Here are my notes from the opening session of the TETA conference….

TETA Summer Institute ‘07

Keynote Speaker: Dan Smichdt

Wednesday morning session.

What we pick up can indicate where we are heading. . . .

Podcasting.

Dan has 6 people from the audience make a live podcast the Podship Eduprise”
He supplied a script about meeting alien RSS feeds in space, all Star Trek analogies relating to mp3 etc . Good example of how easy pod casting can be, & interactive, collaborative etc..

Gutenberg. Printing press came from his olive press…. All later technologies can be traced back to this invention. Starting point for all mass media, created a need for public education.

Digital media Revolution
· Digital audio revolution

Discovery & buy & play audio & media on computes

Desktop digital media
Blogging
RSS

Don went into details about xml code – maybe too much info?

Discussed issues of podcasting vs radio, podcast allows choice, control, small niche audiences etc.

Not podcast if it’s not online, must be on a web server.
Large, growing audience listening regularly to podcasts. Publishing podcasts gives your students an audience.

Hardware notes:- Headsets are better than inbuilt mic’s , but don’t use voip headsets as they cut out sounds at bottom & top of range.

Software: -Keep it simple – don’t let audiophiles come to the planning meeting.
Garage Band, Audacity, Podcast Factory etc.

RSS authoring. Program such as ‘Feeder: writes the Xml for the RSS feed for you Browser based recording - I.e. Odeo

Phone casting – www.gast.com A way to use mobile phone as a tool is class.

Video Blogging is another option.
Dan demonstrates Videocue Pro. It looks like great software, but I tend to avoid getting excited about commercial software.

Management issues:
Access to resources
Clarify student rights & responsibilities

Where can we take podcasting?
PR, curriculum Supplement , PD, academic expression , etc

2 minute Soapbox-chance for teaches to comment within Dan’s podcasts.

move technology to background – content first.