JERIC 2004 paper
The Video Applet
Videos
The video applet allows a hypertextbook author to include video clips of processes, lecturelets, and other dynamic topics. The video clip below was developed for a separate hypertextbook project on biofilms. We will be developing videos for teaching and learning the theory of computing as this project progresses.
Creating Videos
The creation of a video clip for inclusion in a hypertextbook is a straightforward task.
 | Capture the video clip. Many modern digital still image cameras can also take short video clips. Of course digital video cameras can also be used. |
| Edit the video clip. Inexpensive video editing software can be used to edit the result. |
| Convert the encoded clip to a standard form. It might be necessary to convert a video clip into a format other than the one in which it was originally captured (e.g. from an "avi" formt to an "meg-2" format) to make it universally playable. |
| Configure the parameters of the video applet to refer to the proper video file. |
Features
The video applet has features to
| await input form the user to start or to autotstart the playing of the video clip |
| pause the playing of the clip |
| start the playing of the clip at an arbitrary point |
| play the clip in a continuous loop |
| turn video on and off |
Uses
Examples of video applet use in a hypertextbook on the theory of computing are:
| incorporation of lecturelets of various concepts, such as how to apply the pumping lemma for context free languages to show that a given language is not context free; note that many different video clips could be created to help students learn this challenging concept. |
| animations of various concepts, such as the reduction of a known NP-complete problem to a new problem. |
It is expected that the video and slide show applets will be used in many cases to describe processes that eventually will have associated active learning models. The creation of such interactive models takes considerable time; in the meantime, the slide show and video applets can be used to fill the gaps.
System Requirements
This applet requires the installation of recent versions of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, the Java Runtime Environment, and Java Media Frameworks.
Acknowledgements
The slide show applet was developed by Frances Goosey.