The Geo-Literacy Project of Fairfield-Suisun NECC 2002 Session Handout
The Geo-Literacy Project of Fairfield-Suisun
Using QTVR in the Curriculum
A NECC 2002 Presentation by:
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District teacher team of:
Eva La Mar- Project Director
Michelle Labelle-Fisch
Kathy Link
Mike Keisling
Handout available on the NECC website: www.neccsite.org/ (select NEXUS site, search “sessions”) or
http://ccenter.uoregon.edu/conferences/NECC2002/program/handouts.php
FSUSD Geo-Lit web site: http://www.fsusd.k12.ca.us/education/geolit/index.htm
(It will be fully functioning in August)
Would you like to join a dynamic, interactive and exciting project that is expanding across the United States?
We are looking for schools that would like to join our project and develop web sites about their local history, geology and geography! Think about the teaching resources that would be available if hundreds of schools across the United States developed QTVR web sites about historically and scientifically important areas in their communities. Students would not only be learning technology skills, but would also be developing informational text about each region.
What is QTVR?
QTVR, or QuickTime Virtual Reality, was developed by Apple Corp. technology but has now expanded into the PC realm as well. It allows users to create and display 360-degree views of objects or panoramic scenes that can be manipulated and navigated. To navigate a QTVR panoramic image, just move the mouse to the left or right and hold the mouse button down. The image on the screen will pan around as if you were there turning in a full 360 degree circle. You can also zoom in and out as well as look up and down in any direction! Some images have captions that tell you what you are looking at when your mouse hovers over that specific part of the image.
How are QTVR images created?
Panoramic movies (QTVR movies) are made by “stitching” together a dozen or more photographs, taken while rotating around in a circle (known as a node). This is done from a single point where the camera is mounted on a tripod. A digital camera is used to capture the shots and special software “stitches” the 12-16 images together to make a single image and a cylindrical image (there isn’t a beginning or end, it just goes around). Software from Apple (QT viewer) allows you to view the image from the "inside", making it seem as if you were there. Photo-stitching software is available on both the Mac and PC platforms!
Why QTVR?
Communication has drastically changed over the last 100 years. We have gone from written word to telegraph, radio, moving pictures, TV and readily available images. Imagine taking it another step further; pictures that you can move with the simple click of a mouse. Pictures that are available on the Internet or CD Rom. Pictures that help students see not only the front of a Native American woven bowl, but all around the bowl. Students and teachers can virtually experience a location, actual object, or time period without having to be physically there.
Some examples in the academic setting:
Social Studies: Sutter’s Mill (Gold Rush site), the White House’s Oval Office, the slave quarters at Mount Vernon, the Mojave Dessert, Death Valley, and any of the paths along the Pioneer trails.. One can also tour the Egyptian tombs, Greek buildings and Roman baths. Geography and mapping are easily integrated into all of these areas.
Science: object rotations of skulls, skeletons, science experiments, museum objects, and many other items. Panoramic images of volcanoes (inside and out), geological locations and features, labs, wild animals, biomes, environmental issues and locations, inside a research lab, field station or observatory, documenting changes over time,
Language Arts: The setting from a book, an author’s house, images for a poem, and character object rotations (building a character or making one, then rotating on a table).
Math: Slope, angles, acceleration, division, and area can be expressed in QTVR
How do we start our own project?
1. If you would like help implementing the project, contact our team by email! We will share our documents, worksheets, planning guides and other materials.
2. Purchase, or locate the basic hardware and software necessary (assuming that you already have a computer available) – basic investment around $1,500- $2,000) See our list of hardware and software for more information.
3. Get training on QTVR techniques- web sites, books, training CDs, and seminars are available. We also have a list of QTVR professionals available in each region of the United States.
