Experiences of Using Podcasts, Blogs And Web 2.0
For Education And Professional Development
Twenty-Fifth Annual International
Nursing Computer / Technology Conference
Margaret Hansen
Associate Professor, The University of San Francisco, USA
W. Scott Erdley
Clinical Associate Professor, University at Buffalo, NY, USA
Peter J. Murray
Founding Fellow and Director, CHIRAD, UK
Collaborating on blogs, podcasts,
vodcasts and other projects
www.hi-blogs.info
http://differance-engine.net/rutgers2007/
http://differance-engine.net/SINI2007blog/
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O’Reilly
2004
Second generation of the Web
Collaboration
Interaction
customization
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Web 2.0 doesn't have a
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but rather, a
hard boundary,
gravitational
core
Openness is the core paradigm
of content, tools and services in Web 2.0 digital environments
The best thing about Web 2.0
is that…
nobody knows
what the hell it really means.
Even the ones who coined the term are still
struggling to find a compact definition.
And this is the true beauty and power of Web 2.0
- it makes people think.
From: http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2005/10/the_best_thing_.html
Web 2.0 websites are different from those of early
web development, retroactively labeled Web 1.0.
They are designed to deliver interactive, versus
static, applications to end-users. Their content is
characterised by open communication, decentralised
authority, and freedom to share and re-use materials
across a more dynamic, interlinked and interactive
World Wide Web.
They are often referred to as 'read/write web'
applications.
Ajax
Ajax = Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
Not a single technology – rather a group of technologies
working together
Truly interactive 2.0 applications
Uses
XHTML and CSS for markup applications
JavaScript or Jscript to interact with display
XHR (xmlhttprequest) as API
Blogs (web logs), podcasts, and wikis constitute a
sub-set of what are commonly described as Web
2.0 or social networking tools.
They increasingly provide international online
communication and collaboration among nurses
and health informaticians.
Many applications are available as libre/free and
open source software and will run on all operating
systems – eg GNU/Linux, Mac OS ...
(and Windoze if you must).
Blogs – some basics
A blog (or weblog) is a website in which messages are posted
and displayed with the newest at the top ... blogs often focus on
a particular subject ... Some blogs function as online diaries.
A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs,
web pages, and other media related to its topic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
Blogs – structure
A blog is usually edited, organised and published using a
Content Management System (CMS) ... many of are built with
Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP (LAMP) architecture.
Blogger (www.blogger.com) - owned by Google
WordPress (www.wordpress.com) - FLOSS
Serendipity (s9y.org ) - FLOSS
Blogs – structure
And then it starts to get interesting ;-))
Other embellishments we have used:
- automatic podcasts with text-to-speech software
eg Talkr, feed2podcast
- RSS feeds – Feedburner, etc.
- tags –Technorati, etc
- added swickis and other things
- new for 2007 - accessible on a mobile phone
Conferences provide an opportunity for both
formal and informal professional development,
social networking, and collaborative knowledge
development.
Web 2.0 tools, many of which are also often
described as social networking software, afford
connection and collaboration among individuals
who wish to affiliate with one another.
Why do we want to provide blogs for
virtual conference participation?
- not everyone can get to conferences
- what goes on at such events may not be shared
with others
- so much good learning may be 'lost' to most
colleagues – or those most in need of it
Why do we want to provide blogs for
virtual conference participation?
- to provide virtual interaction for those unable to attend
- to promote the event
- to play with (explore) the technology
- to explore/research a collaborative model of blogging
Blogs for virtual conference participation
What we hoped for:
- lots of people wanting to post items
- lots of comments
- lots of readers
- demonstration of the collaborative model working.
Blogs for virtual conference participation
What we found:
- many promised but few delivered
- the principal providers were the main bloggers
- levels of use were lower than hoped
- reminders to people help in readership levels
- interaction is lower than hoped for
Blogs, interaction and participation
– some evaluation data
- Generally felt to be a useful adjunct to events
- Most felt was easy to use
- Should be available post-event (archive)
'...personal ancedotes give a sense of voyeurism.
..being there without actually being physically there.'
'I like the first person 'conversation' style - as though
speaking directly to me. Informal, easy to follow and
relate to. If I disagreed or had comments, I knew I
could add the blog to benefit other readers.'
Blogs, interaction and participation
– some lessons learned
Must be as easy as possible to access and participate
- eg wireless – or people won't post during the event
Reminders boost readership
RSS feeds to email/browser
Blogs, interaction and participation
– is it worth the effort? - where next?
We currently do new clean install for each blog
- to try out new tools – but labour-intensive
May look at one site for multiple events – but possible
confusion here
We believe it is worth it, and valuable to those who do
use it
- but need to boost both readership and interaction
Further information and contact
www.hi-blogs.info
peterjmurray@gmail.com
Podcasting
Giving education a voice….
