This semester, my two distance courses will be centered around recorded audio lectures. Since this blog went a bit dark during the last semester, I’m resurrecting the earlier practice of copying everything here (as well as to the course blogs, etc.). One change will be a bit of an increase in updates. Another will be a shift more to audio. And since so much of it will be in audio, I am toying with the idea of making more of it–maybe all of it–in audio, by reading even short posts like this one. It means a bit more complexity in writing and getting my stuff up, and I’m not sure anyone will want to here uber-short entries like this in audio, but it might be fun. It might even force me to write shorter entries.
Why not video? I’d planned on focusing on video, but have decided not to for now. I think audio may be easier, in terms of sourcing materials, and production. I know that radio people out there will be aghast by such a claim, but I think it’s true. We’ll see.
More importantly, though, for students who already have a pretty busy life, I think audio may allow them to “double up” by listening in the car or at the gym. I’m all about efficiency (except when I’m not), and so this appeals to me.
Audio: Going Pod
7 Comments
*sigh*
So much for doing Alex’s homework during the breaks in my 9-5 job. I guess I’ll have to break down and pick up an iPod or some other mp3 player.
Lol… for a grad student all about new media, I’m a -horrible- new media consumer and audience member. I still don’t have a YouTube account and I actively avoid audio and video content on the web in favor of text and graphics.
Just do me a favor and don’t start pushing the other professors to switch to audio formats this semester, please. :)
So much for doing Alex’s homework during the breaks in my 9-5 job. I guess I’ll have to break down and pick up an iPod or some other mp3 player.
Or headphones for your computer… Oh, and there will still be readings, don’t you worry :).
This is great timing. I was planning to podcast my lectures from my F2F course for my online version. Now I don’t have to. I’ll just upload a post saying “As Alex says: click here” and they can listen to you.
@jason: Ha! What makes you think I wasn’t going to do the same thing with yours. Pay it sideways.
I don’t think that “worried” is the right word to describe how your students feel about the quantity of material to digest in your classes. Sometimes less actually *is* more, even if that ‘more’ is only momentary lapses of kindness toward your students. ;)
Are you familiar with Odiogo? Not sure if it might help you in this situation.
@marcia: Thanks! I have had a feed though a similar service, Talkr, since mid-2005, but it seems spotty, and Odiogo’s voice sounds (slightly) less grating. Maybe that’s the way to go.