Mobile Learning
Record your lecture on an iPod

"The vibrations of the hard drive makes the device feel alive…Consumers often say the iPod has become part of themselves…the iPod is no longer just an instrument or a tool, but a part of myself. It's a body extension. It's part of my memory, and if I lose this stuff, I lose part of my identity" (Kahney 138).

Overview

Introduction:

"At some point in their educations, students must learn copious amounts of information. To do this, they use a variety of well-known strategies such as study groups, note-taking services, and videotapes of lectures." (Brittain, Glowacki, Van Ittersum, Johnson, 2006).  The process of podcasting lectures can prove to be beneficial to student learning to allow them to download the lectures and refer back to the lecture through a mobile learning device like an iPod. 

This workshop covers the basic fundamentals of how to use your iPod to record lectures, how to do basic editing, and how to upload these recordings to Wright State's iTunes U site for your students to access. We will also create enhanced podcasts. To earn an m-Learning drivers permit, participants will need to demonstrate that they have mastered the skills for both the iPod & Podcasting Basics class and the "Record your lecture with an iPod" class. 

*Note: Participants need to have access to a video-capable iPod to participate in this workshop. Participants are reminded that they will need to bring their video-capable iPod with them to the workshop also. 

Information for completion:

To complete this tutorial, participants need to register through the Center for Teaching and Learning to take the Mobile Learning: Record your lecture on an iPod Workshop and be able to demonstrate their mastery of the items in the assessment. 

Definitions

  1. Web 2.0 technologies
    Web 2.0 technologies is a new term that refers to the advancing technologies that are available on the web that enable people to begin to work collaboratively.  These technologies enable increased interaction and social networking which can be used to enhance the learning environment.  Some of the Web 2.0 technologies include:
    • Blogging-"Students use of blogs are far ranging. A single authored blog can be used to provide a personal space online, to pose questions, publish work in progress, and link to and comment on other web sources. However a blog needn't be limited to a single author - it can mix different kinds of voices, including fellow students, teachers and mentors, or subject specialists." (Read/WriteWeb)
    • Podcast-"Podcasting has become a popular technology in education, in part because it provides a way of pushing educational content to learners.  However, student-produced podcasts are where it's at when it comes to educational podcasting. Swap 'user-generated content' for 'learner- generated content' and you soon get the picture. " (Read/WriteWeb)
    • Social Networks- "allows users to create web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves and are available to other users; and offers a mechanism for communication with other users, such as a forum, chat room, email, or instant messenger." (Wikipedia) Examples of Social Networks would be MySpace or Facebook. 
    • Vodcast-"Video podcast (sometimes shortened to vidcast or vodcast) is a term used for the online delivery of video on demand video clip content via Atom or RSS enclosures. The term is an evolution specialized for video, coming from the generally audio-based podcast and referring to the distribution of video where the RSS feed is used as a non-linear TV channel to which consumers can subscribe using a PC, TV, set-top box, media center or mobile multimedia device).
    • Wikis- "is a website that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove, and otherwise edit and change available content, and typically without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for mass collaborative authoring." (Wikipedia)

Hardware/ software needed to podcast your lecture

In order to get started podcasting your lecture, you will need to invest in some hardware and software.  Here is what you need to get started. 

  1. Digital audio recorder for your video iPod
    Microphone with built in speaker for instant playback, that plugs into an iPod dock connector to capture audio presentations. Just plug the MicroMemo into the iPod dock and it instantly activates the iPod to begin recording. It recordes in 16-bit audio. The microphone is detachable and can be replaced with a more portable lapel audio device.
  2. Lapel Microphone
    The sound recorder is plugged into the base of the video iPod.  You will need a lapel microphone so that you don't have to hold the iPod for the entire lecture.  Here are two good options for you to consider:
  3. Podcasting software-
    You need a software to make an audio recording, do some edits, compress your file, and save it to a MP3 or MP4 format.  We recommend GarageBand that is found in iLife 06.  This suite of software comes free on all new Macintosh computers. 
  4. Headset to hear and record lecture-
    If you don't have your iPod and want to record your lecture at your computer, you can just plug your headset in and get started.  Be sure to buy a headset with noise-canceling to filter out unwanted background noise to improve the quality of your recording.  There are many brands available, but we recommend the Logitech. 

Assessment Activities

To be awarded with an m-Learning Drivers permit, you must complete the pre-class activities, attend both the iPod & Podcasting Basics class and the "Record your lecture with an iPod" class, and demonstrate that you have mastered the skills identified for these classes.  Pre-class activities should be completed independently outside of the workshops and each participants will be on the honor system to verify that they have completed the pre-class activities.  Participants will be partnered with another person in class to demonstrate their mastery of the skills identified for each workshop.  Once your partner had verified that you have successfully demonstrated the skills, you will then again be on the honor system about your successful completion of these skills.  If you need additional time outside of the workshop to complete these activities, participants may complete the final assessment form at a later date. 

Class Supplemental Activities

1) Activity #1: Podcasting article

Read the following articles about research being conducted on podcasting lectures. 

2) Activity #2: Podcasting Video

Watch this video by Craig Syverson that illustrate the basics of what podcasting is all about.

Resources

  1. Brittain, S., Glowacki, P., Van Ittersum, J., Johnson, L. (2006). Podcasting Lectures Formative evaluation strategies helped identify a solution to a learning dilemma. Retrieved from the Educause web site @ http://www.educause.edu/eq/eqm06/eqm0634.asp