2 Swf to Movie Converter Reviewed

As part of the home-based learning project, I was asked to convert some swf files to movie files so that we could use it for our learning resource.

In my search on Google, I found two particular ones which some people may use.

• The first is called SWF to AVI
• The second is called SWF to AVI MPEG Converter

I installed both on my computer and tried them.  Since I have used both of them, I thought I could quickly review them.

SWF to AVI 

(At http://swftoavi.com)

Pros:

• Generally, the software was easy to download, very easy to install.
• It was relatively straightforward to use.
• The swf I had was interactive, so I managed to capture the clicks the moved on ahead.
• Download site was relatively clear and give some instructions on possible problems for sound capture and solution.

Cons:  

• It could only output in AVI format.
• I was also visibly disappointed in the poor resolution file it generated.
• I read through the sound problem, could not follow through as I could not find the "Wave Mix On" thingy it was describing even after I right clicked.  So when I recorded, it seemed to be simply recording what it could of the internal built in microphone.  And as there is a construction near my place.  I do find it frustrating to hear the background construction noise being recorded as well.  But I guess it would be good when you want to record your own voice over the movie file. On hind sight, it could be a configuration problem as I am using a tablet which has a built-in microphone as it has speech to text recognition enabled.

Conclusion:  This could not really served the purpose I wanted as it meant me running through the swf files (since I wanted to capture the clicks) in a sound proof room and it meant me only doing the work in a sound proof room in school, so I abandoned it in the end.



SWF to AVI MPEG Converter (Highly Recommended)
(http:// www.lumixsoft.com)

Features:

1.  Supports export to AVI, MPEG, MP4 and many other formats.
2. As with above, it supports action scripts, movie clips and sound.  What I really like is it really captures the narration of my clips but not from the output speaker, cause the sound was clean.  For action script, you have an option of clicking, typing the interactive parts of the swf and capture the actions or alternative set to the auto mode which you can set the swf file to advance after the side time if there is no action.
3. You can customise the output format (stated above), the parameters (e.g. the frame rate, the size of final video screen.) It does give advice e.g. the screen size, the output platform like ipod, apple TV, DVD that the final file is intended for.  Or it can be set entirely automatic.
4. The quality of the movie is much better than the above.
5. Yes, for ease of use, it is easy to fiddle around, took me about 5 min to figure out how to work through the files.

Tip:  The pause button does not pause the capture, but rather the screen, it was good for me as mine was a Q & A type of swf and so I could control the pause for students to think and then reveal the answer in good time and pausing a longer for the answer if I think my students will need time to digest.

Cons:  Not any serious one I can think of for the moment.  But yes, there are more settings to make than the top, so you need to play around with all the settings for about less than 5 minutes, capture a few trials before you are good to go.  Free, bit a logo shows up at the top hand corner of software.  But does not really bother me.  You can pay and register to get it removed for the export.

Conclusion:  This is the one I am using, and it is definitely a keeper in time to come.

Lesson Activity in Moodle

I have just been arrowed a task that was not assigned to me end of last year - to design and build an elesson on the topic of "electricity" for our school's home-based learning.

Hm...so what is home based learning.  It is an initiative that is started by Ministry of Education (Singapore) in response to an incident many years back.  In 2003, because of the SARs outbreak, the schools where given sudden notice to close for two weeks.  These left the schools in flurry and especially the JCs, as lost in two weeks of precious curriculum had a great impact as the students were expected to sit for the A-levels in two years time.  The A-levels was deemed as an important milestone as it meant entrance to university of choice and the subsequent career path that the child would take.  So the schools set up contingency plans to get lessons, worksheets and notes delivered to students without face contact.

The schools in Singapore had been on e-learning bandwagon for some years, but it never really took off as students and teacher still feel it is the face-to-face interaction that is important.  Questions and lessons can be modified on the spot based on students' problems and understanding, unlike in the case of elessons, which tend to take a fixed path, and it afterall difficult, even for the most experienced teacher to anticipate every question the children are going to ask.

Anyway,  I have a dateline to meet, was just assigned the task yesterday and I have to get the lesson up by last week of January and first week of Feb, so I am as well get to it.

Resources for Learning to Build Moodle Lessons:

I have been using Moodle for the last two years and there is one feature that I would very much like to explore.  However, as it does take more than a few minutes to learn, so I have never got to learning it.  I guess it always boils down to this, there are so many things that we need to do, so we will only go about doing it or learning it when there is a need to.  (And that students will only learn things if they find it useful and when they need it.  It is the same with upgrading and teaching the skills to teachers,  JIT (just in time) teaching are the best.  At least, this is what I found that works for staff development in my department. Sharing are just for exposure to ideas and gives you an inkling who to approach. )


So first things first is to look at the possible resources on the Web that allows me to learn Moodle Lesson.  Below are some of the ones I really like:


 1.  "More Moodle - Lessons" by La Trobe University. (Last Accessed: 5th Jan 2012)
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/lms/assets/downloads/moodle/guides/user-guide-lessons_v1.0.pdf

I really like this one, as it explains clearly every step and what every setting the term means though I had a little problem following through as my school is currently using Moodle 1.9 and this version of guide is for Moodle 2.0.  We are upgrading to Moodle 2.1 in March....but that would be too late for me.

Behind this document also states some useful references for learning lessons.  I particularly like the videos listed. So I am also linking it here.

2.  YouTube Videos on "Creating a Lesson in Moodle" by LMikowychok

Ah....the wonder of Youtube.  You can now find so many video guides to doing so many things and so it is really no wonder.  These are a series of 3 videos which will guide you to create lesson in Moodle.  It is also good to view it through first to have a rough inkling and overview of what you can do.



Happy Moodling!