Getting deeper into understanding how Captivate works, I was really surprised (and happy) to learn that many of the techniques used are the same as using Flash, Soundbooth and other programs.

Step by step, I perused all of the Adobe Captivate Tutorials – Beyond Basics tutorials. Now I am confident that I can create projects, add slides, capture what I do on the computer, add captions if needed, add either background or slide music and sound effects, and some animation effects (if needed), and publish to a range of platforms.

So now my little ‘non-professional’ beginner movie looks like:

Next step?

I am now moving onto the advanced tutorials – and looking forward to it!

And so the journey continues …

My first unprofessional movie, is still very much ‘unprofessional’ but now I’ve learned how to add captions (Which really wasn’t as hard as I thought). Lesson learned here – it does pay to read tutorials written by the company that created and published the software .

My movie ‘with’ added captions …

Learned from the Adobe tutorial – Add text captions

Next… Adjusting the timing of objects (could be interesting)

Bugger!

Did anyone see the last ten minutes when I was reading through the timing tutorial, and found out that I had already done this to the movie above! w00t. New next step… Moving onto ‘Beyond’ Basic tutorials

This is it! This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but never had the software to do it, until now. I had tried online ‘free’ versions and other opensource products and even though many of them were great – they were still limiting for what I wanted to do. So here starts my journey into learning Adobe Captivate 5.5.

Using Adobe Captivate Tutorials – Getting Started guide  “Recording a Project” I managed to fumble my way through a very very rough, non-professional, short recording, as can be seen below.

I set the recording to basic 640px x 480px size.. with no panning or anything else that looked scarey to use for the first time. I was able to select which ‘window’ to record from – in this case Photoshop. As a test, all I did was attempt to open a file in photoshop. It worked.

Next I was then able to save the Captivate project and then export, or rather, publish for a variety of different media.

1. Published to *.exe format. Worked like a charm.
2. Published to MAC app format. Zipped up the folder and sent it to a MAC friend (thanks Dan), and it worked like a charm.
3. Published to *.mp4 format – and it still worked (as can be seen above)

So far I’m impressed. Next task is to learn how to add text captions to a project.

How many people knew that a 90 minute session of silence in a redemption can help you PASS VCE? A non-constructive 90 minute session that is – after all … it’s a “silent” session. And of course, we all know that ALL students can read a book AND complete an assignment task in 90 minutes…. Right? (regardless of learning abilities).

All because a required text (novel) was out-of-stock from the school suppliers. Yup … sounds fantastic.

In his second week of school, my son had to hand in an assignment that was supposed to be completed over summer.  However, the assignment wasn’t completed, due to the book being out-of-stock. Son tells this to teacher during the first day of the subject. Teacher, of course, was not impressed. However, assignment due date comes and goes, and teacher quickly (without prior conversation with me to back-up sons story of no book) issues a 90 minute silent redemption to the said student.

Said student (my son) did not attend redemption. For two reasons, one I’ve never supported silence as an act of education (yes … my fault as a mum) and two … he forgot it was on. Pretty much the same as I had forgotten of his 9am Monday morning appointment for a heart monitor at Geelong hospital – this appointment was (thankfully) able to be rescheduled to 3:00pm. But back onto this story.

Said teacher rings me after school, alerting me to the fact that the “son” did not attend redemption for incomplete assignment. Then she proceeded to tell me that he has had the book all year (and she wasn’t nice about it), and that he has NO excuse for not doing the work as set out, because spare books are available from the library.

Not-so –nicely, I responded with … “NO.. he has not had the book ALL year. In fact, the book is sitting on my desk now, nicely delivered to me today by the school supplies company, according to the invoice, was mailed to us yesterday – it was ordered four weeks ago.” (taking deep breath … very deep breath) “The book copy that you saw him with was borrowed last Friday, from another student because he was actually concerned about not having the homework done, and wanted to do it, but ran out of time.” But that wasn’t good enough for the teacher.

The teacher actually proceeded to tell me that she knew he had had a book all year – because she had seen him get it out of his bag …

Yes, I replied. You may have seen him with a copy .. this week .. it was the borrowed copy you saw him with!

(My mental status screams ….. Sorry .. but please explain?)

It gets better …. Hope you are all sitting down! Teacher continues …

(quoting from memory)

Teacher says “There are other ways he could’ve got the book, he could’ve borrowed it from the library, etc. etc. it’s HIS responsibility to make sure he gets the book to complete the task, no one else’s.”

(my thoughts – So … my son also earns an income, drives a car, and has a VISA card to make any purchase anywhere too … that is believable … after all he’s an adult at 16 years old – right?)

