Blogs & Podcasts in Higher Education Mike Ho Dr. Jennifer Spink Strickland Paradise Valley Community College For a copy of this presentation:

In this session: Learn about how new media technologies are having an impact within Higher Education Learn about how blogs, podcasts, are being used by PVCC Resources available to get started

Past Student Life Websites Traditional websites are: “Static” –Difficult to maintain HTML –Programmer(s) required Impossible to personalize –Governed by web standards

Today’s Web is insufficient People are active participants with the web –Everyone has a contribution Conversational/social Software is free and publicly available Blogs and podcasting becoming more common

WebLog Blog

What is a Blog? Web based Articles in posted in reverse chronological order Browser-based tools for updating the blog Can include text, images, audio, video Usually one author but can have multiple authors Usually support commenting Usually offers an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed Can be very search-engine friendly “Dan Karleen NAGAP 2006 April 2006”

Anatomy of a Blog Entry Blog Entry TitleDate Stamp Permalink Comments Blog entry content

“Barely Tenured” “ The Chronicles of Dr. Crazy ” “The Cranky Professor” “Thoughts, Arguments and Rants” “Invisible Adjunct”

Getting Started with Blogs Practice with one of the free blogging programs – – – Meet with your webmaster.

What is Podcasting? A method of publishing audio broadcasts via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed of new files (usually MP3s).

What is Podcasting? Podcasting enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated “radio shows.” Listeners may subscribe to feeds using "podcatching" software, which periodically checks for and downloads new content automatically. Any digital audio player or computer with audio-playing software can play podcasts.

College Radio Vs. Podcasting Radio Mostly Music Requires studio from which to broadcast Live Broadcast Accessible by radio or desktop computer Podcasting Mostly Talk Requires webserver to store audio files Pre-recorded Content Accessible by computer but usable by PC, MAC, iPod, Mp3 Players, or PDA

RSS Really Simple Syndication –The technology of RSS allows Internet users to subscribe to websites that have provided RSS feeds; these are typically sites that change or add content regularly. Podcatchers: Programs to download RSS Feeds –iTunes –iPodder –Mozilla or Netscape 8.0 Browsers

RSS

“ESPNews” “ NPR: All Songs Considered ” “Ebert and Roeper” “The Ricky Gervais Show” “PVCC Student Life Podcast”PVCC Student Life Podcast

5 Things Every Podcaster Needs to Get Started

1)A Concept 2)Desktop Microphones 3)Recording and Editing Software 4)Content 5)Hosting Space

Item #1: A Concept Who is the target audience? Students? Faculty? Staff? The Community? What is the purpose? Who will be involved? How often will these be produced? What types of items will be featured?

Item #2: Desktop Microphone Plugs directly into the microphone port. $10.00 at Office Max

Item #2: Desktop Microphone Consider a Y Audio Splitter $3.00 at Radio Shack

Item #3: Recording and Editing Software Freeware: Audacity “How-To” Guide in mcli Forum Newsletter Volume 9, Spring

Item #3: Recording and Editing Software –Creating an Mp3 file Keep bit rate small for faster downloads Typical Mp3 is 128kb/second Reduce to 80kb/s or less for voice recordings

Item #4: Content Interviews with faculty, staff, student leadersInterviews with faculty, staff, student leaders Public service announcements Upcoming campus events Sound clips from visiting performers

Item #4: Content Tips Interviews: Provide questions to interviewees in advance ESPECIALLY STUDENTS. Music: Use Royalty Free Music –Royalty Free Music.com –Opuzz

Item #5: Hosting Space At PVCC, our podcasts can be found on our Student Life Weblog.

Item #5: Hosting Space Skagit Valley College Skagit Valley College uses Blogger.com

Item #5: Hosting Space iTunes University:

You’ve Created a Podcast. Now What? How will your audience know your podcast exists? –Icon on the college’s homepageIcon on the college’s homepage –Welcome Week Information Cards –Word of Mouth –Thomson-Peterson’s College and University Feed Directory –Table Tents Near All Public Access Computers

Opportunities: Student Engagement Inform Students About Campus Events Help Students “Meet” Faculty and Staff Members as well as other students Supplemental Education for Classrooms

Opportunities: Student Recruitment Target Populations –Online Students –English Language Learners –Athletes –Performing Arts Students Orientation Sessions –For Students Unable to Attend Traditional Orientation –Senior Night

Communicate Share Develop community Self Expression Learning Marketing Influence Why Blog and Podcast?

Economical way to create a new, personalized communications channel on and off the website They can help demystify the college life Many students have their own blogs

What’s Next Videopodasting/Photocasting Moving from “Message Board” to Interactive Media iTunes University

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