Supervisor: Frankston High School (FHS)

Format: Online

Time: 1 hr

(total time = 7hrs)

Organisers:  TechSmith, creators of Camtasia Editing Software

Level: General public

Subject Area: Patron access, collections, reformatting of text (written word to Audiobook)

Objective: Refresh previous skills in audio recording, editing and production for use in an LIS environment

Reason for attending: to create alternative resource access for students with learning challenges such as dyslexia.

What was learnt:

Using the instruction videos and readings in the Camtasia tutorials package I updated my skills in the following areas:

Preparation and recording (Total length of tutorials = 37 mins)

I received instruction on Camtasia file types, manual saving of recordings, utilising and customising the production timeline, employment of the properties panel, organisation of project folders, and importation, asset organisation, previewing, management, positioning, packaging and reuse of project media. I also familiarised myself with keyboard shortcuts to streamline the production and regarded the advice on recording voice narration.

Editing Audio (15 mins)

I refreshed my previous audio editing experience via training on application of video visualisers to animate audio clips, editing on the timeline and adding extra audio effects through volume adjustment, removal of background noise and addition of sound compression. I learnt  simple ways to remove recording mistakes and recalled how to split media in to multiple clips for access and control.

Export and share (8 mins)

I attained competence with project exportation as an audio file onto the computer and sharing capacity to web destinations (Screencast, YouTube) and The FHS Learning Management System (LMS).

Relationship to work or study

Following attendance in webinars on eResources featuring alternative formatting for students with reading and learning difficulties I wished to participate in provision of a diverse options for students at Frankston High School. The Resource Centre attempts to purchase Audiobook versions of main texts where possible, however were unable to obtain this format of a senior text, “The Longest Memory” by Fred D’Agular. Knowing of my media background and my personal side project of Camtasia tuition I was approached by the head Librarian to consider creating a listening version of the text for student use, as this would be within copyright reproduction parameters.  The recording and production took over six hours to complete and was a challenge in a large school with very few truly quiet areas. I am very satisfied with the completed product and am eager to create more.

In addition, undertaking the Camtasia tuition toward assessment of need, provision and access of electronic instruction materials for students, thereby enhancing my comprehension of INF210: Collections.