Q: I need my online class students to watch "An inconvenient truth" documentary. It is available via Amazon and Netflix streaming for $3.99. How can we make it available to students without them spending money for a streaming service?

A: The question is related to copyright issues. There are educational licensing options but they generally are too expensive or intended for public screening (http://www.swank.com) .

To check where movies are available, use CanIstreamit (http://www.canistream.it/).

There is FAQ article by Peggy Hoon that contains most answers to questions about using copyrighted works in your teaching: http://www.knowyourcopyrights.org/bm~doc/kycrfaq.pdf

Read answer 4, part 2. My conclusion it is to ask students to pay for a movie rent for the screening assignment because of a conflicting situation with TEACH Act obligations.

Q: I'd like to boost my course to make more relevant to technology my students use (like iPhone or iPad). What platform would be a most modern one with the less challenging learning curve?

A: I would recommend iTunes U app. It gives you access to enormous resources and makes it easy to manage. You can build your course in it in private/public format. It is not an LMS. It has been designed to enhance students/instructor interactions in the flipped classroom or online setting. More

Q: The best format for students outcomes in my online class would be a portfolio. What technology would you suggest?

A: Try Digication software - it opens the lines of communication by combining elements of e-Portfolios and learning networks

More

Q: Where I'll get the code to embed video in my Blackboard course?

A: Use Embedomatron - a new web app called Embedomatron. It automatically optimizes video for use in course learning management systems by:

• Resizing all videos to be 650 pixels wide
• Limiting the amount of corporate branding
• Preventing “Related Videos” from being displayed at the end of video playback
• Generating HTTPS embed code for use on the secure pages on your LMS

Embedomatron currently works with YouTube, Vimeo and ASU CLAS MediaSpace/Relay videos. More platforms will be added soon

Read more: http://teachonline.asu.edu/2013/10/improve-course-videos-embedomatron/#ixzz2s1YLo85A

Q: Where I can find a free footage to make my presentation in class more engaging? My students are copiyng images from Internet for their projects. How to make sure that they are copyright free?

A: In a situation when students are assigned to use the pictures for power point presentation project I will advise students to search in public domains.

How to use Creative Commons to find free images, audio and video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvsbJaJeFGY
The instructions are at Creative Commons wiki page: http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Public_domain
and here: http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Frequently_Asked_Questions

Not all the links are working but it is a good place to start your search for free footage.
CC free video search: http://wiki.creativecommons.org/index.php?title=Special:Ask&offset=50&limit=500&q=[[format%3A%3AMovingImage]]&p=mainlabel%3DName%2Fformat%3Dbroadtable&po=%3F%3DName%23%0A%3FMainurl%3DWebsite%0A%3FSize%0A

and films: http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Video

Example: http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Blip.tv
http://blip.tv/

Q: I am looking for more effective video conferencing technology. What would you recommend?

A: Vidyo - Desktop Conferencing is the answer. vidyo platform is demonstrating never-before-seen video communications. http://www.vidyo.com/about/
For ASU:

ASU has licensed VidyoConferencing as an Enterprise service for use by ASU Faculty, Staff, and guests involved in teaching, learning, administrative functions and research.  ASU’s Vidyo license does not currently include the student body.

http://help.asu.edu/sims/selfhelp/SelfhelpKbView.seam?parature_id=8373-8193-4613&source=Selfhelp&cid=147832

Q: I have received a DVD with files to transfer to my course, and I wanted to ask you what do you typically use to do this?

A: You need to find a DVD-decrypter tool. Check what is available for free download. I recommend videohelp website: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/DVD-Decrypter

Q: How to find safe online resources and tools to engage my students in learning?

A: Adobe Education Exchange presented the K-12 Tech Tools website that already collected all information for you -

http://edutechdatabase.wikispaces.com/

• If you're looking for a kid-friendly website to direct your students to during centers, tech tools to assign to your students who need extra help (or want extra work), or new tools to engage your students in learning, this website is for you!
• This website features a collection of free, kid-safe, online resources categorized by subject, grade level, and standard (adapted from DC Public Schools Learning Standards).

Q: Can I get help captioning or subtitling my video?

A: here is an answer from Google

 http://video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=27738

 You can either obtain software to help you do it yourself, or arrange for a captioning/subtitling company to do it for you. Here are partial lists to get you started: Captioning Guidelines:

• Caption It Yourself

Software:

• Subtitle Workshop
• MovCaptioner

Services:

• WGBH Media Access Group
• Automatic Sync Technologies
• WebWideVideo.com
• Winged Words Transcription Services
• Talking Type Captions
• CaptionMax
• Omega Transcripts
• VITAC
• SubPLY

You can also search Google for "captioning", "subtitling", and "video transcription" software and services.

Q: How to convert video to reduce the size and keep it good quality?

A: Use Any Video Converter

http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/

Any Video Converter Freeware- the Free Video Converter - is the most renowned free video converter for converting video files between various formats, including AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, MPEG, FLV, SWF, 3GP , DVD, WebM , MP3, etc for iPad, iPod, iPhone, Android, PSP, Tablets.

Q: Do you know if there is an interactive way to comment for digital conversations?

A: here is the link to VoiceThread:

http://voicethread.com/

With VoiceThread, group conversations are collected and shared in one place from anywhere in the world. All with no software to install.

A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). Share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too.

Users can doodle while commenting, use multiple identities, and pick which comments are shown through moderation. VoiceThreads can even be embedded to show and receive comments on other websites and exported to MP3 players or DVDs to play as archival movies.

Q: How to take a picture or make a short video of what I see on my computer monitor?

A: Jing captures anything on you see on your computer screen, as an image or short video, and lets you share it instantly:

http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

Q: Can expand my communication without adding new accounts?

A: You already have GMail account. Google+ is the right tool for you. You can create circles of friends, classmates, colleagues, students and share the materials with particular group without interfering. You can have up to 9 people in hangout sharing their displays and talking. Check it out:

http://www.google.com/+/demo/

http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/

See you in my circle!

Q: How to post audio file on the web?

A: Here is a link to create and share your audio on the web via Cinch:

http://cinch.fm/