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New keyboard shortcuts for diacritics on LRC Teacher PC

  1. The US international keyboard layout that has come with MS-Windows for many years (though – except in the LRC – not set as default, you need to enable it in the control panel) greatly facilitates typing of characters for most languages that use Roman script with common diacritical marks, but does not cover Pinyin and similar diacritical marks.
  2. Carly from Carleton, as avid a language teacher as a technologist,  had the great idea to extend Microsoft’s US-international keyboard so as to include all the Pinyin tone marks (and other accents useful for linguists). Here is the upshot, extracted  from her  instructions, but excluding  what (either shortcut or (use of common accents within Pinyin is now covered also below) purpose) has not changed from the shortcuts of the non-extended US-international keyboard  that used to be the default in the LRC:
  3. What you want Which keys you press (before comma  is “dead” key = no result until after next key) Example

    acute accent, pinyin 2nd tone

    ‘(=apostrophe), vowel

    á é í ó ú

    grave accent, pinyin 4th tone

    `(=grave), vowel

    à è ì ò ù

    macron accent, pinyin 1st tone

    hyphen, vowel

    ā ē ī ō ū

    pinyin 3rd tone

    %(=shift+5), vowel

    e.g. ǎ ě ǐ ǒ ǔ

    ü with pinyin tones

    Accent, double-quote

    e.g. ǖ ǘ ǚ ǜ

    letter with dot below

    ; (=shift+period), letter

    e.g.clip_image001

    letter with double acute

    : (=shift+;) , o or u

    ő, ű, Ő, Ű

  4. We are offering the extended US-international keyboard this as an optional keyboard on the teacher and student PCs with Windows 7.
    1. To select the new keyboard layout, use the language toolbar, click on 2nd option:
    2. image
    3. To explore the new keyboard layout use the Windows On-screen keyboard which will let you peek ahead after your pressed a dead key.
    4. To bypass a special dead key (= get the normal behavior of the key), press SPACE after it.

Recommended settings for a departmental Sanako Lite Recorder installation

The following settings are not in the default installation for the language lab, but rather manually overridden (in the Student Recorder Settings) for installation on faculty office computers: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sanako\Study\Student\Settings]
“My files directory”=”s:\\coas\\lcs\\lrc\\sanako\\teacher\\”
“AlwaysUseRecorderLiteVersion”=dword:00000001

The following setting obviously needs to be generalized:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sanako\Study\Student\Settings]

“Temporary files directory”=”C:\\Documents and Settings\\tplagwit\\Local Settings\\Temp\\”

The helper.exe architecture should be disabled outside of the Sanako classroom (details here):

[HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Sanako Helper]

“Start”==dword:0×00000004

and for backup:

[HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Sanako Helper]

“Start”=dword:0×00000004

 

Even with the helper.exe neutralized, the “associate media files” option appears too greedy – at least here I cannot get it to associate, as it seems to promise, the media files only when the student.exe is running, rather the following file associations changes seem to get baked into the registry permanently – so the following is not recommended (leave the checkbox in the settings unchecked):

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mff]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\StudyStudent.Document]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\StudyStudent.Document\DefaultIcon]

“”=”C:\\Program Files\\Sanako\\Study\\Student\\Student.exe,0”

 

The following associations seem to be added when checking “associate media files”in admin settings , but it  does not look like this association is limited to during run time of the recorder

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\StudyStudent.Document\shell\open\command]

“”=”C:\\Program Files\\Sanako\\Study\\Student\\Student.exe %1”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.dim]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.maa]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wav]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.snd]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.au]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.aif]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.aic]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.aifc]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.aiff]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.asf]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.asx]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wax]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wm]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wma]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wmd]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wmp]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wmx]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wp1]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.wvx]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mid]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.midi]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.rmi]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mp3]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.m3u]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.m1v]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mp2]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mpa]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mpe]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mpeg]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.dat]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mp2v]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mpv2]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.ogg]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mov]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.qt]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mp4]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.ra]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.rm]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.ram]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.rmm]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.rmx]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.swf]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.smi]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.rmj]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.rt]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.mnd]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\.pls]

“”=”StudyStudent.Document”

“Content Type”=”Application/StudyStudent.Document”

How to record and submit a photo presentation assignment

A step-by-step explanation how Moodle/PowerPoint allow

  1. a student
    1. to create a photo album from their photos (remind them that they need to be able to download their photos onto the LRC computers), we will load this from their computers analogous to this: How to create a visual cue exam file using Insert Photo album in PowerPoint
    2. to narrate the photoalbum
      1. In the LRC with 2007: https://thomasplagwitz.com/2013/01/22/how-students-can-record-their-picture-or-photo-presentations-with-powerpoint-2007/
      2. or if they use 2010 outside of the LRC, https://thomasplagwitz.com/2013/01/17/recording-student-picture-presentations-with-powerpoint/
    3. To refine their presentation:
      1. Do not edit your audio – not  good language learning  pedagogy.
      2. Rather redo your entire presentation, paying extra attention to the weaknesses you observed when reflecting on your last recorded attempt . You will learn more foreign language this way than if you learn how to edit digital audio. Before you re-record your narration, clear the existing narration from PowerPoint, or save into a new file to be able to compare the Before/After.
    4. to submit: How a student takes a Moodle Single file upload assignment.
  2. a teacher
    1. to prepare:How a teacher creates a Moodle Single file upload assignment, with optional attached file
    2. to grade (reviewHow a teacher grades a Moodle Single file upload assignment):
      1. Save the Moodle file submission assignment
      2. Double-click the PPSX  file to play the file in PowerPoint.
      3. Use the Moodle grade book to grade and provide other feedback.

