A. The Basic Program

Below are topics covered during 'The Basic Program' which is an overview of what's involved in producing live, interactive webcasts. 

Week#1 Site Orientation & Academy Policies, Basic Recording/Audio Specifications

  • Week#1 - Site Orientation & Academy Policies ,  Bas­ic Recording /  Audio Specifications­

Skills: 

Resources: Welcome Newsletter,  Site Orientation, Certification and Graduation,  Audio Specifications, Webcaster Kit,  Lee's Book of Audio, 
 
Screencasts: 
   General

 Meeting Agenda & Assignments Below

 NEW Audio Recording of Class

Meeting Agenda 

  • Welcome to the Academy
    • What is a 'collaborative community'?
      • Everyone's a teacher, everyone's a learner
      • You should > We can... ,
      • Aim to make the Academy better than when you found it
    • Site Orientation  http://www.webcastacademy.net/Site_Orientation
      • Look for answers in the FAQ, Book of Webcasting, & Search
      • Post questions to the Forums or Group Skype Chat
      • Post reflections in your Blog
      • Adding signature to Account
      • Post all audio by clicking 'create content/audio'
      • Joining skype chat - not going crazy

Assignments: 

  • Post a short text introduction in the Class of 2.4 Introductions thread.
  • Record a 1-2 minute audio introduction using audio specifications  (Filename: your-name-Introduction-2007-10-xx.mp3) and publish it (create content/audio) on this site.
  • After participating in or listening to the recording of our first meeting and completing the above assignments, post a text blog entry (create content/blog entry) about anything related to your academy experience.
  • Post any questions in the forums or group skype chat.
  • If you are interested in connecting with others in a smaller group during the week, add your info to the Webcast Academy wiki.

    • ­

Week#2 Recording both ends of a telephony call

Skills:  
Recording both ends of a telephony call (in a way that will allow you to stream that audio). 
               Audio editing basics.

Resources:  Audacity:  We recommend the Beta Version.  1.3.3
                        Virtual Audio Cables  and Audio Hijack Pro.

Screencasts:  ­


Using Audacity to Edit Audio

  Windows

Recording both ends of a telephony cal­l in Windows

Configuring Audio Specifications in Audacity

Setting
Preferences in Audacity - Windows

  Mac
      Recording both ends of a telephony call in Mac

Meeting Agenda  Below

  • Review of Week One
    • Text and Audio Introductions
    • Uploading Audio to Webcast Academy
    • Specs..... Specs...... Specs.......
    • Feedback left to interns
    • Intern Workshop Session
  • Recording Two-Way Audio
    • Setting up your system. 
    • Virtual Audio Cables For Windows and Audio Hijack for Mac
    • Using Audacity to record
    • Calling the Skype Lady to test or other interns
    • Check the Skype Chat for willing partners
    • Checking Audio Levels in Skype call
  • Audio Editing Basics
    • Using Audacity tools and Effects

 


Assignments:  

    Record and publish a 3-5 minute telephony call with at least one other person.  Please DO NOT use one of the 3rd party applications that will not support streaming during the next step (i.e PowerGramo, HotRecorder, etc.). Windows users, you will need to get acquainted with Virtual Audio Cables.  Mac users, audio hijack or soundflower.

Week#3 Basic Streaming

 Streaming refers to sending audio and/or video from your computer to a server
that is running a streaming program like Shoutcast, Icecast, Windows
Media Server, Quicktime, or Helix..  Those programs then make that
audio or video available for remote listeners.  Worldbridges currently uses
Shoutcast to stream its webcasts.  Depending on audio bitrate and other
variables, there is usually a delay ranging from 20-100 seconds between
the time the audio is produced and the time it is heard by remote
listeners.  
­
Producing a stream of audio with only one source of aud­io (music or one
person speaking) is relatively simple.  Producing a a stream of audio
in which multiple sources are streamed (i.e. a multi-pers­on conversation)
is more complicated and requires the tools and methods covered
in the 'Recording both ends of a telephony call' section of this book.   While it is possible to
record both sides of a telephony call using 3rd party programs
like Powergramo and Pamela (more info here)
we have thusfar been unable
to use those tools to actually stream. The tools used to stream vary
significantly by operating system.

Skills:  Streaming a telephony conversation so that those who are not participating in the call can listen in
    
Resources:

Screencasts: 


  Windows:

  Mac:

 

 

Meeting Agenda Below

  • Introduction
  • Review of Week 2 Assignment.
    • Successes and Challenges
    • File Name Format
    • Posting Weekly Reflection
  • Objectives for Week 3
    • Basic Streaming;  Importance of Recording Two-Way Audio.
    • Using Skype chat for trouble shooting
    • Password is given as audio only
  • I can stream so what's next? 
    • Scheduling an interncast
    • Building Webcaster Porfolio

 

Assignments: 
Stream, record, & post a 3-5 minute webcast - basically same assignment as last week with streaming added. If you like feel free to schedule and host your first interncast.

Week #4 Show management skills/ Post-production and advanced audio editing

Skills: 

1. Post new event on calendar  --- GMT Friendly Link
2. Plan an interncast to stream on Sandbox A
3.  Mangage a live show
4.  Post production audio editing

Resources:       Recording
and Editing Audio from Lee's Book of Audio

Screencasts:

General:


Windows 

Adding
incoming calls to a skype conference

Mac

 

Meeting Agenda Below 

  • Event Posting Guide
  • Tips for producing shows
  • Pre-show audio checks
  • Post-production audio editing
  • Skype conference hosting and management practice

Assignment: 
Plan and post an interncast;  At least 10min of Skype conversation.  Post Audio and chat log with interncast. 

Week #5 Using and bridging different webcast environments and programs

Skills:  Being able to stream live audio from various environments. 

 

Resources: 

http://www.webcastacademy.net/webcams ­

http://www.webcastacademy.net/node/1564

http://www.edtechtalk.com/node/2321

       Agenda

­ 

1.  Streaming, Simulcasting, and Ustream

2.  Recent Activity at Edtech Talk and Webcast Academy

3.  Next Steps:  Building Webcaster Portfolio

4.  Participation in Worldbridges Community  --

Assignments:

Continue working on posting interncasts. We will be reviewing Intern Shows for Session 2.3 until the holidays.

Next session scheduled to begin; Mid to late January 2008

 

 

Course Support Resources

 

1. Website Support Resources

 

2. Hardware Support Resources

 

3. Software Support Resources

 

4. Internet Support Resources

 

5. Management Support Resources

 

6. Process Support Resources