Podcasting at PhilaU

The word podcasting is a combination of the words iPod and Broadcasting. In its most popular form, it is a way for people to be able to selectively subscribe to audio content over the Internet. This audio content can then be automatically added to a mobile device, like an iPod. Podcasting can also be used to distribute video content for iPod. - Apple’s definition.

Note: You do not need an iPod to listen or view a podcast.

A Podcast is RSS content that you’ve subscribed to & is delivered via the Internet; then captured by a program known as a “podcatcher” or a “content aggregator” such as iTunes. Podcasting has been likened to TiVo because it empowers the consumer to listen or view their selected podcasts whenever they like, and on the go with an MP3 player.

For more information about iTunes University at Philadelphia University, go here:

SBA Transitions to Blackboard

The School of Business Administration has successfully transitioned its online courses from eCollege to Blackboard for the Summer 2008 semester. Course materials were migrated from the eCollege system to Blackboard over the past year. Faculty members attended two informational sessions concerning the differences between eCollege and Blackboard in early May and are now entering the second week of the summer term.

• Students taking online business classes will now log into http://bb.philau.edu instead of http://philau.org.

Any administrative questions can be directed to the School of Business Administration. Technical issues should be directed to the Help Desk at Ext. 4648.

Directions for Uploading Video to iTunes U (Mac & PC)

1. Get started with the uploading process by first downloading and installing iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

2. Have your materials ready to post. Please note that only Quicktime (.mov) and MPEG-4 (.mp4) files are compatible with iTunes U. If you have another format, such as .avi, .mpg, etc., your video must be converted to Quicktime. Using Quicktime Pro ($30) is the easiest way to do this.

3. Log into iTunes U. using your network/email login info by going to http://itunes.philau.edu and clicking the “click here to launch iTunes U” link.

4. iTunes should automatically open on your computer. iTunes U will launch in the iTunes Store.

5. Select your program

6. Next, select your course

7. Once you are on your course page, choose “upload and manage files” from the right hand navigation menu. Note: you may not see any many options as pictured.

8. Clicking “upload and manage files” will launch your web browser and open the “Upload and Manage Files” page. Scroll down to the bottom of this page and click “Add New File.”

9, Click “Browse” and locate the video you wish to upload. Remember: only Quicktime videos will successfully upload.

10. Once you have chosen your video file, it will be added to the upload Queue. You will begin to see the upload progress in MB. Although iTunes accepts file sizes up to 500MB, it is important to note that these files may take VERY long to upload (especially if you are not on a broadband connection). It is highly recommended that your video is edited to a reasonable length and compressed to an acceptable video quality.

If you need further assistance or consultation with editing or video conversion, please contact Mark Clauburg, Instructional Design Specialist, by emailing clauburgm@philau.edu or calling 215-951-6332.

Did You Know?

Instructors are able to enroll other faculty as Teaching Assistants in their online courses.

• From the control panel, select “enroll user.”

• Search for the faculty member’s name. By default, all users are enrolled into a course as a student. You will need to go into the user’s properties to change the role the user has in your course. This is done in the “list/modify users” section of the control panel.

• Please note that only faculty with the role of instructor are able to enroll TAs.

End Of Semester Reminders

As the semester draws to a close there are a few suggested steps you should take to preserve your Blackboard site for the future. Step-by-step text and video instructions for these steps can be found at http://www.philau.edu/ITS/bb/endsem.htm.

• Make your old courses unavailable to students.
• Export your grade book and print a hard copy.
• Save the Discussion Board forums
• Archive your course

NOTE: Be sure to Archive your course and NOT Export your course. Archiving creates a complete snapshot of your course including students and grades (useful if there is a grade dispute down the line).

Spring 2008 courses will remain available to you until the end of the Spring 2009 semester when they will be removed from the server. If you have students who need access to your Spring 2008 course site to finish an incomplete, you may continue to make your course available to them. It will be your responsibility to make the course unavailable once all work is completed.

IMPORTANT: If you have not already archived your Spring 2007 courses, please do so ASAP. All Spring 2007 courses will be purged from the Blackboard server on May 19, 2008.

FYI: All information and current news concerning Blackboard and Instructional Technology at Philadelphia University can be found at http://www.philau.edu/its/ and http://philauits.blogspot.com/.

Regards,

Mark Clauburg, Instructional Design Specialist

Fall 2008 Courses Available

As of today, Instructional Technology Support @ PhilaU will be accepting requests for Fall 2008 Blackboard, eRes and iTunes U Course Sites. If you plan to use any of these three content management systems during the Fall, please complete the ITS Course Request Form located at:

ITS Course Request

Notes:

• Reusing Material from a Previous Semester - Faculty who wish to reuse material from a previous semester are asked to indicate the Course Name, Semester, and, if known, the Course ID in the Course Import section.
• Using One Course Page for Multiple Sections—If you are teaching more than one section of a course, but would only like one site, please indicate this in the Special Instructions/Requests section.
• iTunes U Course—Creation of an iTunes University course is also located on this form. If you are interested in possibly trying podcasts for the spring semester, please indicate this on the form and I will also create a course on iTunes University for you.
  

If you have any questions regarding this process, please review the Blackboard Policies and Procedures (http://www.philau.edu/ITS/bb/bbpolicy.htm) or contact me via phone (215-951-6332), e-mail (clauburgm@philau.edu) or stop by my office in the Gutman Library