I just updated the D-Tube software to the latest version and it ROCKS!!! It has some really cool features that I don’t feel like typing. Please go see for yourself: D-TUBE.

This is a major step forward for the new kid on the block: PHPMotion. PhpMotion is an open source video sharing script that powers D-Tube. It is a relatively new script and is building a strong community.

I still have some tweaks to do with the new layout, but I am still very impressed with the new functions.

One new feature is that it will allow you to do full screen viewing now.  Not only from the site, but also when you embed the videos.

All in all, it is a major improvement.

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This is a great program where students go to high school for 5 years, but graduate with a HS diploma as well as an Associates Degree from Henry Ford Community College AND… are certified in several medical careers with starting pay over $40,000 a year!!! If I was in high school again, this is where I would want to be. Not that I don’t love my job, but just to be able to have an associate degree and be certified to find a good job at 19 years old would be pretty amazing. Imagine being able to then further your education at U of M or Wayne State and not have to spend 2 years taking general classes on your dime!!! Check out the video below this is a very cool program:

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Are you Jinging?  Jing is a new screen capture utility that is very simple to use, Mac & PC compatible, and records video, stills, and audio.

We have used several other applications that do the same thing, but they were never as simple to use.  Jing is a great utility for doing screen casts and captures for training on computer apps etc.    Another noteworthy screen capture utility is called WINK.  It only runs on a PC, but has some more advanced features than Jing.  With the advanced features, WINK is more complicated to use for the average voice & screen recordings to just show someone how to use a website or application.

Jing
http://www.jingproject.com/ 

Wink
http://www.debugmode.com/wink/

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9:00 am -10:00 am

Presenter: Chris Kenniburg, Webmaster, Dearborn Public Schools (http://blog.dearbornschools.org/webmaster)

Title of Presentation: Web 2.0 eLearning Ecosystem Case Study: Dearborn Public Schools Website

Creating a dynamic and engaging online learning experience is no easy task. Often times, the new Web 2.0 websites allow objectionable material or allow students to get into website content not appropriate for
education. At Dearborn Schools, we are using open source web applications to bring the latest in web technology to our students and staff in a secure, safe environment. From collaboration and communication to eLearning and personal learning landscapes, Dearborn Schools is creating an online learning ecosystem utilizing the latest in web technology.

Hope to see you there! (more…)

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When we launched “V6″ (the new district website design) I used a film roll icon to represent D-tube throughout the new layout.  On the actual D-Tube website though, there was a different icon representing D-Tube as well as in the videos when they playback.

So in keeping with the branding scheme, I just changed all icons to be the same.

Look for a MAJOR update to D-Tube when the new software running the website is released!  It looks very much like youtube.com and has a lot of neat and cool new features.

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OK. One thing our district is missing is a WIKI. We do not have one, but there are several people claiming they would use it. So I am looking into setting up a wiki on one of our servers as a stand alone application. The one thing that scares me though is the ability for people to update and make changes to wiki pages. A student could potentially embarrass themselves and the teacher by editing a page from home.

So, I am looking into a wiki that will allow for LDAP authentication. This would mean you’d need a district ID to use the wiki.

UPDATE:  Found a great software package called Deki Wiki.  http://wiki.opengarden.org
Great templates, LDAP support, very easy text editor.

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The WDHS student video program at Dearborn High School have made another movie this year called “So Help Me Hannah”. Hannah is an 18 year old girl and she is having a lot of problems in her life. Her perfect family has been torn about a tragic car accident that killed her mother and left her father paralyzed from the waist down. Her boyfriend, 4C, has dumped her. She hates her job and her boss, and on top of that she has to take care of her invalid father and their home. But Hannah is about to change when she is set up on a series of blind dates by her best friend Madison.

Here is the movie trailer. See it on the BIG SCREEN April 24th!!! www.sohelpmehannah.com

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Well, we have been experimenting with a web calendar solution this year on our News Portal that allows schools to add events and such based on schools. This calendar system is clunky to say the least. I began looking into another solution this week and I am really impressed with this software…

http://helioscalendar.com/

It has a ton of cool features such as integration with google maps for directions to events. Another nice option is the ability to import calendars from more user friendly sources such as Apple’s iCal desktop program or Mozilla Sunfire. There are a variety of desktop calendar apps that you can create all the events in and then post them to the web calendar for public viewing.

I contacted the company and I am awaiting a response to clear up a few questions regarding the program. Hopefully next year we will have our interactive web calendar up and running for all schools that will meet the needs of the community as well as the people posting the events!!!

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Still recovering from a horrible week. From server issues to locking keys in the car while at dearborn high, I was getting hit from all angles. I felt like many in this video…

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