Activity 3B
C&I 335
Summer, 1998
Karen Bennett
Glenwood High School
Chatham, IL
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
REALPUBLISHER
The addition of sound and action to an informational site could be very motivating to today's media-barraged students. They have grown up being entertained (Sesame Street etc.). Put them in front of some text to read and they "zone out". I see this software as being extremely useful for gaining students' attention. It uses other methods of sensory input to help students learn and remember. I would use this tool to add to any informational setting where it does not detract from the goal. Also, the students could use this to add to the school's web page (pictures, school song, whatever), or to give a theme and add personality to their personal pages.
The RealPublisher is a tool that allows the addition of audio and video files to web pages. It does so by streaming from files, or can be done live. The web page wizard takes you through the steps to enable the realAudio or RealVideo. It produces the actual HTML. You can create links to initiate the Player or you can play directly from the page. The multimedia allows e-mail integration as well as streaming from a standard Web server using HTTP protocol. Users can play clips immediately, without download delays.
RealPublisher is made by RealNetworks, Inc. It can be ordered and downloaded online from realstore.com, or ordered by using a given 800 number. It can also be shipped.
The RealPublisher is $49.99. The CD-ROM & Manual can be shipped for $4.00 additional cost. The full year of upgrades costs $39.99 and is RECOMMENDED.
Hardware needed : a sound card, and a 486/66 or higher (Pentium 166 or greater for Live Video Broadcast)
Software : Windows 95/Nt 4.x
***Most of the computers in the Math Lab at Glenwood High have the needed hardware. There are a few with processors that are too slow. We could probably use this if they upgrade our Windows 3.1 to Windows 95.
To contact this page www.realaudio.com
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FILEMAKER PRO 4.0 DEVELOPER EDITION
I see this as a tool, particularly in science research, for the organization of information. I can see it would be extremely useful to have database information that can be shared over the web. The ability to sort, organize and interpret that information could be helpful in developing or supporting hypotheses.
This software is a package of developer tools, including Home Page, (to create and work with web pages), database software. It even includes java classes that enable developers to access FileMaker Pro databases over any Java-enabled OS. There is a selection of plug-ins that provide a wide array of automated tasks. FileMaker's Pro Web Companion lets Pro share databases over the web.
The product is made by FileMaker, Inc (Formerly Claris), and can be purchased by internet order and postal delivery. Some products can be downloaded (after internet order). There is also an 800 number that can be used.
The FileMaker Pro Developer Edition is $499.00 plus tax, shipping and handling. There is the possibility for volume licensing with the purchase of 25 or more units.
The Hardware requirements include an Intel compatible 486/33 computer with 8MB RAM, CD ROM drive and a hard disk drive.
The software must be Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0.
**At Glenwood High School, we could not use this in the Math Lab. We don't have enough memory on the hard drives and we don't have CD ROM drives.
For more info www.filemaker.com or www.claris.com
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REALPLAYER PLUS 5.0
Learning is enhanced when more than one sense is used. Students can hear or watch parts of a lesson over the internet. RealPlayer can scan for live sites, preset buttons to favorites, and record selected audio and video clips.
RealPlayer plus 5.0 enables you to access RealAudio and RealVideo files over the Internet or over a local area network in real-time, without having to download the sound clip to your hard drive. You click on a link and RealPlayer automatically opens and plays the file. Like a tape player, it rewinds, pauses, ffwds, etc by clicking buttons. The graphic on the screen "looks like" a tape player. It even scans for categories that you can choose. Like a car radio it can be preset to your favorite locations for news, music, sports whatever. You can listen or view off-line. Load up the content and store it for later replay (saving you time on your internet connection)
RealPlayer Plus is made by RealNetworks, Inc. It can be ordered by internet and downloaded.
You need a Web Browser installed. There is a list of browsers that are currently supported.
The OS must be Windows 3.1, Windows NT, or Windows 95
**Again, memory is a problem on some machines in the math lab.
The URL is www.real.com/content/ or www.realaudio.com
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HYPERSTUDIO
The hyperstudio software has massive potential use in education. Because it allows students to use sound, text, graphics and video in its projects, reports, presentations, projects can take advantage of multimedia.
It is made by Roger Wagner Publishing. Dealers or distributors can be located by a state search linking mechanism on their web site. Orders can also be made by calling the sales department's 800 number or by sending E-mail.
Hyperstudio is an authoring tool. It has the ability to add multimedia elements quickly into reports or presentations. It has the ability to access data on the internet. It can make and edit movies, add graphics and sound.
A preview CD-ROM is free. Sample projects are shown. A single copy is $199.95.
A Hyperstudio 10-pack , for use with ten computers (networked or stand-alone) can be purchased for $795.00.
Hardware requirements include
Software required: Windows 3.1 or higher
**The needed resources, except memory, are available in Glenwood's Math Lab
For more information : www.hyperstudio.com