Month: January 2012

Apple introduces iBooks textbooks for iPad

Last week at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, Apple introduced its iBooks textbooks for the iPad. They also introduced iBooks Author, which is user friendly ebook authoring software that enables users to create their own interactive textbooks. Numerous tech blogs are saying that in just a few days there have been 350,000 textbook … Continue reading “Apple introduces iBooks textbooks for iPad”

Last week at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, Apple introduced its iBooks textbooks for the iPad. They also introduced iBooks Author, which is user friendly ebook authoring software that enables users to create their own interactive textbooks.

Numerous tech blogs are saying that in just a few days there have been 350,000 textbook downloads from iBooks, not to mention 90,000 downloads of iBooks Author. Many are mesmerized, but naturally there are some skeptics; mainly when it comes to distribution to and re-use by students. How will textbooks be distributed to students? Will the concept of used textbooks be a thing of the past? How will libraries circulate these interactive textbooks?

See the C|NET News report on the Guggenheim Museum event:

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 20 to 30 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of … Continue reading “New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:”

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 20 to 30 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.


Tuesday 1/24 at 12pm – Final Cut Pro X: Beginner
Wednesday 1/25 at 8pm – Get Started with Photoshop
Thursday 1/26 at 4pm – Final Cut Pro 7 – Beginner
Friday 1/27 at 12pm – Basic Motion Graphics for Video – After Effects
Saturday 1/28 at 5:30pm – Final Cut Pro 7 – Beginner

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

Hot Docs: Deciphering Dyslexia now available in Media Services

“The trials and triumphs of four people facing a lifelong struggle with learning. Dyslexia is the most common cause of reading and writing difficulties, affecting about 10 per cent of the population. [This documentary] is designed to raise awareness and provide an understanding of dyslexia, to bring a human face to this invisible disability and … Continue reading “Hot Docs: Deciphering Dyslexia now available in Media Services”


“The trials and triumphs of four people facing a lifelong struggle with learning. Dyslexia is the most common cause of reading and writing difficulties, affecting about 10 per cent of the population. [This documentary] is designed to raise awareness and provide an understanding of dyslexia, to bring a human face to this invisible disability and to reduce the stigma surrounding it. The film profiles four individuals and their families. Their stories, along with expert commentary, illustrate the likely causes of the disability and the most scientifically sound strategies for intervention”–container.

DVD 9399

Film website including clip:
http://www.knowledge.ca/program/deciphering-dyslexia

New URL creates easier access to Lynda!

Lynda can now be accessed from this url: http://www.american.edu/lynda This is the easiest way to get to all the Lynda.com resources. It’s an easy to remember address and gives all the information a user would need – login requirements, products available, tech support information, mobile access, sample videos, and links to Lynda’s newest tutorials and … Continue reading “New URL creates easier access to Lynda!”


Lynda can now be accessed from this url: http://www.american.edu/lynda
This is the easiest way to get to all the Lynda.com resources. It’s an easy to remember address and gives all the information a user would need – login requirements, products available, tech support information, mobile access, sample videos, and links to Lynda’s newest tutorials and newsletter. Check it out!

Selected New Home Use Titles in Media Services

Check out these titles that were recently added to the Media Services Home Use Collection. Lion King – HU DVD 5090Lion King – BLU-RAY DVDCell 211 – HU DVD 9282Better Life – HU DVD 9285Chameleon Street – HU DVD 9286Live-in Maid – HU DVD 9287Super 8 – HU DVD 9288Super 8 – BLU-RAY DVD 9288Devils … Continue reading “Selected New Home Use Titles in Media Services”

Check out these titles that were recently added to the Media Services Home Use Collection.

