Class Act: Video Help

Viewing videos from the Class Act web site requires software entitled “QuickTime,” version 6.5 or higher. (Although videos should be viewable with earlier versions of QuickTime, version 5.0 or higher, we strongly recommend that you use version 6.5 or higher.)

The QuickTime software is available as a free download from Apple Computer, Inc. It runs on both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. Your system may already have this software, but if you are uncertain we suggest that you simply download the most current version.

Follow the instructions below to download QuickTime; an Internet connection is required to complete these steps.

NOTE: These instructions were prepared in January, 2004, and match the steps required as of that date. Revisions to the software and the download process are of course not within our control, but rather are controlled by Apple Computer, Inc. For that reason it is possible that the procedure below has been revised. If you find that is the case, please contact us by e-mail for updated information by clicking on the “Contact Us” button at the bottom of this page.

Go to http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Select your operating system from the choices provided.
The software required is the free version of QuickTime, and not QuickTime Pro for which there is a small fee.
Optional: “Sign Up” for selected options; consider selecting QuickTime News in order to obtain information regarding updates to QuickTime. If you Sign Up for additional information provide your e-mail address and optionally provide your name and the country in which you live.
Click the “Download QuickTime” button; your browser displays a new page and a download window.
On a PC, follow the series of steps presented in the download window to download QuickTime; when asked various QuickTime settings, we suggest that you accept the default settings. Later you can run the QuickTime Player and revise settings as desired.
On a Macintosh, follow the series of steps presented in the download window to download QuickTime. In that process you may see a window that lists multiple browsers on your computer and asks you to select one. If the desired browser is not selected, make the correct selection before continuing. (If you use multiple browsers or multiple versions of the same browser, we suggest you repeat the entire process for each, and at this step select a different browser each time.) When asked for various QuickTime settings, we suggest that you accept the default settings. Later you can run the QuickTime Player and revise settings as desired.
Verify that you are able to view the videos. For example go to http://www.rit.edu/~classact/teaching/pace.html and click one of the numbered videos on that page.
Note that there is an underlined capital D in the window below the video. If you click the D the window will display the captioned text instead of the video; from that view, click the word back to return to the video. This feature allows you to concentrate on the text.

Problem 1:	The videos are viewable, but it requires several minutes to download each before it begins to play.
Solution:	If you are using a computer with a “slow” modem (for example a 56K modem), this is normal download time for each video file. If you have a high speed connection, and the videos are still slow to download and play, make sure that the QuickTime “Connection Speed” is set properly (see the next problem). NOTE: The Class Act development team spent many hours debating the best way to include videos at the site. We began with a strong belief in the fundamental importance of the material presented in the videos. Better video quality is typically obtained by presenting videos with no, or low, compression. A higher compression ratio reduces file size, and therefore download time, but also degrades the quality of the videos. In the end we decided that a significant reduction in download time could only be obtained at the expense of unsatisfactory degradation of the quality of the videos; for that reason downloads will take longer with “slow” modems.

Problem 2:	What are the controls on the bottom of the video window?
Solution:	From left to right the controls are: A slider to control the sound level. Slide (drag) the slider up to make the sound louder, and down to make the sound softer. Start/stop button for the video. A horizontal slider. Drag the slider to start the video at a location other than the start, or to replay a portion of the video. A left and right button; press and hold to move the video backward or forward. A down arrow that provides access to QuickTime settings. (If you have a high speed connection, but the videos are downloading/playing at a slow speed, be certain that the Connection Speed is set properly).

Problem 3:	The video downloaded properly, but then did not start playing.
Solution:	Click the start/stop button (see previous entry).

Problem 4:	On a PC or Macintosh, you have clicked one of the video numbers (1.2.3.4 ...) under a “Video” link on one of the Challenges/Strategies pages; a window opens, but instead of running a video, you see an icon representing a missing graphic. You can click the D link and display the text, but when you click back, the video does not play.
Solution:	QuickTime is not installed, or not installed properly. On a PC, choose the Start menu, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, click on QuickTime in the program list, and follow steps that appear to remove the program. If QuickTime does not appear in the program list, then QuickTime is not installed; follow the directions earlier in this help file to install the program now. Try again to view videos, for example go to http://www.rit.edu/~classact/teaching/pace.html and click one of the numbered videos on that page. On a Macintosh, follow the directions earlier in this help file to install the QuickTime program now. Try again to view videos, for example go to http://www.rit.edu/~classact/teaching/pace.html and click one of the numbered videos on that page.
Solution:	NOTE: This solution represents an unusual problem, but it is one that we have encounter on a Macintosh computer (and one that might occur on a PC); for that reason it is included here. If you are still not able to view videos; it is possible that the browser plug-in file was not installed or not installed properly. Typically, an installation of QuickTime will install a special file, called a “plug-in” file, that in this case allows the browser to display videos. The QuickTime installation stores a plug-in file for the browser or browsers it finds on your computer. For example, if you have both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator on your computer, the installer will provide plug-in files for both. However, if you have multiple copies of the same browser installed (for example if you have a current and an older version of Netscape Navigator), QuickTime may only install the plug-in for one version of the browser and not for both. (You may not even realize that you have several copies of the same browser on your computer.) When the installer provides the plug-in file to the browser(s), it stores the plug-in, which has the filename “QuickTimePlugin.class” in the following location (where C is the hard drive with your program files). Internet Explorer: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\ Netscape: C\Program Files\Netscape\Plugins\ To determine if you have this unique problem, follow the appropriate path for the browser you are using and ensure that the plug-in file is in the appropriate location. If it is not, find that file and copy it to the correct location. (We also suggest that you remove extra copies of the same browser)