4. Find an area, or region, near your community that you wish to document.
5. Approach local community groups, museums, and organizations that might help with funding and/or resources.
6. Develop a web site that shares the QTVR images and information.
Our Project:
The Geo-Literacy Project of the Suisun Marsh has one goal firmly in mind: increase student and community literacy with both the complex environmental issues surrounding the Suisun Marsh and the impact people have had on the marsh environment. For the students and community to become literate about the ecosystem surrounding our geographic area, one method clearly stands out. The creation of a web site, accessible to students, and celebrated as an outstanding teaching tool by teachers, would bring the Suisun Marsh to the classroom. This web site would not be an ordinary web site, however. With its focus on science information literacy, the site would offer panoramic digital images of the Suisun Marsh, with mouse over identification of the fauna and flora. The images would be tied to maps and historical documents that give context to the decisions made about the Suisun Marsh in the past.
Working closely with local museums, universities, and research scientists, and using images photographed and developed by local high school students, this project promises to heighten the Fairfield-Suisun community’s awareness of the delicate coexistence that exists when living on the edge of an expansive salt-water marsh.
The Suisun Marsh is a dynamic and amazing ecosystem, yet few teachers in California know about it or use the facilities. Information about the Suisun Marsh, such as images, maps and the history is hard for most teachers and students to locate. What information is available is difficult to obtain, limited in availability even more difficult to apply into large classroom activities. Information tends to be generic, applying to most wetlands, and does not specifically apply to the Suisun Marsh ecosystem. The Geo-Literacy Project will be the dynamic connection between students, teachers and university researchers with the Suisun Marsh in an interactive and expandable Internet project. Not only will students, teachers and researchers be able access great quantities of information and images, but they will also be encouraged to conduct their own research and add to the web site.
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE BASICS
Basic Hardware:
1. Digital camera (you need a decent digital camera that can have a wide-angle lens attached to it. Be careful, as most wide-angle lenses need an adapter ring.
- Olympus C4040, C3000, C3040 with a wide angle lens ($400-$800)
- Olympus E-10, E-20 with a wide angle lens ($1200-$2000).
- Nikon Coolpix series with a wide angle lens
- For more information about different camera options, check out this web site: http://www.panoguide.com/technique/gear.html
2. Wide angle lens: A wide angle lens means that you will take fewer images in a full 360 and an easier time photo-stitching the images together. Olympus and Nikon sell a basic wide-angle lens. Ask before you buy the camera as some cameras DO NOT sell a wide-angle lens for specific models.
3. Panoramic head “Pano Head): (this allows you to turn the camera at preset degrees in a 360). Most panoramic heads come with a built-in level
- We like the Kaidan line of panoramic heads. The Kiwi Plus is a basic model that can fit most cameras, but it has a small learning curve for locating the nodal point. We suggest contacting www.kaidan.com and asking them to recommend a panoramic head for your camera and needs.
- The head should have a firm “click” between each partial rotation going in the circle. Some have a very soft click that is easy to miss.
- Buy more than one “plate” – We purchased plates with 12, 14 and 18 indents (a 12 plate allows for 12 shots in a full 360, etc)
- Another option is the Bogen 3418 panoramic head. This has the plates “built in” and allows selection via a moving pin. High-quality head, with excellent control feature, but is heavy and fairly expensive ($410). More information at www.bhphotovideo.com.
4. Ball Head: (this allows you to obtain a level camera easily. It allows for easy and fast adjustment)
5. Tripod: you need a strong tripod for your set up. Be wary of purchasing a light duty or “regular” tripod. By using a tripod you can ensure that the camera travels around a fixed spot and stays level.
- Check that you can lock the head so it won’t wobble when you take pictures
- Check that you can lock the legs with a firm lock, not the “twist-locks” that come with the lighter duty tripods.
- Try to purchase a hex-head attachment, not the rectangular. It locks into place much better and stays secure.
6. Digital memory cards
- You will need at least 3 cards, each starting at 64 MB and running as large as you can. Don’t focus on purchasing the cheapest quality; you get what you pay for!
