Teach with Tech Podcast: Episode 17

On Thursday I was delighted to join Chris Essex on his Teach with Tech podcast as a guest commentator. In the podcast we discuss the recent MacWorld Expo conference that Chris attended, and focus on the iPhone and AppleTV, which were announced at the keynote. We also talk about how these new technologies might be used by classroom teachers and higher ed faculty.

We also discussed some of our new favorite software packages, some of which we already use, and some that Chris discovered while attending Macworld Expo.

• Toon Boom, Mac/Windows/Linux animation and storyboard software
• Toast 8 Titanium, Mac disc-burning software
• Slick Transitions & Effects, Mac special effect plugins for iMovie
• Civilization IV, a Mac/Windows history/politics simulation game
• Sims 2, a Mac/Windows people simulation game
• SubEthaEdit, a Mac text editor with synchronous collaboration features
• Profcast, a Mac program that allows you to convert your Powerpoint and Keynote presentations into screencasts/videocasts.

You can watch the full Macworld Expo Keynote by Steve Jobs.

Also, you are welcome to check out other Teach with Tech podcasts at: http://www.indiana.edu/~icy/podcast/.

New & Cool Web 2.0 Technologies

On probably one of the last posts before the end of 2006, I wanted to do something on cool new Web 2.0 technologies. Having been a guest commentator on the Teach with Tech podcast with Chris Essex yesterday (download in iTunes), and building on some of my previous posts about Web 2.0, I thought I would bring some of that discussion to this blog with a top 5 list of recent cool Web 2.0 applications that I’ve come across. Please feel invited to comment and share your own list as well.

Top 5 list of cool Web 2.0 applications:

1. Vyew is a free web conferencing and collaboration tool that compares to Adobe Breeze. Thus far, I have been very impressed with its functionality and ease of use. Check it out, and signup for a free account at: http://www.vyew.com
2. The list wouldn’t be complete without an homage to Google Labs, which has a list of cool applications to numerous to mention all of them here. For example, see google docs, google notebook, google page creator, google reader.
3. Although still in limited beta, Scrybe is getting a lot of attention, and proves to be a very cool and useful time and task management web application. Check it out at: http://www.iscrybe.com.
4. Mogopop provides an easy way to create interactive notes content for iPods, allowing for mini text-based web sites that can link to audio, video, and other pages on your Video iPod. You can find mogopop at: http://www.mogopop.com. If you’re interested in rolling your own, and not afraid of a little html, check out this O’Reilly MacDevCenter tutorial on Buliding Interactive iPod Experiences.
5. Elggspaces is a site for creating your own social networks for collaboration, learning, sharing, working, etc… Perhaps a nice Web 2.0 learning management system? Check it out at: http://www.elggspaces.com. There is also an established community created by elgg founders for people interested in education and technology, which can be found at http://elgg.net.

Also visit the Teach with Tech blog for links and notes from the episode 16 podcast on Web 2.0.

A new way to look at Learning Management Systems?

Most of the current crop of learning management systems (LMS) seem to focus more on providing 1-way interaction for instructors to post readings, syllabus, and other materials, send course announcements, and assess students via testing and grading tools. Of course, these are all necessary and important features of a course, but this focus on 1-way interaction and course management often comes at the expense of active learning and collaboration. Yes, it’s true that current LMSs are incorporating some interactive tools, such as, discussion forums, wikis, chat tools, etc., and this is a good thing, but often these tools are limited in scope and features, and are not often fully utilized.

I have been searching the web for a learning management system (LMS) that focuses more on the creation and support of a learning community rather than on the course management tasks of the instructor. At first, I wasn’t finding anything, however I’ve recently come across elgg.org and elggspaces.com which seem to be on the right track. From it’s inception, it appears to have been developed as a social networking site. But why shouldn’t this be the beginning point of a LMS, rather than course management tasks? Let’s create online learning systems, from the ground up, that focuses on ways for a learning community (students & instructors) to communicate, collaborate, and learn.

I have only just discovered elgg in the past few weeks, and haven’t had time to fully investigate, but I’m hopeful that they may support the kind of teaching and learning that I have been thinking about. I will you posted…

Our iPod audio recording test results

I’ve completed the results of my 30GB Video iPod recording tests. My results below:

Results for XtremeMac MicroMemo:
Device: 30GB Video iPod, fully charged battery
Recording Time: 97 minutes.
File: This resulted in a 893MB .wav file.

