On the Move #1: Testing Gabcast

Gabcast! On the Move #1

Brainstorming the interactive podcasting idea

24012006(039)
Originally uploaded by mobology.

Alexander Hayes captured a lot of the brainstorming we did about the interactive podcast idea. You can listen to a couple of podcasts we did to simulate how an interactive podcast might work, using Audacity.

At the end of the day I discussed the idea with Marica and Lynsey and lots of questions surfaced, mainly around the idea of rights of the originating ‘author’ and how some people may or may not be comfortable with the idea of having others ‘annotate’ their thoughts and writing (or audio) in this way.

These questions appear in the comments of the Flickr photo posted by mobology. The image is of my A5 “laptop” (and was very effective!).

Interactive podcasts – asynchronous audio activities?

Could we design “interactive” podcasts? This was an idea we explored in Wellington, New Zealand as part of the FLNW Open Conference. Check out this recording below.interactive podcasts – blip.tv (beta) (thanks to Leigh for this recording).

I envisaged something like this because being a somewhat kinaesthetic learner, I like to ‘do’ as I listen and read things. So for me, being able to interrupt a conversation (or podcast) and make notes to prompt or clarify my own thinking, would be really useful and very timely. In most cases, I would do this manually anyway.

However, what if, when listening to a podcast, you were able to record your notes or questions or responses so that others could also listen to them along with the original podcast? You would effectively be adding your voice to the conversation! Really it could be called a conver-cast (emphasising the conversational element) and would occur in a ‘layering of time’. The conversation occurs asynchronously and potentially combines

• discussion/chat
• podcasts
• commentary
• multiple voices
• remixing (perhaps copy and paste?)
• perhaps a wiki-like feature like rollback to previous versions (see comment by botheredByBees on BlipTV).

How might this be applied to learning situations?

I could imagine the ‘lecture’ for example, being podcasted, then students having the ability to zero in on a point being made, add a question, seek clarification, offer an opinion, and add to the ‘lecture’ in some way. This takes a linear ‘one-way’ resource and makes it inherently shareable, relevant to a learner’s position of learning at a certain time. The podcast is recorded at one point in time, the learner’s response may not take place until some time after (even after the course of study is finished). And it also allows for people to ‘change their minds’, as we often do in conversation where we can come around to another’s point of view, for example.

Similarly, a facilitator could also present an ‘unfinished’ cast, where they begin a ‘story’ for example and invite learners to develop the cast over a period of time (like contributing to a wiki in a sense).

Exploring the possibilities…

What other situations might a conver-cast be effectively applied? What are the implications of such an approach? What other learning scenarios could be supported here?

I’d like to hear more from you – are their ramifications? Limitations? Other possibilities you see?

These are jsut some beginning thoughts…

technorati tags:podcasts, learning, flnw, wellington, newzealand, convercasting, conversation

Blogged with Flock

Thursday Sept 28, Blogs and learning – a conversation (eFest 2006)

Thursday September 28, saw Marica and I run a conversation on ‘blogs and learning’ at eFest 2006, Wellington NZ. This audio post (below) explores our initial reactions and reflections about the session just after it had finished.

We set up the session details on this wiki page and have invited session participants to continue the conversation, to explore the idea of using blogs in learning settings. So, if YOU were there – we’d love to hear from you!

Also, if you’d like to run a session like this, we have included the activity structure on the wiki – you’re welcome to use it. And we’d be interested to hear how your session goes! :o)

Some key points we shared immediately after the sessions included:

• the fact that people raised so many questions about ways of using blogs,
• that spam is unavoidable (our ‘spammer’ interrupted the session with flouro pink stick notes!), and
• that there is a need for some guidance for learners as to how effectively a blog can be used for learning.

It’s also quite a task to define what a blog is, because from the comments I heard from many of the participants who use blogs, they are as varied as the bloggers themselves! Another good call for personalised learning support methinks!

We will be updating the wiki page with some of the ‘blog posts’ people made, which highlight some of their initial thoughts related to Will Richardson’s video on blogging in schools. Stay tuned!

Wellington NZ, a dramatic welcome!

Wellington looking south
Originally uploaded by margoc.

I’ve made it – landed safely in Wellington New Zealand – greeted warmly with open arms at the airport by Marica and Lynsey. ….And an amazingly breathtaking sight to come flying in over the white capped water filled with jumbled piles of rock and green outcrops drizzled with a lacey mist!

The coastline as is wild as the wind buffering it. The plane flew straight over a row of weatherboard houses that stood unprotected on the end of the country, their gay colours defying the elements that beat against them.

What a dramatic welcome! I’m really struck by the drama of the place. Houses climb the hills, scrambling to get a good footing to keep their residents safe; trees and shrubs, dark green, yellow and orange, lock themselves to the hillside huddling together for support against gravity and the wind.

The wind – well, yes, I was warned about the wind, but you can tell me till you’re blue in the face, but until I’ve ‘been there’ I won’t ‘know’ it! Well, now I know! Situated learning at its best see! :o)

Wellington town reminds me of the those tight Irish streets and the colourful garb of old buildings that have stood the test of time and progress. Likewise, the residential streets are dominated by weatherboard houses, much like those in Newport Rhode Island, and are sort of built into the lie of the land, almost part of the topography itself.

The mist lingers…and lingers…a grey-white hush that pushes aside the sun and conspires with the steady wind – two constant companions for Wellington, her people and visitors!

So, I’m here – welcomed, at home and ready for a week of conversation, sharing, questions, laughter and connections!