Teacher continues “Due to not turning up to this redemption, he will FAIL module 1 of VCE English. He will still be required to complete remaining module 1 tasks, as they are relevant to module 2” (more spoken by teacher, but I was probably too much of wanting to scream and yell at her – to pay attention)

It’s only the second week of school and he’s already been threatened of a failure??? Really?? Sorry he wasn’t threatened. It was explicitly explained that he HAS failed Module 1 of VCE English.

I had already pre-paid the price of this book, from the school supplies shop. I wasn’t prepared to pay again from a different shop to get the book. And yes, before anyone jumps on me, I had enquired at a few other local bookshops … with the result of “out-of-stock”. Oh, and just for the record, this particular version of the book was also not available on Ebay (and is still not available as of today – if it is, then I cannot see it).

From what we understand, the son has to PASS … ALL English VCE modules in order to PASS VCE.

In the past one and a half weeks of school (almost two weeks), for the first time ever, my son has actually been completing homework almost every night, for him … this is a HUGE deal, as he hasn’t done so before. But being ADHD and on a level of medication that is helpful, he can achieve small outcomes and tasks. Now he’s actually trying to get somewhere, he’s already FAILED.

I am going to be contacting the school library to find out if they have any copies of the book in stock. Son has stated that a number of students have already borrowed the books. Hmmm maybe other students couldn’t get the book too? Have to love the logic of summer homework, when the book for it isn’t available!

Here’s a tip for the education department – particularly the VCE schools. BUY enough copies of the book, in the prior year of study …. ISSUE these books to the students in November/December … Incorporate the FEE of the book (without making a profit) into the VCE fees/book prices the following year. This would solve any future problem such as THIS!!!!

So there you have it folks…. The moral of the story …

1. Make sure you spend $17.00 EARLY for any VCE novel, because that is what your son or daughter’s FAIL may be worth!
2. Let’s make sure that we crucify the learning spirit, rather than encourage it,
3. Most of all, let’s ensure that any student with any form of disability are cared for. Let’s shout out that the education system understands how mentally destructive and challenging that ADHD can be. Let’s set an example for all learning challenged teens. Let’s FAIL them before they start! (BUT we won’t start counting the kids that pass year ten – yet struggle to read and write (a.k.a. illiterate) … nope .. that’s another story)

On a final note, son has had a number of clashes with this same teacher, within the same subject (English) throughout the entire year during his year 10. Why was he even put in her class for this year, knowing that these severe clashes occurred throughout 2011?

Interesting history

At the age of two to four years old, son did not grow up with ‘regular’ writing skills. He didn’t have ‘time’ to hold a pencil, he didn’t have ‘time’ to construct a circle – which in the long run – this wasn’t so bad… he’s one of my kids that has not drawn on the walls J

By the end of Kindergarten, he could form (sort of) the letters of his name.

Primary school was a bit of touch and go. Some teachers were great – others were not so great. And home schooling became an option during his grade 4 year. Maybe one of the reasons for this – is that I was ‘over-it’ when continuously reading teacher’s feedback that consisted of “son is challenged to stay on task, son is challenged to complete tasks, son is challenged to remain focus, and son is a challenge to teach” … along with more.

Every year, I had to explain his learning difficulties, and almost every year, this was ignored! (Excluding the few but exceptional teachers that he has had)

Son began year 7 public high school, from home schooling. By the end of year 8, he was having help (some integration) due to ADHD disability. Year 9, aide was clearly labelled on his term program, but once the term actually started, we found that the aide was actually cancelled. He had spent the summer in an eagerness to attend year 9. Losing integration or aide was, well, the result wasn’t pretty.

He was then given an in-school English test – to which he scored very high. This, according to the student manager, was a too-high score to get any assistance for homework or organisation.

Throughout Year 9 and Year 10, son struggled to stay on task, was challenged to keep himself organised and more. I would like the people in position to understand, that the request for assistance was NOT because he couldn’t read or write, but it WAS because he IS ADHD and is naturally challenged to stay on task. He’s not the destructive ADHD, in his case; it is a concentration control problem. But … we don’t need to worry about that, because that ONE singular English based test – scored too high for him to get help!

What if the said teacher had given an extension on the assignment (after finding out on Day 1 that the book was out-of-stock) that came into effect the day that son received the book, which, based on the delivery date of the book, would’ve been approximately 3 weeks?

If the teacher’s advice is correct, about using any other means of getting the book, then why was it part of a book list for 2012? Why do we, as parents, spend enormous amounts of money on texts and stationary for school – just for them (the students) to find alternative ‘free’ ways of completing a task?

What does this really teach the student in question? It’s ok to be ADHD as long as you act and prove that you are not ADHD?

What happened to the VCAA concept that implies that: Teachers will make all reasonable efforts to assist and support students to succeed?

Is this situation a “reasonable effort” on the teacher’s part?

VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2012 http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/schooladmin/handbook/2012/AdminHand2012.pdf

Excerpt from Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications): The Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications) provides you with an opportunity to learn in detail about the human dimensions of the Internet: how people network, collaborate, and share information through Internet communications, media and design. You will develop advanced skills in creating, maintaining and managing online communications for personal and commercial interactions, as well as gaining knowledge of the social and cultural contexts within which those interactions occur.

And I am almost there! After being a stay-at-home-mum for over 20 year (even though in that time I had still fixed computers, completed some programming, successfullly homeschooled my children for a period of time, earned Certificate III and IV in both Business and Frontline Management (through Scouting) … and have spent the last two and a half years studying the degree – and more)…. I’m almost there! I am extremely proud of my current standings for each unit:

HD: High Distinction
D: Distinction
C: Credit
P: Pass
* Final Scores yet to be published
** Unit/s currently being studied

For more information about this degree, please visit Open Universities Australia – BA Internet Communications

Some people find it hard to choose electives – which is quite understandable as there are so many units to choose from. The degree details stipulate that “Students must complete at least 6 units at level 2 or above, unless special permission is gained to vary this requirement.” (OUA, 2012).

Passed onto me by a prior student is a list of possible ‘minors’ that can be achieved

Choice of Optional Streams (example only – subject to change)

Internet Design (one of the most common streams chosen)

NED11 Internet Design Introduction
NED12 Internet Design Advanced
NED23 Internet Design Usability
NED24 Internet Design Dynamic Environments
NED35 Internet Design Interactivity
NED36 Internet Design Project

Information Systems

CIS13 Information Systems Fundamentals
CIS23 Management Support Systems
CIS24 Human-Computer Interaction
CIS32 eCommerce and Business Computing Applications
CIS34 Database Management Systems
CIS36 IT Strategies and Project Management

Journalism

CMM18 News and Politics
CJR200 News Writing and Ethics
CJR220 News and Information Gathering
CJR300 Journalism Cultures
CJR330 Online News Production
CJR320 Broadcast Journalism

Marketing

MAR11 Marketing Theory and Practice
MAR23 Integrated Marketing Communication
MAR24 Buyer Behaviour
MAR33 Marketing Planning and Implementation
MAR32 Issues in Competitive advantage
MAR34 International Marketing

Media and Public Relations

COM14 Creative and Professional Writing
CMM27 Introduction to Public Relations
CMM23 Media Buying and Planning
CMM26 Media Law
CMM220 Media Relations
CMM31 Media Audiences

Programming

CPT120 Introduction to Programming
CPT121 Programming 1
CPT140 Database Concepts
CPT221 Programming 2 (Java)
CPT230 Software Engineering Fundamentals
CPT270 Web Programming

An explosion to end it all.
A hole dug, within his form.
Blood, thick and red,
running down ……
He’s now dead.

This is what “they” called WAR!
This is the waste of youth,
husbands and more.
Why did we do it?
Why will we do it again?

Do we have to have death
to save others lives?
It isn’t fair.
Why should we let our men
and women die … in warfare?

Some are taught, that this is the way of life.
Others learn this, but they don’t
wish to know more.
But no matter where we go, or how we shall get there,
the answer is still the same.

People will kill, and most
likely, kill again.
Why?

Bodies piled up atop of the other.
Fires lit, the cremation is on.
But what of those men that died for others?
What chance at life
did they ever have?

It’s over now.
There’s no bodies left.
Only a shattered earth’s surface,
from where the bombs, and
grenades hit.

A red stained desert …
a black charred coffin
There was no chance for these folks,
that died in vain.
There was no chance for these,
neither was anything won.

© Jocelyn Peucker, 1994-2012

Beaten to the core
bruises aching
blood dripping
and more.

Streets of fire
sealing their flame
to those so much more
less fortunate.

Cruelty of it all
as the old man saw
exactly what was happening.

No tears flowing
for there wasn’t any left
no future worth knowing
for everything was now bereft.

An aching thud within the hearts
of those living there now
an aching for they know no love
within their valley of despair.

© Jocelyn Peucker, 1994-2012

Loneliness
can hurt,
it can become
your enemy and
friend.
It doesn’t really
matter
how many people
you know
for loneliness
can become a disease
and, forever, grow.
STOP!
STOP Now!
Look around.
You’ll see there’s someone
who can help you
turn your
life around.
People can help,
people can share
your pain.
GO ON!
Step on out!
Walk outside
that large brick wall
that you’ve had
so ever sealed
tight.
Take a chance.
make it a small step,
but take yourself over
that very first
brick!

© Jocelyn Peucker, 1988-2012

For all the times
we shared.

For all the words
we said.

I thank you for
the life you gave.

I thank you for
the life you saved.

© Jocelyn Peucker, 1993-2012