Interactive Exams Using Microsoft Excel

One of the tasks we have on EdTech 2 is one where each group will create an interactive test utilizing Microsoft Excel.

As we all know, Microsoft Excel is a powerful application that can be used for simple database reports all the way up to a complicated application full with windows forms, macros, and add-ons. You can use Excel to calculate anything from a loan payment, graph data, manage records, keep an address book, etc. Excel is currently used by most large financial institutions for daily financial data analysis. It has a huge range of financial functions, formulas, and add-ons that allows you to use Excel to store and analyze data in a simple, quick way.

            In the group project we were assigned, we are to re-create half of a 100-item examination paper into an interactive Excel file where student can readily key-in their answers and then automatically validated by the Excel Application if correct or otherwise.

           Below is a screen shot of the basic look of the Diagnostic test in English. A column on the left hand side is where answers will be typed in by the student, keying either 1 or 2 whichever the correct answer is coded. 

                       Basically, if an answer is keyed in with the correct choice, Validation Remarks will appear on the far-right column confirming if the answer is indeed correct or not. See picture below.

The trick in creating this Excel test is the design of the formulas in generating the variables that will reflect the process of answering, verifying and validating.

            If the correct answer to a particular question is choice no. 2, and the student keyed-in the number 2, the formula created to validate and reflect that the answer is indeed correct is, “IF(B5=1,"Wrong",IF(B5=2,"Correct",IF(B5="","")))”.

Now, If the correct answer to a particular question is choice no. 1, and the student keyed-in the number 1, the formula created to validate and reflect that the answer is indeed correct is, “=IF(B7=2,"Wrong",IF(B7=1,"Correct",IF(B7="","")))”.

            In order for the application to take note of the total number of correct answers, another formula was created to simply tally the number of correct responses validated in the Remarks Column. The formula used, “=COUNTIF(Z4:Z54,"correct")”.

Time-Lapse Video Project

As part of the subject, a time lapse video project was to be composed and presented by each student. Any subject of interest can be used for the time lapse video and this can be done without certain restrictions. This means that we can readily use any camera device like cellphone, point and shoot digital cameras or DSLR cameras, to capture the photo stills that will compose the entirety of the video project.

Time-lapse photography is a technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured (also known as the frame rate) is much lower than what is used to view the sequence. When played at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. For example, an image of a scene may be captured once every second, then played back at 30 frames per second; the result is an apparent 30 times speed increase. Time-lapse photography can be considered the opposite of high speed photography or slow motion. Although in most cases it is confused with stop motion photography.

The equipment I have used to take photos were: a Nokia C5 with a 5 Megapixel rear camera, this cellphone has a camera feature for taking pictures automatically and it can be set to capture photos in an interval of 10 or 30 seconds, and an interval of 1, 3, 10 or 30 minutes. Nokia C5 Cellphone takes pictures and saves it in a .jpeg format. I also used a Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 cell phone with a 5 megapixel rear camera, this has  a video feature captures photos in between intervals of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 seconds respectively . This cellphone’s feature in rendering and converting the captured photo into a video format is set automatically. Once the set of time-lapse photos are taken and saved, the cellphone’s internal system converts the photos directly into video in 3GP format. 

CHERRY MOBILE BURST 2.0 and NOKIA C5 CELL PHONES

I also have devised a couple of jigs to serve as attachments, this will allow the cell phones to be placed on top of a tripod. The jigs will set the cell phones firmly to avoid vibrations or movements while taking shots. A 60-minute mechanical timer was incorporated in one of the jigs. Its purpose is to set the cell phone camera take pictures in a panning motion. 

I used  Video Mach software in compiling and rendering of all photo stills collected. One of the features of this software in its capability to convert time-lapse photos to full speed videos with an option of adding a background music. Video rendering is the process by which all types of media (photo, video and music) are mixed all together. During this editing session, several functions can be accomplished , the ability to add, cut, copy, paste, reuse and recycle, add effects, change levels, and use all of the features within the program in order to a final product. 

I used Video Mach to render the photos taken using the Nokia C5 into a 5 frame-per-second video. And since the time-lapse photos taken using the Cherry Mobile cellphone are already in video format, all I have to do is add it along with other videos collected into one output video, using the Microsoft Movie Maker ver.2.6. Music background used is an Mp3 format of Denys Rybkin’s piece, “Made in Ocean.” In order to provide a dramatic effect for the video title and ending message, I decided to use VSDC video editor to make the title drag and move.

BTTE HAPPY MUSIC VIDEO

            Movies are full of effects in bringing imagination into life. Making everybody feel as if everything in movies is possible and magical, running along with dinosaurs, being so small you can fit into a pocket or dance the night away with comic creatures only a child’s imagination can recreate. Well, because of breakthroughs in technology of animation and computer software, one of Hollywood’s hidden secrets can be replicated using simplified computer software and a few basic equipment. One of the techniques used in producing these magical escapades and imagery in movies is through the use of green screen effect.

Through the magic of video effects and technology, you can now superimpose yourself or other subjects onto a virtual background of your. You can place them over animated backgrounds or transport them into outer space. You can shrink down a full-grown man so he can stand on a tablet, use astonishing visual effects to make him fly through the sky like a superhero or run wild with animals in the jungle. This is where your limit is your imagination.

Now, you may ask how does one do all of these. Do I need state-of-the-art equipment and camera? Do I need a studio of some sort? Will it cost me so much? “No, of course not!” All you have to do is to do it right. Yes. And to do it right, you’re going to need a lot of green. No, we’re not talking about money. The green that we are talking about comes in the form of a green screen. The secret to pulling yourself or your subject out of the real world and placing them into a digital domain is “chroma key”, and that means going green. All we have to do know is to know all the essentials we need to know in order to pull off clean keys and composite digital backdrops and virtual backgrounds into out video edits.

This is our final project for the Education Technology 1. The class was divided into three groups with five members each, wherein each team got to draw a specific assignment. One group was assigned to recreate a broadcast news and the other team was tasked to present a documentary format. As for my team, we got the coolest assignment. Our task is to incorporate ourselves into a cartoon video. How cool is that?

Well, that was my first thought, until the actual composition started. One problem after another came to life and it was like a nightmare. With one halogen flood lamp in tow and a few yards of green cloth, our first attempt on our own photo shoot was a disaster. It was harder than I though. We’re having difficulty in eliminating shadows in the backdrop and struggled throughout trying every bit of adjustments to the lighting or software just to close out the shadow created. It took us several attempts to resolve the issue to no avail. We’re beginning to get frustrated.

A few brainstorming led us to conclude that the problem arise from: (a) inadequate lighting, which means that we need a lot of light source. The backdrop of the cloth itself needs sufficient lighting so that it can be easily deleted in the chroma key feature of the VSDC Software; (b) we also need to use a lighter version of green cloth, preferably a cloth that is light green in color. Enough lighting was also considered in illuminating the subjects. Once those things were fine tune, a hopeful last photo shoot was in the works. The limited size of cloth provided the only limitation so far, and that the videos to be taken can only accommodate a half-body shot, though everything was cool.  And finally, boom! Green screen movie was on the way. We have used a fan made video who used the movie soundtrack "Happy" by Pharell Williams. The fan made video used a complied cameo appearances of minions.

         It seemed that the rest of the night is smooth sailing, until we bump into one tiny problem. Consuming most of the time in preparing the materials and continuously adjusting equipment to get the best shot, we actually never got to practice our dance routine. Well, as they say, “Anything goes!”