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FAQ

For the Viewer

1. What is ScholarSquare.com?
2. Do I have to pay to have an account?
3. How do I watch a presentation?
4. What if I don't want to watch a presentation right now? Can I store my presentations for later viewing?
5. How long do I have to view a video once I purchase it?
6. Once I purchase the video, may I share it?
7. What do I get with the video?
8. Can I recommend this video to others?
9. How do I know that the video is safe to view?
10. Can I use these videos in a classroom setting?
11. Is there a money back guarantee?

For the Instructor

1. Do you have to be a professional to present a video on ScholarSquare.com?
2. I don't know much about video production. How can I get a video made?
3. What do I do to get started?
4. How do I convert my DVD to an MP4 as this is the recommended version for the best picture quality on this site.
5. How do I upload a video?
6. What if I'm a video pro?
7. I uploaded my video days ago and it is still not available for viewing. Where is my class?
8. What video files are compatible with ScholarSquare.com??
9. I don't see a category for the type of video I'd like to upload. What do I do?
10. Can I upload a video I did not produce?
11. How do I set my price? I have noticed that people charge different amounts, and some require a donation.
12. Can I change the information about my class without uploading another video?
13. What if I want to delete my presentation?
14. If this is a free service why does Scholar Square take a percentage fee?
15. How will I receive my money?
16. Can I advertise my videos on Scholar Square?

For the Viewer

Everybody knows something and ScholarSquare.com is about connecting those people who know with people who want to learn. We ultimately want a site that encourages learning and acquiring knowledge. Just imagine! Do your kids need help with their science fair project? Well, you're one search away from instructors and their time-tested seminars. What if you like world history? Again, you can type in a single search and find fellow history buffs. Instant knowledge, that's what ScholarSquare.com is about.In less general terms, ScholarSquare.com is an online catalog of "classes". Each class or seminar is a collection of media files which can include video, presentation software, audio lectures and documents such as e-books or course syllabuses. All classes cost something, but you can see exactly what media files you are getting and class prices start at just . All transactions are done through PayPal and we do not ever get or retain your credit card information.

No, it is absolutely free. Just sign up with a working email address, agree with the user agreement and you are set. You will be sent a confirmation email, click the link and that's it! You will have an account that you may use to upload videos or watch video presentations.

You may search for a specific topic and view the current selections. This will change daily so check back soon.



4.         Convert a DVD to an Mp4 for video upload. This is the best format to work on this website and will give   you HD quality video. Acquire a free copy of Handbrake here: http://www.Handbrake.fr  Download this software on your computer and install it. Once it is installed open the program and place your DVD in the computer drive. Click the browse button under "source" and choose the DVD drive. It should allow you to automatically choose the DVD. If not, select Video_TS.  Set the PRESETS to NORMAL and use these default settings with these parameters: Encoder Output: 264 and Audio Encoder AAC   Picture Settings: Automatic  Advanced Encoding Settins: video 2-pass encouding, Turpbo first pPass; 64 bit Mp4; Quality: Average Bit Rate: 1000; Target size: leave blank; Constant quality (do not move slide selector leave at best; Framerate: automatic; Audio Tracks: automatic settings; Audio Quality: Bitrate 160; Sample rate: 45; Dynamic Range: off; Subtitles: none  The next three tabs to format are Chapters; Advanced; Query Editor. Do not touch these settings they are already preset at normal. Now you are ready to type in a destination file for the completed video. Do this with a name you will remember. Click the START button and your video will begin to convert. When it is completed double click on it and watch it to check for clarity. Now you are ready to upload your video to scholarsquare.com.

Yes, once you create a user account you will have a "My Square" page where you may store videos you would like to view at a later time. When you are ready to view the videos you may make your purchase and watch the presentation, it's that easy.

The time will vary and this is up to each of the instructors. Some videos may be viewed for only one week, while others will allow viewing for up to one year. The videos which have a longer view period will automatically remain in the "My Square" page until the time expires. Then it will vanish from your account.

The information in each of the videos belongs to the individual instructor and may not be copied, stored or shared with anyone but the person purchasing it. This does not mean you can not watch the video with other people present. We do ask that you contact the professor personally if you wish to purchase the video. Many of our instructors are willing to sell their presentations on DVD, others are not. The instructors contact information is contained on this website in the instructors "My Square" page.

Once again this is totally up to the discretion of the instructor. When you browse the various classes make a point of looking at what comes with the class. Some classes may offer only the video. With others you may receive a syllabus, note-taking pages, hand-outs, or other additional information. Several instructors may offer their books as e-books as part of the class and available for immediate download once the class is purchased. Others may give you their personal website information to purchase additional products if you are interested.

Yes! Our system has a star rating. If you enjoyed it, please rate it and email a notice to others. We also recommend you send the instruction and email if you enjoyed the production. Many of them have gone through great expense to share their information with you.

