The centres are engaged in production of video and multimedia based programs. CEC and the media centres have more than 500 trained manpower and state of the art equipment. CEC has perhaps the largest repository of educational video programs being produced by its media centres numbering more than 20000. At present about 2000 video based on UGC model curriculam are being produced annually by the media centres. These programs are telecast an VYAS Higher Education Channel

              In India countrywide classroom (CWCR) programmes were first broadcast on 15^th August 1984 for the production and educational video programmes. UGC India had established seven educational media research centres (EMMRCs) and ten Audio visual research centers (AVRCs) all over the country. This was done to ensure the constant content creation in the video format for the CWCR telecasts. At present all these centers are renamed as educational Multimedia research Centers (EMMRC s) to reflect their increased role in the educational content production in the age of rapid multimedia developments.

              The educational Multimedia Research Centre at the university of Calicut is the only one kind of its to be set in kerala by UGC. Operational since 1998, the centre is dedicated to harness emerging information and communication technologies for furthering the cause of higher education equipped with large studio, stage of the art video recording and editing equipments and multimedia work stabons, the centre conducts hardware and software research and produce a variety of products educational video documentaries e-content and video lectures on under graduate subjects of study.

GYANDARSHAN

Ø  Gyandarshan was born n January 26, 2000. It is a bouquet of six channels. In essence, it is a co-operative venture with the Indira Gandhi National Open University as a nodal agency for coordinating the activities & up-linking the educational content.

Ø  The programmes are mix blend of core curriculum based programmes in the areas of primary, secondary, higher, open & distance education, extension, technical & vocational education along with general mosaic programmes in areas of health, hygiene, arts, culture, environment, conservation, science popularization etc.

Ø  SAPNET is a major communication infrastructure initiative of the department of IT & C, Government of Andhra Pradesh. SAPNET is mandated to run 5 television channels (under the name MANA TV) & one data channel.

Ø  The programmes are telecast on Gyandarshan from 6am to midnight & also on DD1 & DD2.

Ø  One of the most popular programmes of the channel is Nitter, which is an educational program that keeps pace with the improvement in the areas of technology hosted by National Institute of Technical teachers training & research.

Other Programmes

·         Bhasha mandakini   , NCERT/ CIET

·         North East Kaleidoscope , Women’s Empowerment

·         Adult Education , BROU

·         IGNOU-SOSS ,IGNOU-SOCIS

·         IGNOU-Urdu programme , IIT

VICTERS

VICITERS (Virtual Classroom Technology on Edusat for Rural Schools). “VICTERS” inaugurated by A.P.J.Abdul kalam the president of India on 28^th July 2005 in Thiruvanathapuram. Indian DD Gyandarshan is an educational television channel that relays programmes from various Doordarshan Kendras in different languages. The channel is organized & administered by NCERT, IGNOU & The National Institute of Open Schools. IGNOU, Ministry of Human Resources Development & Prasar Bharti started the channel in January 2000.Kerala has demonstrated how EDUSAT could be used to successfully empower teachers. The scheme which is being executed by IT @ school project of Government of Kerala, It is mainly intended to meet the demand for an interactive satellite based Distance Education System for the country.

            VICTERS offers interactive virtual classrooms that enable the school students as well as the teachers to directly communicate with the subject experts & educationists. It ensures the dissemination of high quality education to the students & teachers from the original sources. VICTERS has two modes of operation- the interactive mode & non-interactive mode.  Interactive mode of VICTERS is used for the video conferencing. It is being India’s first broadband interactive network for school; the interactive mode is equipped with 116 satellite interactive Terminals (SITS).

The main users of the facility under Thiruvanathapuram Hub are IT @ School Project, Directorate of Technical Education, CDAC, SSA, Directorate of Lakshadweep & CIMR. Non-Interactive mode of VICTERS is the complete educational channel, first of its kind in the country, which was officially inaugurated on 3^rd August 2006.The channel telecast for 17hours a day from 6AM to 11PM, is unique in the sense that it caters to students & teachers on a need based manner, & programs are aired on demand, sensitive to school curriculum & even timetable.

ROLE OF VICTERS

VICTERS is the only complete Educational channel of the state Kerala, which telecast programmes of educational value, general awareness programmes & content on general interest & is fast becoming the most sought channel by students, parents, teachers & general public.

VICTERS telecast specific curriculum based programmes, regional, national & international programmes on education especially on science & Technology.

The channel is now available through the state through local cable & DTH networks, Receive only Terminals & also Live through internet at WWW.Victers.itschool.gov.in, enabling the students, teachers & general public to watch the channel ‘LIVE’ through internet from any part of the world.

PROGRAMMES TELECAST THROUGH VICTERS

·         Shasthramuthukal (science programme)

·         Padanakauthukam, shastrakauthukam educational programmes.

·         Examination oriented programme for SSLC & Plus2 Level.

·         Ormayile Malayalam

·         Kerala Sree

·         Vazhikatti

·         Haritha vidhyalayam

·         Drishya paadam

·         Pusthakangalkkoppam

·         IT for all

·         Tomorrow Today

·         Beyond the text

·         Magic fingers