CREATING EDUCATIONAL OBJECTS USING QUICKTIMETM

Although used primarily for video, QuickTime (QT) is ideal for creating educational objects, i.e. education, training or expertise transfer software. QT movies can hold, display, edit and manipulate ~30 multimedia formats. Movie types include: time-based (images played sequentially), Virtual Reality (VR) (viewer manipulated immersive spatial environments) and scenes (multimedia collections accessed via hot spots). Time-based movies contain a variety of multimedia in any combination of nine tracks (video, sound, music, text, 3D, tween, sprite, MPEG, Flash). They may consist of real worldviews or computer generated scenes. These movies illustrate temporal changes and the scale and scope of geologic processes. VR movies mimic real space via panoramas (360° views) and objects (3-D items viewable from any angle). Although most depict actual places or items, VR movies can be computer generated. They are accessed in a sequence determined by the user and convey a sense of place and 3-D. Scenes are collections of media (panoramas, objects, videos, Flash, etc.) with a common theme (e.g. a national park). The learner determines the viewing sequence by clicking on hot spots. Scenes are ideal for depicting places or events.

Time-based movies are created from digital video using QT Pro, a low cost (< $40) software application from Apple. The video can be edited and compressed using a variety of codecs and settings. Although it can add text and sound tracks, QT Pro cannot create other tracks. VR movies are created using special software, e.g. VR Worx, QuickTime VR Authoring Studio or Stitcher 3.5. Creation of complex QT movies using 3D, tween, sprite, MPEG, Flash tracks require specialized software, e.g. Livestage Pro, an expensive program (~ $800) with a steep learning curve and proprietary scripting language. To view movies, a user needs only the QT player, a free download from Apple. Movies can be delivered via the Web, PDF files or PowerPoint presentations.

A wide variety of educational objects can be created using QT movies including: annotated photographs, interactive slideshows, video clips, panoramas, QTVR objects and scenes. When combined with other objects, complex learning applications can be created that help students convert the facts, terms, concepts and processes of Earth science into concrete understanding.