University launches 47 new podcasts

Podcast.iu.edu streamed its way onto campus last week.\nThe Feb. 4 launch date brought a total of 47 podcasts and 507 episodes to the new Web site, which is a portal for all IU podcast content.\nElizabeth Van Gordon, director of Learning Technology Operations and chief information officer at IU Northwest, said these numbers are increasing daily. Within the first week, the portal received about 2,300 hits. \n“We have gone from a scarcity of technology to a digital fire hose,” said IU Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer Brad Wheeler. “We need a way to find things. Podcast.iu.edu is a simple URL, a simple gateway.” \nThe podcast portal includes a variety of content such as virtual museum tours, news headlines, music, recreational sports information and technology help. \nUsers can browse all the channels offered by topic or category, or via a keyword search. The portal is easy to use and has a help feature for those who are unfamiliar with podcasting.\nInstead of having to visit the Web site of the School of Music, the Business School or the School of Medicine for that school’s individual podcasts, the portal provides them all in one place. Wheeler said it’s all about efficiency and making it easy for to access podcasts. \n“There is something for everyone,” he said.\nPodcast.iu.edu provides downloadable and portable content. The podcasts are compatible with any device – laptops, MP3 players and iPods. \n“It’s a one-stop shop,” said project leader Ned Shaw.\nOne of Shaw’s favorite features of podcast.iu.edu is the telecommunications channel. He said the channel includes digital filmmaking and “fun student-produced content.”\nPodcast.iu.edu is not a password-protected site. Anyone around the world can access this information. Because of this fact, alumni can stay informed and all of the IU campuses can stay connected.\n“It is one more way to provide information 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Gordon said.\nAnother valuable element on the portal is the subscription service. When users subscribe to their favorite channels, downloadable content gets directly delivered to their computer through an RSS feed that allows for easy updating of the content. Wheeler said users get delegation through subscriptions. All the material is free.\n“The long-term goal is to provide a gateway site for the IU students, faculty and general audiences to find a wide array of content,” Gordon said.\nUniversity Information Technology Services provides the service, but it is up to the IU family to provide the content necessary to expand the site. There is an approval process, however. Wheeler said providers are restricted because the portal is not meant to be the next YouTube. \nLater this year, IU will launch iTunes U. Part of a partnership with Apple, this service will primarily be for academic purposes. Audio and visual podcasts of lectures will be available for students to download. This content will be authenticated through Oncourse and password-protected with a student’s username and passphrase.\n“I think students appreciate having access to podcasts, because they don’t need to be focused on taking notes during class,” Gordon said. “They can download the lectures and take them with them while exercising or walking to class.”