Note: recording stopped when the iPod actually ran out of battery and powered down. Luckily, the file did get saved without loss of data..

More testing to come…

We just received a 4GB (red) iPod Nano, and I plan to test recording time on it, with the MicroMemo, and the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo. I also plan to run a test on the 30GB Video iPod with the Belkin as well…

Field of Dreams? If you Podcast, will they come (and listen)?

Well maybe, maybe not…?

I was listening (yes actually listening) to a recent episode of a podcast called This Week in Tech (TWIT) on my computer a couple weeks ago, and they mentioned an August 2006 PEW Internet & American Life Project Study on podcasting. The results of the study indicated that 12% of Internet users say they have actually downloaded a podcast which is up from 7% in Feb-April 2006. More interesting is that 1% report downloading a podcast with any regular frequency in a typical day (see the report: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/193/report_display.asp)

I’ve seen some in the media play this up as a rapid growth of podcasting that nearly doubles in 6 months time. Although it’s true that a rise from 7% to 12% is nearly double, however, I find the 1% statistic potentially more telling of actual podcasting consumption. Personally I tend to interpret the 12% as, “yes, I’ve tried that podcasting thing I’ve heard so much about, but after downloading a few, I don’t really see the value in it.”

In regard to education, where’s the added-value? Now I will guard my position by agreeing that podcasting is still at an early point in its development, and although I haven’t yet seen a great deal of evidence for improved learning in higher education or k-12, I’m optimistic that added educational value does exist for it, if it is used in the right ways.

I think this underscores the most important aspect of technology use.  It is not the technology itself that will change education and learning, but rather the educational practices (i.e., active learning strategies) that can be reinforced by a new technology and determine if it survives after the hype has dissipated.  For example simply broadcasting a sage on the stage-style lecture via podcast will only amplify the poor instructional style.  What is useful via the technology is the opportunity to engage students outside of class with additional media or materials so that they may be more prepared in the next class session.  Or provide a five minute preview or review of the course material outside of class to provide additional opportunities to focus student learning.  I think these are examples of good educational practices that can then further benefit from ICT use.  In regard to whether educational podcasting will survive the current hype cycle?  We will see…

Summit on Educational Games (Oct. 2006)

“Harnessing the power of video games for learning”

Well the Federation of American Scientists are getting into the educational gaming stew with the announcement of the Summit on Educational Games. Now it appears that this idea may have come out of some earlier work done in a 2003 Learning Sciences and Technology Roadmap, however, my guess is that the growing popularity of educational gaming and simulation may have prompted the special educational games summit. This summit is a gathering many of the experts in gaming, and education from both the academic and private sector. Essentially the goal is to synthesize what is known about games for learning, and to set a roadmap for research and development opportunities in educational gaming. More later…

iPod voice recording tests

We purchased both the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo, and the XtremeMac MicroMemo to compare features and quality. The MicroMemo outperformed the Belkin in audio quality hands down. There was no comparison between the two. In our testing of the Belkin model, our conversation from 2 feet away was barely audible, and wasn’t much better with the auto gain turned on. On the other hand, the MicroMemo audio quality was quite good. Below are our overall pros and cons for each:

MicroMemo Pros:
* good audio quality
* built-in speaker for instant replay
* flexible extended mic
* mic is detachable
* inexpensive: ($49 academic price) compared to others
* line in for external 3.5mm mic

MicroMemos Cons:
* unable to plug in power while MicroMemo is attached

Belkin Pros:
* includes a mini(4pin) usb port for plugging in power, while attached
* line in for external 3.5mm mic

Belkin Cons:
* no playback option or speaker
* poor recording quality
* autogain produces dramatic hissing
* expensive ($69) compared to MicroMemo
* included stand is worthless

We recommend the XtremeMac MicroMemo.

Please note: we have not tested the Griffin iTalkPro, as it has not yet been released! But here is a pre-release review from iLounge with links to their ratings of the other two devices.

Blackboard awarded patents

Wow!? What implications will this very broad patent have on learning management systems, and education? Only time will tell… Read the Blackboard press release. Read the actual patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Finally Stephen Downes is doing a spectacular job (imho) of covering the Blackboard patent issue, so I’m just going to link to his blog for full coverage.

Educational Gaming…

I wanted to attend the Games+Learning+Society Conference at UW-Madison. Looks as if it was a great event. Hoping that some podcasting or streams from any presentations will make their way out for those that couldn’t attend!