Lion King – HU DVD 5090
Lion King – BLU-RAY DVD
Cell 211 – HU DVD 9282
Better Life – HU DVD 9285
Chameleon Street – HU DVD 9286
Live-in Maid – HU DVD 9287
Super 8 – HU DVD 9288
Super 8 – BLU-RAY DVD 9288
Devils on the Doorstep – HU DVD 9289
Mother and Son – HU DVD 9290
Quattro Volte – HU DVD 9294
City Hall – HU DVD 9295
Bosta – HU DVD 9296
Cerf-volant – HU DVD 9297
Perfect Day – HU DVD 9299
Zozo – HU DVD 9300
Jane Austen Book Club – HU DVD 9302
Lucky Louie – HU DVD 9304
Mother Night – HU DVD 9305
Coming to America – HU DVD 9306
City of Life and Death – HU DVD 9307
Easy Riders and Raging Bulls – HU DVD 9308
The Help – HU DVD 9309
The Help – BLU-RAY DVD 9309
On Golden Pond – HU DVD 9310
Atlas Shrugged – HU DVD 9311
Another Earth – BLU-RAY DVD 9312
Another Earth – HU DVD 9312
Tambien la Lluvia – HU DVD 9314
People vs George Lucas – HU DVD 9319
Forgotten Films of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle – HU DVD 9320
Kaboom – HU DVD 9321
Romance and Cigarettes – HU DVD 9322
The Future – HU DVD 9323
Death of Mr. Lazarescu – HU DVD 186
After life – HU DVD 208
Lost in La Mancha – HU DVD 234
Yossi and Jagger – HU DVD 988
Bonaerense – HU DVD 989
American: The Bill Hicks Story – HU DVD 9324
Involuntary – HU DVD 9325
Becoming Chaz – HU DVD 9326
Love like poison – HU DVD 9327
Gangster’s paradise: Jerusalema – HU DVD 9328
Death in the garden – HU DVD 9329
New York, New York – HU DVD 9330
Watership Down – HU DVD 9336
Rise of the Planet of the Apes – HU DVD 9337
Shot in the Dark – HU DVD 9338
Pink Panther – HU DVD 9339
Barfly – HU DVD 9340
Third world cop – HU DVD 9354
Inferno – HU DVD 9355
Well – HU DVD 9356
Yo soy Boricua Pa’que Tu lo Sepas! – HU DVD 9357
Machinist – HU DVD 9358
Power of community – HU DVD 9359
Melvin and Howard – HU DVD 9400
Les Cousins – HU DVD 9401
Midnight in Paris – HU DVD 9410
Rome Open City – HU DVD 9411
Paisan – HU DVD 9412
Germany Year Zero – HU DVD 9413
Secuestro Express – HU DVD 9414
Gloria – HU DVD 9415
Snatch – HU DVD 9416
Road to Perdition – HU DVD 9417
Margin Call – HU DVD 9418
Moneyball – HU DVD 9419
Notre Musique – HU DVD 9420
Boardwalk Empire: Season 1: Disc 1 – 5 – HU DVD 9421 – 9425
Bones: Season 2 – HU DVD 9345 – 9350
Louie: The Complete First Season – HU DVD 9331 – 9332

Websites black out to protest SOPA and PIPA

Many websites are blacked out today to protest proposed U.S. legislation that threatens internet freedom: the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). From personal blogs to Wikipedia, sites all over the web are asking you to help stop this dangerous legislation from being passed. Watch the video below to learn … Continue reading “Websites black out to protest SOPA and PIPA”

Many websites are blacked out today to protest proposed U.S. legislation that threatens internet freedom: the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). From personal blogs to Wikipedia, sites all over the web are asking you to help stop this dangerous legislation from being passed. Watch the video below to learn how this legislation will affect internet freedom and to take action go to WordPress.org or Wikipedia.
Excerpted from WordPress.org

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Jan 26 – Free webcast discussion: Assoc. of Research Libraries (ARL) Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries is offering a free webcast on Thursday, January 26, 3:00–4:00 p.m. eastern time, to discuss the forthcoming ARL Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries. The Code facilitators—Patricia Aufderheide of the Center for Social Media at American University, Brandon Butler of ARL, and Peter Jaszi … Continue reading “Jan 26 – Free webcast discussion: Assoc. of Research Libraries (ARL) Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries”

The Association of Research Libraries is offering a free webcast on Thursday, January 26, 3:00–4:00 p.m. eastern time, to discuss the forthcoming ARL Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries. The Code facilitators—Patricia Aufderheide of the Center for Social Media at American University, Brandon Butler of ARL, and Peter Jaszi of the American University Law School—will deliver a brief presentation on the contents of the Code, followed by a question-and-answer session. The webcast will offer academic and research librarians a chance to learn about the Code’s substance on the day of its formal release and to ask questions and share ideas with the team of facilitators at the earliest stages of the public rollout.

