Image posted by Strangeless @ Flickr.It's really very simple, podcasting is audio blogging. The big mistake that many make is thinking that podcasting is just recording an audio file and posting it to your online course. That's just putting a multi-modal resource in your course that helps with different types of learning (for example, people who put audio recordings of vocabulary works so students know how to say the word). Instead of thinking of podcasting as simply audio files, you have to think of them as subscriptions. When you subscribe to your RSS feed of a blog, you get updated entries delivered to your RSS aggregator. Guess what, iTunes (in terms of RSS) is just an audio RSS aggregator. Notice no where did I say podcasting has to be downloaded to an iPod (or other MP3 player)...podcasting is the syndicated audio files, not the technology you listen to it on/from. (I just finished my rant portion of this broadcast...).
Notice we have also moved into the world of vidcasting, which is syndicated videos. In terms of your online courses, I'm currently imagining you can using podcasting in teaching & learning in two ways: weekly updates (more casual, definitely "good enough" production level) and polished course long series that you would reset and redeliver each time you taught the course (obviously more polished production since you'd be reusing them). According to Andrew, MCC's iTunesU tech-guru, iTunesU (which all of the campuses have started in some form or another) along with the new apple Leapord server will allow for the re-syndicated model of course podcasts. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are also adaptable, and I'm sure we'll see podcasting capabilities (actual syndication, not just audio files) there soon as well.
Browsers & Extensions
If you own your own computer, it is worth the time to personalize your tools so that you are more efficient and don’t have to remember where everything is. One of the easiest ways to do that with your internet tools is with your internet browser. First, let’s talk about your internet browser (and honestly, this is for you PC folks, if you have a Mac…email me on the side and I’ll prepare a separate rant for you). Most of you are probably using Internet Explorer (IE), the little blue “e” swoosh icon, for your internet browser. This is the program that comes default with windows. Good program, most internet pages and programs are designed to work well with IE; however, because it is Microsoft, it is the least secure. I suggest that you switch to Firefox ; it is a powerful free browser that does not contain as many security flaws (in other words, do your online banking in Firefox). And Firefox is Mac friendly!!!
Now, some ideas on how to personalize your Firefox browser (and most of these can work in IE as well). At Firefox’s website there is an “add-ons” tab. Within that area is a list of “search engines.” Add as many of those that are useful. They will all then be options in a drop down menu in your browser window. Since I use Google the most, it stay up there; however, I also like being able to drop down to IMDB (since I love movies), Wikipedia (it’s an encyclopedia!!), Webster for a dictionary, Weather Channel if I’m traveling, and Food Network if I’m actually going to attempt to do something in the kitchen. You probably also want to go download all the “plugins” so that they various tools work from within Firefox. After that, just browse the recommended add-ons and extensions. You’ll probably find a couple of tools that work for you. Now, since we are doing the shared gradebook thing, I highly suggest you download and install the Better Gmail add-on. It will force a "https" login to Gmail. The extra "s" is for "secure."
Don’t stop at Firefox’s website. You’ll probably want to also:
- Google Toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com)
- Social Bookmarking Toolbar, both del.icio.us and Diigo have toolbars you can download. Check out their “tools” or “help” sections
