edwired

Awesome! So are you going to do just video podcasts, audio, or both? I'm really interested to see how this turns out, and even more interested in the technical aspects of getting this stuff created and distributed.

My idea is to do both audio and video. One thing that worries me about video, though, is that I teach the class in a fairly discussion-oriented manner and so if the students show up on video that we broadcast via podcast, I need to go through the cumbersome process of securing releases from them. It's possible, by the way, that I need to secure those releases anyway...this is an issue I need to investigate more.

The technical issues are either simple or difficult. If it's just audio, I can plug a nice microphone into my iPod and record each class as I wander around the room. This will pick me up easily and some of the student questions. If I decide to use video, then there are two choices. I can use an immobile camera that is trained on the podium and pick up that portion of the class that takes place via the podium. This will be hard for me because I tend to wander as I teach. If I decide to use a moving camera, that requires someone standing behind the camera tracking me as I wander, which obviously adds another layer of complexity.

So you are planning on recording your classes for the podcasts? That's interesting. When I had though about podcasts being utilized in class, I had though of them more as a supplement to any lecturing you would do in class, i.e., that you could highlight ideas you from the readings of the coming week for students to concentrate on, or present the introductory lecture you would use before beginning the seminar portion of the class, thus leaving more time for discussion.

But the way you conceive it also seems useful. I am a terrible note taker in class, usually because when I am engaged in thinking and talking about a topic, writing takes a back seat. It would allow students to refer back to these moments more easily.

Hi Ken. I'm going to mostly record what's happening in class and, if I can get the time, will also try to develop some supplementary stuff. We'll see how it goes.