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Zamzar Zamzar The Solution for File ConversionThe Solution for File Conversion

Alison FrickeEDIT 605 Week 6&7July 15, 2008

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Introduction Introduction

Documents, music, video, images and compression files come in many different file types depending on the software used to create and save them

Teachers especially are often limited by the software in their schools, and are unable to download conversion utilities

Zamzar is a tool that can convert most of these file types from one type to another

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Goals Goals

This information is for a user who already can save a file, to use email, use the internet, and knows about file types. After this session the learner will be able to use the online tool Zamzar to convert a file from a device or a web page into another file type

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OutlineOutline

Why Zamzar is a useful tool for Educators

How to use ZamzarVideo sessionTips for Teachers

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Overview Overview PC, MAC, mobile phones - different

platforms, different softwareThere is no one standard file type for images,

video, documents, sound or compressed filesFiles you find on the internet or that are

given to you may not open on your computer or phone

Example, these are all different image file types:

pcxgif

icotga

png

tga

bmp

tiffjpg

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You need to knowYou need to know

File types- extensions the last three letters of file name after the dot, example Flower.jpg is a type of image

Conversion- what type of file you have and what you need

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IssuesIssues Teachers use the internet to obtain images, videos,

documents, and sound files for educational use Teachers may need these to be available offline The software to open these files may not be available

on school computers Even when free conversion software is available from

the internet, teachers may not be able to download it due to the blocking of downloads, storage issues, or school computer use policy

File conversion is a cumbersome process, may require 2 or 3 types of software to convert one file

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Error…Error… Have you ever gotten the error message

“Unable to open file…” Have you been sent a picture by email that

just won’t open on your computer Do you use a PC and have to collaborate

with somebody who uses a MAC Did you ever wish you could edit a pdf file Have you ever wanted to save a video you

saw on You Tube

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Solution - ZamzarSolution - Zamzar

Online tool easily converts common files in a few clicks of the mouse

Just follow these step by step instructions…

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Go to Zamzar.comGo to Zamzar.com

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Type your file name or url in the box Type your file name or url in the box

At Step 1 specify if you are converting At Step 1 specify if you are converting a file or url (web address)a file or url (web address)

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In the box at step 2 choose the file In the box at step 2 choose the file type you wanttype you want

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In the box at step 3 type the email address In the box at step 3 type the email address where Zamzar can tell you how to retrieve where Zamzar can tell you how to retrieve your converted file your converted file

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In the box at step 4 just hit convert, and In the box at step 4 just hit convert, and verify the information that pops up by verify the information that pops up by clicking OKclicking OK

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In an hour or 2, you will get an email In an hour or 2, you will get an email like this:like this:

Click on the link they send to download Click on the link they send to download and open your converted fileand open your converted file

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Tips for TeachersTips for TeachersYou can use Zamzar to download and

convert videos from TeacherTube, the teaching video resource site

You can convert downloaded video into a variety of formats, including avi, mpg, wmv and mov – helpful if you need to use the video as a resource in a classroom without internet access.

If your school blocks You Tube, you can convert a video from home, email it to yourself or burn to a CD to use in classroom

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More Tips for TeachersMore Tips for TeachersMake classroom documents Make classroom documents

digital and accessibledigital and accessible Screen Reader or language translation

software will often be limited to Word documents or other specific files

Use Zamzar to convert document files to a format that your Screen Reader or translator can use

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Examples Examples I quickly became I quickly became proficient in Zamzarproficient in Zamzar

Click on the icons to see what I didClick on the icons to see what I did

- Example of audio file I converted from an au file to mp3 sound file so that I could burn it to a music CD

- Example of an image I converted from jpg to gif

which is smaller, better for web pages - Here I converted a pdf file into a word document

so that I can edit it Microsoft Word

Document

GIF Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition I

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Instructional VideosInstructional Videos

How to convert a webpage or online video

or on icon

How to convert a file from your computer

I converted these two Zamzar instructional videos from You Tube flash video flv file to an avi video file that I can save in case there is no Internet access

Click on hyperlink to view videos online, on icon if not

or

on icon

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Self AssessmentSelf AssessmentGo online, see if you can convert a videoGo online, see if you can convert a video

1. Go to You Tube and find a video you want to save, and copy its url address

2. Go to www.zamzar.com 3. Go to step 1 click on the words “url to convert” 4. Paste the url address of your video here5. In step 2 choose convert to avi for PC, mov for

MAC, 3Gp for smartphone6. Go to Step 3 and type your email7. Go to step 4, hit convert, and click OK on the

information box that pops up8. Wait for an email from Zamzar, click on link they

send and follow instructions to download your video, save it and you are done

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ConclusionConclusion

Zamzar is simple to learn and use

No downloading or joining required

Zamzar is free and has numerous cost effective uses for file

conversion in classroom

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Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information

EdTech Solutions - Teaching Every Student: Zamzar - Not Just for Video

How to use “Zamzar”