I've spent the last couple of days with Alice Barr, Sarah Sutter, and Thomas Cooper at MLTI's summer conference working with teachers interested in learning about Google tools in their classrooms. The bulk of my responsibility was to help people create blogs. At the beginning of both of my sessions today I asked if anyone had heard of Common Craft. Surprisingly to me, only a couple of hands went up. I then showed Blogs in Plain English. My experience today reminded me that somethings that I take for granted and think everyone knows about, are often still new materials to many people.
I like Common Craft videos for the clear simplicity of their presentations. For that reason I actually purchase copies of the videos to save on my hard drive. I encourage you to do the same if you use their videos for trainings. (No, I do not have any financial affiliation with Common Craft). Here are three Common Craft videos that everyone responsible for teaching technology to school faculty should have in their libraries.
Blogs in Plain English.
Wikis in Plain English.
RSS in Plain English.
Here are some related items that may be of interest to you:
Great Video - Study Like a Scholar, Scholar
Learn It In 5 - Tech How-to Videos
Seven Videos All Teachers Should Watch
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
3 Common Craft Videos That Should Be In Your Training Library
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8 comments:
I used the Common Craft videos on Blogs & RSS in a Web 2.0 training this summer, and everyone loved them. Gotta' love Common Craft for their ability to take complex ideas and use simple technology to illustrate them. I'm a believer.
I agree. I LOVE Common Craft videos. They really help to make things easy and understandable, and make a great introduction.
I noticed that they want you to buy rights to show them now. Does anyone know the guidelines for that?
I have recently found your blog and want to thank you. The wealth of information is staggering and very helpful. Please never stop! I will be incorporating many of your suggestions in my teaching.
I love Common Craft as well. One of the videos I used this summer for a training was "Protecting Reputations Online in Plain English." It does a great job explaining the impact of posting something and then losing control of it once its been posted. I also purchase the single licenses when I do trainings with them. I'm with you in that I strongly encourage anyone who will be using Common Craft videos in their trainings, to carefully read their terms of service and purchase a license.
My students created Common Craft-type videos last year and Lee LeFever was kind enough to video conference with my students. He explained how he and his wife, Sachi, make the videos (did you know they do the voice-overs AFTER the visuals are created?) and even gave feedback to my students on the videos they created. Here is a 3 minute excerpt from that: http://www.screencast.com/users/kolbert/folders/Jing/media/ad9973aa-83c7-4d6c-9a7f-ffd04a333fa8
Hi Lee,
Thanks for sharing your students' work. You're an education Rock Star!
It doesn't surprise me at all that Lee took the time to talk with your class. He and Sachi are two of the nicest people you could ever meet.
Richard
Kym,
Yes, Common Craft would like you to purchase the rights to their videos if you're using them in a capacity for which you're being compensated. I have a full explanation of why I purchase their videos here http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/09/why-i-paid-20-for-free-video.html
Richard
Hi Maria,
Thank you for your kind words.
Richard
Echoing the post and comments, these videos are terrific and I have shared them with colleagues many times. If you're in need of a laugh, I might recommend Zombies in Plain English, which is absolutely hilarious. I also like the idea of having your students create their own videos modeled after the unique Common Craft style.
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