Margaret Hansen
Podcasting
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A portmanteau of “broadcasting” and “iPod”
Audio event, conversation, lecture, song,
speech, group presentation
Uses RSS 2.0 Enclosures + Podcasting
software (e.g., MixCraft) to let users subscribe
to audio content and have it automatically
sync to the desired MP3 device
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“Push” not “Pull” technology
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Portable On Demand-casting
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Tivo for your iPod (radio delivered via blogs)
Brief History
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Termed by Dannie J. Gregoire
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A shared vision from Adam Curry and Dave Winer
(blog fathers)
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A. Curry wrote iPodder Apple Script 2004
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Cross platform iPodder application released 2004
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http://www.ippodder.org
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Over 10,000 podcasts online today
Image credit: University of Missouri School of Journalism
Listen
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You can listen to podcasts on:
 Macintosh
laptops and desktops
 Windows or Linux laptops and desktops
 Any other MP3 players
 PDAs
 MP3-enabled mobile/cell phones
Podcasting
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Strengths
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Instructor’s desire to assist students’ meta-cognitive skills
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Keep up with the reality of the students’ lives and use of media (Net
Gen)
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Academic podcasts easy to use: faculty and students
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Easy to access via iTunes or desktop
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Now iTunes University via USF Connect
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Students report being more engaged in lecture
Learning
“Podcasting can really enrich the educational
experience and can be a tremendous help to nontraditional learners...People learn differently. Some
are auditory learners, where listening to a lecture is
great, but looking at a page full of notes is a
nightmare. Students with learning disabilities or
ADHD might learn better through repetition, and
with podcasting, they could replay lectures to their
heart’s content...”
-Meredith Farkas, Librarian, Norwich University
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/index.php?p=186
Learning
“…why not share a single
high quality set of notes, rather
than making lectures a
speed-writing test…”
D’Arcy Norman, University of Calgary
http://www.darcynorman.net/2004/10/30/podcasting-for-education
Podcasting
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Concerns
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Slackers will skip class!
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Visual images not captured as in F2F
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Remedy may be podcasts with video
Research
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Empirical research being done
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http://catalyst.washington.edu/research_development/
Steve Schastain: U of Tennessee
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http://schastain.jot.com/?login=1&loginCode=LoginPlease
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N340 Principles and Methods
How to
The Bare Essentials
•External Microphone
Microphone/headset
Lapel microphone
Pro-quality microphone
•Headphones
Acts as monitor for your mix
Normal/standard speakers
for your computer
The Nice Stuff
•Pre-Amp
Dbx 26A
•Mixer
M-Audio Firewire 410
Cubase LE
TAPCO 6360
•Dedicated MP3 recorder
Optional, but great for
mobile interviews
Edirol M1 - MP3 and WAV
recorder
Recording Software: Mac
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Audacity ~ free
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QuickTime Broadcaster ~ free
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Garage Band ~ $79
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Sound Studio 2 ~ $49
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Bias Deck LE ~ $99
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Logic Express ~ $99
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Bias Deck ~ $399
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Logic ~ $999
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Ableton Live ~ $999
Recording Software: PC
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Audacity ~ free
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MixCraft ~ $27
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Cakewalk Home Studio 2 ~ $149
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SoundForge ~ $399
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Adobe’s Audition ~ $299
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Ableton Live ~ $999
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Cakewalk Sonar 4 ~ $479
Podcasting
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Examples
OsiriX Imaging
http://homepage.mac.com/rossetantoine/osirix/Index
2.html
M2H: Podcasts. http://www.m2hnursing.com/podcast/
Instant Anatomy
 http://www.instantanatomy.net/podcasts.html
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Mobilcasting
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http://www.mobilcaster.com/
Podcasting
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Medical podcasts
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Access Medicine
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http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/podcast/acm/
Johns Hopkins Medicine
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http://www.ahsl.arizona.edu/weblinks/Medical_podcasts.cfm
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/mediaII/Podcasts.html
Profcast
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http://www.profcast.com
Lions & tiggers & wikis, oh my!
the ‘beast’
&
‘taming’ it
W. Scott Erdley
What is a wiki?
- a dynamic, group-developed web pages easily created
and accessed via a browser
- content may be updated or changed by anyone visiting
the website (open authors)
- allow for asynchronous group socialisation,
communication and collaboration
- a tool for archiving documents, brainstorming, and
collaborative writing
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page),
Wikinews (www.wikinews.org/wiki/Health)
Wiki - examples
Deltadigital
http://www.deltadigital.no/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php
Wikiproject
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_National_H
ealth_Service
Nursing Wiki
http://en.nursingwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
PB wiki
http://pbwiki.com/
Case study
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NI 2006 Post-conference
5 ‘groups’
Site hosted by group participant
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http://kurse.ulrich-schrader.de/course/view.php?id=6
Site available - June 2006
Case study (2)
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Pro’s:
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24/7 access
Machine / platform independent
Asynchronous communication
Con’s:
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24/7 access
Asynchronous communication
Participant-driven
Case study (3)
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Actual use - minimal
Email attachment versus use of wiki
Difficult for most of group to use
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Variety of rationales for this
Lessons learned:
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Need buy-in by participants
Technical skills
Time
Experience with application helps
Try with non-essential documents first to learn
Wiki alternative
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Online office productivity applications
Example: Writely (http://www.writely.com)
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Now part of Google (see G-docs)
Main component
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Separate site hosting the application
Document available to invited collaborators
Concurrent editing if necessar
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Mainly asynchronous
Basic tools of word processing or spreadsheet
Wiki alternative (2)
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Pro’s:
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24/7 access
Neutral site
Platform independent
No cost outside of net access
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Mainly asynchronous
Net access necessary
Downloading / ‘save as’ document functionality
Con’s:
Wiki & alternative summation
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Pro’s and con’s with both
More than these options
Learn prior to ‘needed use’
Have fun!
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Thanks to Peter Young & Steve Shastain
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For information in the podcasting and wiki
presentation