We have a strict previewing system in place at this time. Each video will be screened by an employee of Scholar Square. That is why it takes some time for videos to be displayed. You will notice that some videos have a notice saying they are in the review process. This means it is awaiting viewing by our staff.

Yes. Many of our presenters are professionals and the content is appropriate for classroom use. Please read the explanation on each of the videos and watch the short promo clip. This will help you decide if it is appropriate for your group.

Similar to attending a movie or renting one, we sometimes make choices we are not happy with based on a review or the write up on the movie. As in these cases once you purchase the movie and you watch it, you have agreed to pay for the viewing by clicking the user agreement form. Each video has a short promo clip. This should help you decide if the video is worth watching.

For the Instructor

No, if you have an educational video you have produced or an idea for one, go ahead and upload your video instruction. It can be a better way to bake cookies, an easy explanation of the Pythagoras Theory, or simply a promotion of a new book or product you have invented and are selling on your own website. Our website is open to the entrepreneur in you!

Start asking your friends or people you know at church or other groups you attend. Many adults own video cameras, but I have found that students are well ahead of the curve and very at home with creating videos. Video productions do not need to be elaborate and many digital-video recorders do a good enough job for video viewing online. Make sure that the video recorder is on a tri-pod or other steady surface. There are professional organizations that make video productions. If you are interested in these, check your local phone directory for the nearest vendor.

You will need to sign-up for an account on Scholar Square. It will be important to fill in all of the information accurately. You will be required to have a PayPal account for payment. Once you have an account you will you will be taken to your own person "My Square" where you can begin uploading your video and other media content.

It is easy! It is a simple matter of clicking the button to browse for your video file (normally an "avi" extension) then select the file and click the "upload button". Â This may take awhile depending on your Internet connection. Once the file is uploaded you are done. Our software converts the videos so that it can be viewed throughout the Internet.

We make every effort to ensure the highest quality of video on our site. However, we do use an automated system to perform video conversion and encoding. If you want to perform this step yourself our site will accommodate you. If you upload an FLV file using either Sorenson Spark or On2 codecs which is 480 pixels wide by 360 pixels (maximum 380 pixels) our system will not attempt to re-encode your file. We strongly suggest On2 over Sorenson Spark due to quality issues. There is a known bug with ffmpeg based encoders which requires that you use flvtool2 on your video prior to uploading it.

Here at ScholarSquare.com our viewing public is important to us, therefore every video is pre-screened by an adult. This process takes time especially if there were many videos uploaded at the same time. Our staff is determined to continue to make this a free service for the instructor. Please be patient as we grow. If you wish, please contact us via email at jonathan@scholarsquare.com or felice@scholarsquare.com about the status of your video.

ScholarSquare.com will make every attempt to convert your video regardless of the format you upload it in. However, we recommend that you upload the video as a 480x360 AVI file encoded with DivX or XviD codecs. We have had consistent problems with Windows Media Video (.wmv) files. If you are a more technical person and have Adobe Flash Video Encoder you can encode the video yourself to maximize quality. In this case you will be uploading a .flv file.

Choose the closest category to the type of video production you have created. You may email us at jonathan@scholarsquare.com for information about whether your category can be added. We pre-screen all video presentations and do our best to assure you a presentation that matches the video description.

No! At ScholarSquare.com we make every effort to present only those who have personally been featured in each video that will be viewed. By signing the user agreement you are saying that you are featured in the video you are uploading to this website. You are also agreeing that your handouts or additional materials available for hand-out are yours personally or you own the copyright.

Each presentation has a value set by the individual, only you know what your presentation is worth. It is entirely up to you to designate a price. Those that require a donation are normally pastors or people of faith hoping to raise money for various needs.

Most definitely, in fact we highly recommend this. You may want to fine tune the keywords or descriptions used as you receive feed back from your viewers. You may also wish to place the video in another category. This can be done by logging onto the site and entering your "My Square" website page. Here you will find a list of classes you are giving. Click on the title of class you wish to edit. The class page will display, you can click the "Edit" tab at the top of the page to make changes to your class. There is no need to upload your video again.

You may do this at anytime in the same way you change a class description. You will be asked to confirm before your class is deleted.

A 15% fee is charged only if your class is purchased by a customer. There is no fee for setting up your account and keeping your uploaded videos on our server. Also, we have personnel, bandwidth and transaction costs to maintain the service.

You will need to create a PayPal account if you do not already have one. It is important that you review your PayPal information. Make sure you are using an email address that is current. Your customers will use PayPal to pay for the video viewing; you will then receive your PayPal credit once a month. You will be able to access your "My Square" page to learn if your classes have been purchased and read customer reviews.

Yes, we encourage this. You will receive a unique email address at Scholar Square and you can encourage customers to view your uploaded video on your My Square account.