VisitMe - Enterprise in Education Template Pack for Teachers

All about VisitMe

Welcome to VisitMe, the enterprise project which will promote your region and will attract tourists and visitors to your village, town or city. This weblog is intended for teachers to act as a template and give some inspiration to get you and your colleagues started on this National Priority related project. To achieve this you will learn how to:

• Create a weblog
• Create a promotional Digital Video, and edit it on the computer
• Create a MP3 files that can be made into virtual tours or Podcasts
• Create visual virtual tours using Quicktime VR
• Create a quiz on what your pupils have learned

• Record a commentary in a foreign language (MFL)
• Learn how to promote your area in the business world (Business Education)
• Create music as a backing to video and/or audio (Music)
• Learn about built-up environments and analyse local architecture to create a virtual tour (Art & Design)

Use the category list on the right to find the information you require to get started.

MFL Enterprise Project Aims

This enterprise project involves pupils in several subject areas, but is an ideal opportunity to consolidate work in any unit about 'My Region', 'Activities' or 'Giving Directions'.

Time scale: 6 periods

Project Aim:
Create a script and record an audio guide to a local place. The audio guide might also be converted into a podcast for tourists or conference delegates.

Objectives:
At the end of the unit pupils will be able to:
• Use a computer to record MP3 files
• Give directions and information in the foreign language

Resources:
Mac: Garageband, USB microphone, Headphones, Freeplay.com music.
PC: Audacity (free download), USB microphone, Headphones, Freeplay.com music, Sound Card.

Prior knowledge or skills to be learned:
• Vocabulary and written work on the topic of ‘My Town’ and 'Directions'

Considerations for students:
• How long is each video segment? Make music to fit. Try adding or removing repeated/looped segments to lengthen or shorten the soundtrack.
• In what order do different places appear? Can you make music that fits the scene (fast, slow, energetic, relaxed…)? How are the visuals going to be reflected in the audio?
• What effects can you use to create links between sections in the music? How can you link between the more energetic sections (A) and the lighter breaks (B)?

Creating an audio tour

After the study of a unit on Tourism, Travel, Home Region or Giving Directions the teacher can consolidate language work by asking pupils to prepare a presentation. Do this in written form, which can be used in SQA assessments, and then this can act as a script or be done from memory, again, ideal for SQA purposes.

It is vital to prepare the text in advance before recording an MP3 file and then, perhaps, turning this into a Podcast.

Next stage: Create an MP3 file

Recording an MP3 file

Mac users:
SETTING UP:
Attach the USB microphone and headphones to the Mac.
Go to System Preferences > Sound. Make sure that the input is set to the USB microphone.
Open 'Garageband'. Turn off the Metronome in Control menu.

CREATING A NEW VOCAL TRACK:
Create a New Track from the Track menu (Real Instrument > Voice > No effect > Monitor On.
Press the record button and the pupils can say their text.
Double-clicking on the sound block will open an editing window. This allows pupils to take away any mistakes and re-record in the gap left over.

ADDING A BACKING TRACK OF MUSIC:
Add another Real Instrument > Voice > No effect track for some background music.
Drag the Freeplay.com music from iTunes into the desired point.
Lower the volume of the track so that the voice can still be heard: Click the downward arrow and change the volume line as desired.

SAVING AS AN MP3 FILE:
In the File menu, go to 'Export to iTunes'.
The computer transfers the file from Garageband format to iTunes.
In iTunes, make sure that your import settings convert new files into MP3 format.
Find the file in iTunes. Control-click the file and select "Convert to MP3".

TRANSFERING FILE TO iPOD:
Update the iPod with the new file from iTunes.

PC users:
Use Audacity. It is more 'clunky' than Garageband but uses the same principles.

NEXT STAGE: Making your MP3 file into a Podcast.

Making your MP3 file into a Podcast

A Podcast is a broadcast that can be put on an MP3 player or iPod automatically every time the broadcast is updated. Each broadcast is one MP3 file.

The simplest way to podcast is to first create a weblog onto which you will post each file in turn. Blogger shows you how to create a weblog in three steps, but does not provide hosting for your MP3 files. Try Typepad instead, which costs a small fee ($5 per month) but allows you to store your files. There is also a free 30 day trial which is just long enough for this project.

Once you have posted your MP3 file as a weblog post you need to "redirect your feed" to a service that will create an XML code with enclosures. This allows people to see every time a new MP3 file is posted without having to surf individual pages of the net. It also provides you with a small button to paste into your post. Users can use this button to update their 'podcatcher', the programme on their computer that scours the internet every time you log on for any new programmes.

WHAT SERVICE CAN YOU USE TO CREATE THIS CODE?
Feedburner gives instructions on how to turn your weblogged MP3 file into a Podcast so that listeners don't miss an update or show. Generally you just copy and paste the weblog URL into its system and it does thbe rest of the work, looking only for audio or video MP3 files to play.

EXAMPLES
Look at our Podcast examples from Stirling and subscribe to never miss another one.

ILLUSTRATED GUIDE ON CREATING PODCASTS:
David Baugh's article on creating a podcast covers the basics.

Podcast: Stirling Management Centre

Visiting the Stirling area? Subscribe to our Podcast to receive regularly updated guides on the area. This edition: the Stirling Management Centre and the University of Stirling.

Download StirlingTour.mp3

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Stirling Enterprise tours by copying the link below into your iPodder or podcatching application:

Want to know how to make a Podcast? Go to our guide.

Making up an internet challenge with Quia

Go to http://www.quia.com 

If you are subscribed log into Instructor zone – If not there is a 30day trial available

Once logged in to Quia activities select create a new scavenger hunt (using the drop down menu) click go

Enter your Title and description, and then all you need to do is paste in the URLs (web address) of any web pages recommended for research.

Type in your questions and answers when finished beware the answers given must all be possible correct answers (If you want multiple choice you need to choose “Rags to Riches”(however this will not give you the web links)

When ready click “done” at the bottom.

You then get a message giving you the URL of the online scavenger hunt

Enjoy!

Try our interactive scavenger hunt from around Stirling.