How students can record their picture or photo presentations with PowerPoint 2007

  ppt ppt-save-as-show

  1. On the ribbon:slideshow, click “record narration”,
  2. click “Change quality”,
  3. change the quality to 16Kbit from the default of 8kbit (which caused audio break-ups when I tested),
  4. click OK and present, using the headphones,
  5. then Save As / Show.
  6. You can easily use the saved  file to e.g. upload the assignment to your teacher’s  Moodle / File Upload Assignment.

LRC learning resources Moodle metacourses: Our list

2013/01/18 1 comment

UPDATE: The LRC Metacourses are being rolled over to MOODLE2. Metacourses having only an OldID are currently still unavailable in Moodle2. And the student enrollment needs to be updated manually until the end of add/drop. On the upside, teachers do not need to make course available to students anymore. The LRC can do this (Metacourses for languages saying #Ref are waiting to be rolled over, tell me if you need them)..

The following LRC Moodle metacourses for teaching materials are available to LCS and ELTI  (including LRC-Resource  with training materials for using language learning technology in and outside of the LRC, as well as for independent study languages).

The naming scheme follows the course abbreviations taught in the departments that the LRC supports:

These courses appear in the Training branch of the Moodle-courses tree-menu on the left (for all study programs you teach in):

moodle-tree-resource-courses_thumb

The metacourse for a language (or field of study)  is accessible to all students studying this language during the term of their study.

How to install the Sanako Lite Recorder without it auto-starting and auto-restarting

  1. Problem:
    1. For a personal installation, but especially for a faculty-wide deploy, the default installation of the Sanako Lite Recorder seems to have too much of a footprint: Sanako Lite Recorder not only auto-starts (see e.g. the student icon in the notification area) with Windows, but also auto-restarts when exited –
    2. a useful feature of the classroom recorder from which the standalone recorder is derived, but not so much for a standalone recorder rollout. The feature is achieved by installing a  service (helper.exe) that itself is during installation set to SERVICE_AUTO_START (0x00000002).
    3. This  architecture also makes the installation option to “associate media files” with the Sanako Lite Recorder too greedy, even though it could be useful during the actual work of faculty with the Recorder.
  2. Workaround (for either manual reconfiguration after the install or to be integrated into the automated deployment):
    1. Can one set the underlying helper.exe service that gets installed during the Sanako Lite install to SERVICE_DEMAND_START (0x00000003)? Not tested. At best, this would help between computer restarts, but not when a teacher is done with editing the study recorder and tries to exit it (helper.exe, if itself started, will restarts the student.exe).
    2. Can one entirely disable  this helper.exe service  from services.msc, will the recorder still start? Testing with starting the student.exe and playing audio files did work. So one should try also during a deploy, use value SERVICE_DISABLED (0x00000004) for keys HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Sanako Helper\Start (and, in case something goes wrong later: HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Sanako Helper\Start).

What is “Content location” in Sanako Study Student Recorder (including Lite) for?

imageimage

  1. While working on rolling out the free Sanako Light recorder to all faculty computers in a more systematic, automated way, the question has come up:
  2. What is “Content location” in Sanako Study Student Recorder (Ver 6, including Lite) “Administrative Settings” for, and how can it accept a URL?
    1. No such field in Ver 5.51; no mention in the help file; no manual this new (free) version would help seems included with the download.
    2. I am trying to point the “My files” to a more shared and LRC-accessible location on our SANAKO network share. Should I try the same with “Content Location”, or is this (defaults to “Application Data”) a strictly temporary location for during authoring?
  3. Answer: Sanako seems to be planning using this for distributing their own learning materials, esp. for ESL.

LRC online language learning materials: the list

2013/01/17 2 comments

Below you can find a scrollable and searchable list of LRC learning materials in Moodle metacourses  (of which you can find a standalone list here).

You can filter this LRC Excel Web App using the column header dropdowns. You can click on the language in the leftmost column to go to your language’s metacourses and in its folders easily locate the resources in the right columns.

Languages that do not have their dedicated metacourse are LCTL/independent study and can be found in the LRC metacourse.

Note that the material you are looking for are not necessarily in this list, as there are other containers for language learning materials used on campus, including individual Moodle courses, textbook publisher applications, often based on Quia, like for Hybrid 1st-year Spanish, and the library ereserves.

Larger view here. UNCC-LRC Editors click here.