Online registration is now open. For more information go here.

Excerpted from arl.org

Dragon Tattoo Special Screening w/ The Embassy of Sweden – Wednesday, January 18 at 7pm

Wednesday, January 18Screening: 7pmLincoln Theatre1215 U St NWWashington, DCJoin the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Embassy of Sweden for a special screening of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the Lincoln Theatre. Preceding the film:Swedish Behind the Scenes:An insight on the role that Sweden plays as a backdrop in The … Continue reading “Dragon Tattoo Special Screening w/ The Embassy of Sweden – Wednesday, January 18 at 7pm”

Wednesday, January 18
Screening: 7pm
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St NW
Washington, DC

Join the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Embassy of Sweden for a special screening of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the Lincoln Theatre.

Preceding the film:
Swedish Behind the Scenes:
An insight on the role that Sweden plays as a backdrop in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Buy tickets here.

Friday, January 13: Please Join Us for the 23rd Annual Ann Ferren Conference on Teaching, Research and Learning

Friday, January 13, 2012, 8:00am – 5:30pm Mary Graydon Center and Library The Center for Teaching, Research and Learning is pleased to invite all AU faculty and staff to attend the Ann Ferren Conference on Teaching, Research and Learning. The conference will be held on January 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the … Continue reading “Friday, January 13: Please Join Us for the 23rd Annual Ann Ferren Conference on Teaching, Research and Learning”

Friday, January 13, 2012, 8:00am – 5:30pm

Mary Graydon Center and Library

The Center for Teaching, Research and Learning is pleased to invite all AU faculty and staff to attend the Ann Ferren Conference on Teaching, Research and Learning. The conference will be held on January 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Mary Graydon Center at American University. This year’s program will feature 30 sessions, an early breakfast with cohort breakout sessions and thematic roundtable discussions, and a luncheon with a plenary speech titled “Social networked learning in complex information environments” by George Siemens, Associate Director of the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute at Athabasca University. A dessert reception follows the third session with live jazz music and raffle prizes.

Registration for the 2012 Ann Ferren Conference is now open.

CLICK HERE to register!

To register you will be asked to log in using your AU user name and password.

If you do not have an AU user name, please CLICK HERE.

The New Media Center is participating in the conference as well! Our Best Practices for Multimedia Assignments session runs from 2:00pm – 3:15pm – location TBA. 37 faculty and staff members are already registered for the session!
See description below:

205: Best Practices for Multimedia Assignments

Todd Chappell (New Media Center), John Doolittle (SOC) and Nanette Levinson (SIS)

Are multimedia assignments effective pedagogical tools? Absolutely. In this session you will learn strategies for creating multimedia assignments which will extend your students’ understanding of class material and reinforce persuasive presentation techniques. This session will also provide an understanding of the workflows and time-frames necessary to complete various multimedia projects (audio, video, websites, etc…), reasonable expectations for student assignments and the resources available on campus to assist your students with multimedia projects.

Harrison Ford Watches the Indiana Jones Movies for the First Time

Harrison Ford has in fact seen the Indiana Jones films before, but Dogfood Films created this video by using clips from a Japanese TV ad which shows Harrison Ford playing a video game called “Uncharted 3”. Discovered at HaveYouSeenThis?!

Harrison Ford has in fact seen the Indiana Jones films before, but Dogfood Films created this video by using clips from a Japanese TV ad which shows Harrison Ford playing a video game called “Uncharted 3”.
Discovered at HaveYouSeenThis?!