January 30 report

Taskstream Video Tutorial

Gretchen Fricke’s IT 598 Final Project

Spring 2015

January 30, 2015 report

http://gretchenfricke598.blogspot.com/

I have selected the TASKSTREAM project for my IT 598 final project.  Below is the information provided by Dr. Liu:

Taskstream Video Tutorial Project


Since SIUE’s pre-service teachers are required to create, edit, and upload short videos as part of their degree requirements starting this spring and forward, I propose a project to create and design a video tutorial for those students to learn how to create and update videos to TaskStream. Your tutorial should orient the audience to learn how to shoot, cut, edit, save (compressed), and upload videos to Task Stream. Make sure the video file is compatible with Task Stream (learn how to compress and then how to save – what type of file). Students are required to learn how to upload videos to Task Stream and to their SIUE web pages. Please refer to the following requirements for Task Stream.

• Video Requirements for Task Stream
• https://www.taskstream.com/Main/Help2/LAT/coordinator_web/Content/Programs/DRF_Programs/Author_Role/Add_Content/videos.htm
• Recommended Video Formats and Settings by Pearson Education
• https://www.edtpa.com/Content/Docs/RecommendedVideoFormatsandSettings.pdf
• Other Video Requirements for Task Stream
• http://www.callutheran.edu/schools/education/teacher_education/documents/VideoDirections_000.pdf
• http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/assessment/pdf/taskstream.pdf
• http://www.uww.edu/coeps/offices-services/fieldex/edtpa/candidates/video-requirements-and-guidelines

Your video tutorial should include the above basic procedures and requirements, as well as include the narrated audio/sound to explain the procedures. In addition, the computer in the podium in each of SIUE’s smart computer lab has a Smart video recording software. You are welcome to use that in Alumni Hall 1314 by contacting our dept secretary Linda Miller at linmill@siue.edu for a reservation to learn the software and use that lab. Smart video recording software is very user friendly and easy to learn and use. After your video tutorial is finished, I’d like you to implement your project in a couple of pre-service teacher candidates later in March or April for assessment.

This past week has been spent setting up the shells for the deliverables (not linked here because they are still in very rough format with little info).  I’ve also set up the project website at:  http://gretchenfricke598.blogspot.com/

I’ve met with the main subject matter expert, Dr. Stephen Marlette, to get some basics about the project.  He provided some good background information.  From that, I was able to start outlining the learner characteristics and have identified the following:

Learners are students in SIUE teacher education majors who have reached their student teaching semester.  Learners range in age from age 22 and older.  Learners have been using Taskstream and Blackboard (a course management system) for several semesters and have developed a familiarity with the products. 

Dr. Marlette has provided me with names of other people on campus involved in this project.  I will meet with several more next week.  I’m trying to get access to Taskstream and find someone who can walk me through the upload process to start the task and content analysis. 

One concern I have with this project is the size and staying with the focus of this project.  Dr. Marlette has some great ideas for companion pieces (help for faculty, guide for cooperating teachers, etc.) to the video tutorial of this project but it will be a challenge to remain focused on this video for the time being.  But the need for those companion pieces do help me see the bigger picture. 

My goals between now and the next report will be as follows:

• ·         Continue to meet with individuals knowledgeable on the video aspect of this project.
• o   Dr. Melissa Thomeczek, who includes a part of this instruction with an earlier course that many of these students take.  She may have technical knowledge to share.
• o   Dr. Barb O’Donnell, SIUE liaison with Taskstream.
• o   Frank, SIUE’s taskstream representative.
• o   Dr. Randy Smith, Dr. Wendy Fuchs, Dr. Brian Johnson and Mr. Ron Fedorchak.  These individuals have been working on this project for some time and work directly with students who need to upload the videos.
• o   Students, including some who have uploaded, who need to upload and who have already uploaded to gain some understanding of their needs and experiences.
• ·         Gain access to Taskstream and become familiar with that product, particularly from the student side.
• ·         Attempt to upload a video to understand the full process.