7. Card Reader (allows your computer to read the Smart Media or Compact Flash cards. You can buy a single reader which reads only one type of card or a reader which can read either type of card)
- Microtech Compact Flash/Smart Media 2 USB card reader
8. Digital Wallet. This is a portable, battery-powered hard drive. It is available in sizes of 10Gb and 20Gb and allows you to easily download your Compact Flash cards so you can quickly erase them in the camera and reuse them for further shooting. The drive connects to your computer via a USB port, and will read as a “Removable Drive” for copying to your archives. $519. (www.bhphotovideo.com or www.mindsatwork.net )
Options:
We have tried three different systems that allow for object movies and some panoramic movies. We are listing them in alphabetical order, not in order of preference.
1. BLS Designs Accupan Image Capture System- (object rotation and panoramic) Any camera can attached to this system. It enables the photographer to use the Accupan on a tripod, desktop, table or any flat surface. It is manually moved, but segmented into 10 degree “clicks” that are easy to use. It is simple to use and runs around $239.00 for the panoramic kit only and $349.00 for the panoramic and object rotation kit
2. Kaidan’s 3-D Object Imaging Kit is a complete 3-D object capture solution (NOT for panoramic pictures) that utilizes a Kaidan Motorized PiXi™-M Turntable and Autolycus SpinImage DV™ software along with any DV Fire Wire™-enabled camcorder to quickly and easily create 3-D movies. The capture process is simple and designed for the average consumer who owns a camcorder and a computer. This set up allows for object rotations only and must use a DV Fire Wired enabled camcorder. It runs around $400.00 at http://www.kaidan.com/products/DVkit.html
3. SpinPic's SpinScape-I (object rotations and panoramic images) camera-control system enables the photographer to create active Web images and panoramic prints. You attach your camera and it automatically triggers your camera and rotates the camera. It is quite easy to use. SpinScape runs around $1295.00, educational discounts are available. http://www.spinpic.com/
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A sample of what we purchased on a “budget”
1. Camera: Olympus C4040 for $650.00
2. B-28 wide angle lens for Olympus C4040: $140.00
3. Wide-angle adapter tube: $20.00
4. Bogen 3211 tripod: $104.00
5. Bogan3055 Single Action Ball Head (quick release) $40.00
6. Kaidan Panoramic Head: $150-$300.00
7. A minimum of 3-5 Smart Media Cards (32-128 MB) $150.00
8. Microtech Compact Flash/Smart Media 2 USB card reader ($140.00)
9. VR Toolbox “VR Worx” software educator price (around $150.00)
SOFTWARE- 3 basic types of software
Image software- this is a must for correcting the initially stitched image. Once the first stitching is made and you have both a .pict file and a movie, we go back to the .pict file and take out lens flare and other problems.
q Photoshop 5.5 or higher- Great software, the lower versions of the software are harder to use for changing the image size and correcting specific problems.
q JASC PaintshopPro,
q Photoshop Elements
Quicktime VR Software- this is a partial list of software that is available. We have tried each of the software packages below.
q QuickTime VR Authoring Studio- MAC platform only. ($360- can be found on sale or on E-Bay)
o This is the top-of-the-line software for easy of use, quality of stitching and options. Unfortunately it is only for the Mac.
o Can be purchased from www.amazon.com
q Panorama Factory- PC platform (Shareware- free for 30 days, then $35-$100 depending on type you purchase)
o This has a downloadable manual, a must for running the software. Prepare to spend some time reading carefully.
o http://www.panoramafactory.com/
q VR Worx-VR Toolbox- PC and MAC platforms ($300 for the VR WORX)
o This is an excellent program. It has a simple interface and works predictably. It does have more stitching errors, especially if you do not know your exact lens settings.
o They sell an excellent “Curriculum Package” that includes lesson plans, ideas and worksheets for using QTVR in the classroom.
o We recommend the “VR WORX” package as it produces panoramas as well as object rotations! It is well worth the package price!
o http://www.vrtoolbox.com/vrthome.html
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q MGI Photovista Panorama – PC platform
o It does a basic job of stitching, but we found it limiting. It was difficult to use on the web and had many stitching errors.
o Can be purchased at most large computer stores
q RealViz Stitcher- PC & MAC platforms ($500)