Video on Demand
Vidflow is a unique system for delivering video over a school's network, making video content easy to manage and access, as part of a virtual learning environment. The Vidflow system includes a dedicated video server and one or more Vidflow Workstations, to record, edit and broadcast video across the network. Teachers can build a curriculum based video library, accessible to students and staff at all times. Broadcasts can be made to all classrooms simultaneously, or videos accessed on demand by individual students. It is integrated with SharePoint, as part of Microsoft's Learning Gateway, Vidflow represents an effective route to delivering video material.
Video Delivery to the Classroom
Vidflow brings huge benefits to classroom efficiency by its near instant access to video content. Access does not require specialist know-how, as just a few mouse clicks starts the video, minimising any scope for classroom disruption. Teachers can edit recorded material to remove commercials and tailor programme content to a particular lesson.
For teaching staff, the new approach can transform the preparation and delivery of curriculum material. With teaching resources online, lessons can be run from any networked classroom and when necessary be delivered by supply teachers with greater continuity. The old way of booking out televisions and videos or DVDs from a library, wheeling in a trolley, winding and rewinding, stands in marked contrast to Vidflow's video on demand via the Schools Intranet.
Video Clips with Intranet Access
Vidflow uses SharePointTM and the school's network to manage video resources, which can be searched by different methods:
- Dewey Standard
- Key Stage Search
- Word Search
- Customisable categories - i.e. subject
Using drag and drop methods, teachers can create hyperlinks to video material on school Intranet subject pages, wherever they are needed. Library videos are made available to the subject classes with quick links.
Pupils can access these clips to revisit teaching and revise material used in class. When streaming video, the Vidflow system prevents users copying the material, avoiding copyright violations. Where schools have remote access, materials can be viewed on-line, helping absent pupils to catch-up on class subjects.
Video Library Resources
A convenient online TV guide helps users identify programmes to record. Twin high definition digital TV tuners allow two programmes to be captured simultaneously from any FreeviewTM digital channel, including "Teachers TV", "UKTV History Channel" as well as BBC programmes. The Vidflow Workstation records, edits and converts TV programmes to generate an up-to-date intranet based video library. The Vidflow Workstation uses a high speed RAID 5 configuration that accelerates the heavy demands of the encoding conversion process. The captured video content can be conveniently converted in bulk, saving time in managing the system admin.
Media Resources plus new iPod Access
Captured material from a TV signal, Digital Camera, VHS tapes, DVDs, AVI and MPEG files can all be converted to .WMV format for transmission over the network. School ICT technicians can edit the video to run at different bandwidths to suit the application. The Podcast download from intranet files is the latest feature to be added enabling PDA or iPod playback of content via a dedicated format. Podcasts capture the imagination of students, who readily connect with the new media and enjoy the convenience of studying on the bus train, or any convenient downtime moment.
Learning Platforms and Vidflow
Integrating online video with a SharePointTM learning platform, brings a powerful tool that supports the DfES aim to encourage all schools to implement access to e-learning. Multiple choice tests can be run via SharePointTM on the class material delivered, with results available immediately as tables and graphs. Teachers can quickly identify areas that need further teaching time, and gain insight into how individual students are progressing.
Media Projects and School TV Station
The Vidflow Workstation editing suite can be incorporated into a school's Media Lab, to process input from Digital Cameras, VHS or DVD to produce student media projects, or even to run a school intranet based TV station. The user friendly Vidflow front end helps the school manage a broadcast schedule of programmes for automatic ransmission over the network at specific times of the day. This enables students in different locations to view video footage at the same time,
Assured Data Security
The Vidflow Server is the storage and delivery media for the on-line library. It uses a high power Xeon processor to stream video over the network. Up to a 1,000 hours of video can be stored on the 1 Terabyte dedicated Vidflow Server. Larger capacity servers can be installed if required. Valuable video learning resources are secure from disk failure thanks to the RAID 5 configuration that ensures that the video materials can be revived in the event of a disk failure. Hot swap disks mean that the server can be back in action without delay.
Vidflow in Action at Schools
Observing the new e-learning and Vidflow in practice, we found that teachers have really taken to the new network facilities and are learning how to get the best from it. When it comes to the students, there is a huge challenge to keep pace with the requirement for multimedia interactivity and instant feedback to enquiries. It is particularly encouraging to experience the student enthusiasm for the Akhter Vidflow system, which is already making a real difference to how the curriculum is being delivered in schools.
"With the speed of advances in science, books become outdated very quickly. Access to the Internet allows my students and me to keep me abreast of the latest developments as they happen. Also some videos may contain material that is suitable for a number of different subjects. Because each video can be bookmarked and indexed, even the smallest piece of footage can be accessed via an appropriate search word."
Miss Frances Howson, Biology Teacher at Reading School
For further information or a quote on Vidflow contact Akhter Computers on 01279 821200 or E-Mail Sales-EDUTOD@Akhter.co.uk
