Final (Pre Event) UKCLE Podcasting Post

This video clip provides a short summary of some of the issues raised during the session, gives a final demonstration of what can now be done by combining two free services (Blogger and Flixn) and tries to reassure attendees that once they have the follow up materials to the session all will finally be clear.

This is good demonstration of the kind of thing I mean in the PowerPoint handout about Web 2.0 services, or the Read/Write web, as it is sometimes called.

By this I mean the plethora of new services like Blogger, MySpace, YouTube and so on.



Please do not hesitate to contact me via my university email account.

philip.wane@ntu.ac.uk

Regards from Phil

Reflections upon these video clips

This clip is just under four minutes long and I use it to raise the issue of intellectual property rights; you may be happy to give away material using a service like Flixn, MySpace, or YouTube but will your institution?



Other issues that need addressing are the suitability of the format. The video clips are very easy to produce but does introducing a visual element possibly detract from the contents? Were you listening to what I had to say or thinking that I should have made the effort to wear a suit? Is this compromise that make on audio quality worth it?

Phil

Audacity - An Aide Memoir for Phil

This is a short clip in which I briefly outline the key benefits of using Audacity; these being that is reliable, simple(ish) to use, and is free. All of which will appeal to hard pressed university lecturers and their institutions.

Of course the video quality is not really good enough to show the required details (no where near) but this clip will serve as a useful aide memoir for me during the session. Participants at the session will receive a high quality DVD in due course.

Phil

Three Minutes on Hardware

Quick chat here (and I need to re-record this really) on the hardware required to produce a podcast. A short run through of different possible recording and playing options from mobile phones to laptops. All rather simply done but it hopefully gets the point across.



Phil

Two Minutes (and a bit) on Podcasting

This is a short clip for people attending the UKCLE event at Birmingham. This is to demonstrate a service like Flixn and compare it to the Two Minute audio only file that I produced using Audacity for the event.



Hopefully this will stimulate some useful conversations....

Phil

Another Late Night (and impending early morning)

Well well another late night. As I type this I've still got quite a few things to do before I can get to bed and I've got to be up really early (certainly by my standards) to travel to Birmingham. The UKCLE (law) subject centre have arranged what looks like a really interesting day on how web based technology can enhance learning. I have the last slot of the day so I won't enjoy the lunch because I can never relax until I have done my slot.

Phil

Seven Minutes Anyone?

Test Posting to see if new podcast files gets picked up.

Seven Minutes on Podcasting Test File

Phil

Two Minutes on Podcasting

I've linked in an MP3 file in which I speak for two minutes on podcasting.

I'm having some problems with the RSS feed that I've set up for this page.

Despite being validated my reader isn't picking it up at the moment.

However the audio file can be played or downloaded via this link.

Two Minutes on Podcasting Test File


Phil

Flixn Video 2 - Web 2.0 Services and Elearning

Just another short clip produced using Flixn. Quality isn't great (judging by the first clip I produced with it) but it is pretty good and the content, which is the important part, comes across clearly enough.



Crucially it is really easy and this makes it of great potential benefit to busy educators who wish to produce some multimedia materials for free.

In the accompanying clip I briefly discuss Web 2.0, the idea of using YouTube to produce a personalised "TV" channel for my modules, and acknowledge some of the pitfalls of using the same services. As I had already guessed (and indeed suggested in my first FLixn test clip - see below) you do indeed effectively give all your rights over to them. But for the educational videos I produce I don't mind!

Phil

Flixn Test Vid

Okay here is test vid of yet another new video service.

This one is from Flixn.



Phil

PGCHE

Today was the second day of my PGCHE induction.

As someone who has taught for many years I have to admit that I wasn't sure what I would get out of it from the pre-programme material. However it was rather good.

I had originally intended to upload a comment yesterday but I was so tired after the sessions, and then going home and coping with my (delightful) but energetic boys, that I never got around to it. I should (must) also add that I also did a couple of hours of "normal university work" in the evening before I had the chance to upload even the briefest of blog comments about that first day. I was still marking re-sit assignments (for one module) and trying to work out timetabling issues.

Anyway back to today. The first two days have been really good. First off I met a really nice bunch of people: intelligent, enthusiastic and expert in their respective fields. In fact everything you would want (in some ways) from Higher Education staff. Secondly the materials made me re-visit some of the “givens” and two things occurred; either it confirmed the fact hat I was doing something right anyway, or it reminded me of where I might have slipped over the years in relation to certain issues.

Phil

Timetables, PGCHE Course and Blog

Back in work today and this marks the end of my summer holidays and/or quiet time.

So many things left to be done before teaching starts and so many more non-teaching but job related things to do. Same every year in some ways…

Still trying to fathom out some aspects of the timetable, especially where courses have under recruited. Whoever does enrol needs to be put into appropriate size seminar groups, at the best time we can offer, so would be useful to know “guesstimates” of final numbers for the first year modules.

This Thursday (today is Monday) I begin my PGCHE course here at NTU. I’m sure it will be really useful (at least in parts) and that old dogs (my self included) can be taught new tricks. Partly for the reflective practice aspects of the PGHE course I will endeavour to keep this Blog fairly up-to-date. I have no pretensions however that I will update it daily. Fat chance!

Phil

September 11th - An Anniversary

September 11 th

Of course today is the fifth anniversary of the attacks in New York but less well known it is the fourth anniversary of my partner and I going to the States.

Yes we were there during the first anniversary of the attacks. During 9/11 itself (or 11/9 as the English (UK) would date it) I seem to recall we were in some small town. Around the first anniversary of 9/11 itself we were in places like Las Vegas.

In Las Vegas they have a mini New York , Paris, Venice and so forth. Lots of tributes were made, especially to the fire fighters of NY, around the small scale version of a famous NY landmark in Las Vegas. I remember seeing tributes from UK fire fighters amongst the many there at the time (we have some video footage of this) and it was, I have to say, rather moving. All a bit weird but rather moving…

Another thing beyond doubt at this time (whatever the UK media were saying) is that the decision had been taken (mentally, collectively, nationally) to invade Iraq.

You just knew it.

Phil