Panopto CourseCast

What is CourseCast?
CourseCast is a tool used to allow educators to quickly and effectively capture presentations, courses, and meetings, which can then be used as podcasts through iTunes, a blog, or other webiste. Panopto automatically recognizes any recording device you want to use. CourseCast does three things: Capture, Publish, Manage.

Capture: 

With CourseCast, you can capture any combination of video, audio, PowerPoint, computer screen or any combination of these. Viewers can take notes during your presentation or on playback. The notes are automatically searchable, and can take your viewers directly to the area of most importance to them. You can connect any number of cameras or other visual aides such as additional cameras, high-def cameras, electronic white boards and document cameras – all automatically.

Publish: 

Those who wish to edit their presentation can do so with the editor, which allows you to easily cut out unwanted sections of a presentation or create entirely new versions of your presentation. CourseCast will immediately give you a link to your presentation. Viewers of the presentation can go to specific parts of the presentation using the integrated word level search, which allows viewers to search your notes, search other people’s notes, and search all of the text in any PowerPoint presentation.

Manage: 

Panopto automatically emails alerts notifying presenters and administrators the status of their presentations. They can follow the link to the Panopto editor or publish the link from there.

Why should I use CourseCast?

Instructors can record their class lectures and easily post them online, so that students can review the lecture for information they might have missed. This is also a great idea so that students who must miss class still have the opportunity to see the lecture and ensure that they do not miss important information.

How do I get started with CourseCast?

Faculty and staff can get started with CourseCast by contacting Antoine Thomas at 581-8397; arthomas@eiu.edu, who will set up the CourseCast account.

If you are currently using CourseCast please leave us a comment and let us know how you are implementing this technology.

Podcasts Showcase Research and Creative Activities at EIU

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a series of digital media file that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. Podcasts can be audio files, video files, documents, or any combination of the three.

How do podcasts work?

The publisher of each podcast posts the episodes to a Web server. The consumer then subscribes to the podcast using a client application (for example, iTunes), which then downloads the new podcast episodes that the client subscribed to.

How are podcasts being used?

Teachers and faculty are increasingly transmitting their lectures as a podcast. This allows students to view the entire lecture when they can not make it to their class. Teachers can also record presentations in advance and notify students to view the presentation at their convenience. Teachers also suggest their students subscribe to regular podcasts to benefit their course work. For example, to cut down on basic grammatical errors when writing papers, instructors may suggest that their students subscribe to a podcasts that goes over common writing errors such as Grammar Girl.

How are podcasts being used at EIU?

Faculty at EIU are using podcasts to record their lectures and presentations so that students can review them to get missed information, or view them in the event that they must miss class. One of the newest uses of podcasting are the new videos pertaining to different ”Faculty Research and Creative Activities.” These videos feature selected individuals and departments at EIU. Also, EIU has podcasts available that focus on using different kinds of technologies, such as iMovie.

Why use podcasts?

Podcasts are free, convenient, and appear automatically. They can be viewed anywhere, anytime.

Where can I learn how to produce podcasts?

Sign up for Podcast training sessions by visiting the TECnet page, or call Antoine Thomas 581-8397.

Apple Media Seminars for Education

What are the Apple Media Seminars for Education?

This two-day event will be divided into three tracks---Pro Applications, Content Creation, and Podcast Producer. These tracks combine hands-on training, presentations, discussion, and peer networking delivered by Apple Systems Engineers. 

The seminars will be conducted by a team of professionals from Apple, which include Vin Capone, Michael Miley, and Mike Bombich. Each of them has extensive experience in the development, creation, and use of the Apple tools. Also present for the event will be Jason Beckham, Apple Account Executive, who has been instrumental in making the arrangements to bring this opportunity to EIU.

When is this event?

EIU will be hosting “Apple Media Seminars for Education” on May 12 & 13, 2010. 

How do I register?

Please visit the EIU website where they  can sign up and reserve their seats for the sessions (one each morning and one each afternoon on both days). Each session can accommodate 24 participants and reservations are done on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

What is the cost?

Cost to attend the two-day seminar is $150, but only individuals associated with K-12 schools and higher education will be able to register. Eastern has been allowed 55 “free” registrations available for hosting the event. Each of the four colleges has been allocated 10 free registrations, with the remaining 15 available to the rest of campus. After April 16, any unfilled slots for the colleges will be opened up to anyone on campus.

Who sponsors this event?

Local sponsors for the event include the Doudna Fine Arts Center (DFAC), the Gregg Technology Center, and CATS. Representatives on the local organizing committee include Doug Lawhead from DFAC, Don Braswell from GTC, and Antoine Thomas, Ryan Gibson & Michael Hoadley from CATS.

Wiki

What is a Wiki?

A wiki is a website where the creator of the wiki can post materials and information. The wiki creator can also grant other users permission to add, remove, and edit any of the pages on the wiki. One well-known example of a wiki is Wikipedia.

Why should I use a Wiki?

The uses of wikis are endless. Many people use wikis as a place to work on projects in which several people are involved. That way, the group members are able to see all the latest updates of the project and can post ideas and upload items they wish to add to the project. Also, each wiki user is notified when another user makes changes and are able to see exactly what changes were made.
In the educational field, wikis are also used to post assignments, quizzes, and other information for students. Links related to class material can be posted so that students can easily access web pages used for class supplements, article reviews, or any other class assignments. Instructors and students can use wikis to debate course topics and share resources. Instructors can use wikis to post frequently asked questions and frequently used documents. Also, when assigning students to work on group projects, the instructor can dedicate a page on the class wiki to each group so that it is easy for the students to collaborate on projects.

How do I start a Wiki?

Anyone interested in starting a wiki can contact Antoine Thomas at 581-8397; arthomas@eiu.edu, who will set up the wiki account.

How do I get training in order to use my Wiki?

Wikis are easy to use and use simple formatting rules, so you do not need to know how to use HTML coding or Dreamweaver.
CATS is offering two training sessions for faculty and two training sessions for graduate assistants on the following dates: ………. If these times do not work for you, contact the CATS office at 581-8396 to set up an appointment with a G.A. or CATS staff member, who will show you how to use the basic tools needed to start using your wiki.

If your using wikis please comment and share with us how?