Video+Lab

= **Video Blog****ging Lab** =

The assignment is to pretend I am a practicing librarian and my principal has granted me $10,000 to set up a multi-media production lab, with a focus on video blogging. I will assume the role as a librarian in my current school district, R-VI Waynesville School District.


 * ** Digital video cameras **
 * //Product:// Flip Video UltraHD
 * //Number Buying:// Zero. In December 2010, my school librarian and technology teacher bought every teacher in my building a Flip UltraHD. There are over 65 of these point and shoot digital camera in my school. As an acting librarian, I feel I could be use my money best by not buying any more digital camera. Since there are so many of them, we could gather a class set or two to use at one time. The digital camera all have a bar code on them. If I were borrowing them from the teachers, I would be sure to put a label with their name on the camera so it is easier to return the camcorders. Many teachers in my building do not use their video camera and would probably be willing to let me keep theirs in the library so we could put them to better use, than just in a drawer in their classroom.
 * //Price:// On the market $78 from Amazon, for me- free, they've already been bought.
 * //Product Description:// This is a simple point and shoot digital video camera. It is HD and has 1 hour of recording capability. It has a Flip out USB connector to easily connect to the USB on a computer.
 * //Hyperlink to Review:// Cnet- @http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/flip-ultrahd-2010-1/4505-6500_7-34182127.html?tag=mncol;lst;1


 * ** Computers (with monitors and mice) to edit the videos **
 * //Product:// Apple iMac Summer 2010 (Intel iCore i3 3.06GHz, 21.5 inch). My school is a Mac school so I only saw it fitting to purchase Mac computers. I tried to pick one out as close to the new ones the districts technology department provides. As a librarian, I would try to work closely with the technology department to find out which computer they would recommend as well as if there is a cheaper price available considering we are Mac school.
 * //Number Buying:// 4
 * //Price:// around $1,100 ( x 4 Total: $4,400)
 * //Product Description:// This iMac desktop has 4 GB of RAM and a wide screen that would make editing easier to see. This desktop comes with a keyboard, mouse and iLife 09 software. This computer has an upgraded graphics chip and a fast processing speed, both important when working on videos. The internal webcam and external microphone are also nice features.
 * //Hyperlink to Review:// Cnet - @http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-imac-review?tag=contentBody;compare


 * ** Video editing software **
 * //Product//: iLife 09'
 * //Number Buying:// zero. Since I am buying this Mac, it comes with iLife '09 preloaded.In article from Mashables, Robb Montgomery suggested Garageband, iPhoto, and/or iMovie (1). All three of these applications come preinstalled with iLife. As a librarian, I think it would be best to use the resources I've already paid for in the desktop, than to go buy more editing software.
 * //Price:// iLife $49 per computer, for me- free, already paid for it in the desktop cost.
 * //Product Description:// iPhoto is an easy to use application. Simply plug in the digital video camera into the USB and the iPhoto pops up automatically to download your videos. As a user, I have only been able to play my video with iPhoto. I usually download onto iPhoto then to edit, I open up iMovie and there you can freeze frames, cut, add and delete. Garageband is a wonderful place to record your voice or music. Once it is recorded in Garageband, the sound track is easily moved over to iMovie to be added to the edited video. Another nice part of all three application is they are simple to use without much explanation, but they also ca n be used in the professional world with all the extra options available. These application have a wide spectrum of users and uses.
 * //Hyperlink to Review:// Cnet- @http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-imac-review?tag=contentBody;compare
 * (1) Betancourt, Leah. "The Complete Guide to Video Blogging." //Mashable: The Social Media Guide.// Mashable. n.d. Web. 20 May 2010. [].

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 * ** External microphones for the camera- ** The Flip camcorder does not have an external microphone option. It does have a pretty good microphone already built into the camera.
 * ** External microphones for the computers **
 * //Product:// Blue Microphone Snowflake USB
 * //Number Buying:// 4
 * //Price:// $50 ( x 4 total $200)
 * //Product Description:// This microphone attaches the the computers USB and attaches to the top of the screen. This microphone will not take up desk space. It is a simple but nice external microphone for a computer. It doesn't have any drivers to install, simply plug in and use.
 * //Hyperlink to Review:// Cnet- @http://reviews.cnet.com/microphones/blue-microphones-snowflake-usb/4505-6469_7-33131110.html?tag=mncol;lst;3
 * ** Headphones to be used in the editing process **
 * //Product:// Beyerdynamic DT 231
 * //Number Buying:// 8
 * //Price:// $60 (x 8 total $480)
 * //Product Description:// These headphones have a great over the ear design and are sturdy. Macworld gave it 4.5 out of 5 and said they can't say enough good things about these headphones for the price.
 * // Hyperlink to Review: // Macworld- @http://www.macworld.com/article/148992/2004/09/beyerdynamic_dt_231.html
 * // Extra: //I would like to have two students at every computer so they can work cooperatively. Since there is only one headphone jack built into the computer, I would have to go to RadioShack and buy headphone splitters for $1.99 a piece. I would buy 4, for a total price of $7.96. Headphone splitter @http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2405952


 * **Tables**- I really liked the Technical Furniture from Brodart, but I would have to call them or request a catalog to receive a price. Because of this, I chose to go with US Library Furniture because I could see their prices
 * //Product:// Library Computer Table- 24 inch depth 60"Wx24"D
 * //Number Buying:// 4 tables
 * //Price:// $445 (x 4 total $1780)
 * //Product Description:// This table is mostly made out of wood and has a computer 'hole' in the back that will neatly collect the extra wires. This table is scratch resistant and strong. The description says the table can hold two computers, but looking at the pictures, they only put one computer for each table. So, I have decided to have one computer per table as well, since I would like students to sit in pairs or more to collaborate around the computer. I would buy the tables in the Natural Oak color to match the chairs.
 * // Hyperlink: // @http://www.uslibraryfurniture.com/read-5/library-computer-table-24inch-depth-lbt6024-m.html


 * **Chairs**
 * //Number Buying:// 8 chairs
 * //Price:// $75 (x8 total $600)
 * //Product Description:// The table's height is 29 inches. I chose a chair at was medium sized at 25.25 inches. I chose the medium sized chair because my school serves kindergarten to 6th grade students. I have chosen not to get rotating or rolling chairs to prevent any spinning/off track student behavior.
 * // Hyperlink: // @http://www.uslibraryfurniture.com/study-seat-5/educational-edge-wood-chair-in-natural-0hx13p75w-m.html



**Library Set Up:** The video blogging area would be set up against a side wall or some place where it would look like a dedicated area. I would set up the tables in one group of four. Two tables on one side and two tables on the other side, facing each other. It is set up this way to have a whole group collaboration if needed. Every table would have one computer and two chairs at each computer. I would set up the station in an area that would be easy to watch student behavior from a distant glance.

Money Spent: computers $4,400 microphones $200 headphones $480 headphone splitters $8 tables $1780 __chairs $600__
 * Total $7468**

This is my total before tax and shipping. Even after the fees, I would still have a thousand or two extra dollars. I would either give it back to the principal, ask to use the money in another section, or hold on to the money to "wait and see" if the students need something else that needs to be bought so they can be successful at video blogging. Maybe we decide we need special cases to help protect the video cameras or a sound proof/ sound padded booth to do interviews in. I'd have to wait and see what the needs of my students were.