From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Podcasting Happen

1
BoilerCast

• How Purdue Provides Lecture Review Audio to
  Students Using Podcasting and Streaming

2
Agenda

• Introduction
• The Desire for Digital Storage of Classroom Audio
  
• The Pursuit of a Digital Storage System
• Podcasting Happens
• Podcasting as a Valuable Educational Application
• How Podcasting Works
• XML Technology
• RSS Technology
• New Podcasting Service Conceived
• The Approach
• The Implementation
• Operation of the Service
• The Public Interface
• Results
• Other Options for Institutions Considering
  Podcasting

3
What is this stuff anyway?

• Digital Audio?
• Podcasting?
• MP3?
• Purdue University?

4
What is BoilerCast?
5
The Desire for Digital Storage of Classroom Audio

• Purdue was cassette recording courses for 35
  years
• About 2500 cassettes per semester
• Reuse cassettes by bulk erasing
• Students required to travel to library to check
  out media

6
The Desire for Digital Storage of Classroom Audio

• Idea came in 2001
• Convert audio recording to Digital
• Create a simple and accessible system
• Web access
• Common audio format
• Easy administration

7
The Pursuit of a Digital Storage System (Round 1)

• Design a system to capture and store classroom
  audio digitally
• Development began in 2002
• No COTS systems available
• Custom system to be designed
• Based on Real Networks SDK 8.5
• Close to completion in 2004
• Students programmers graduated before completion
• Project placed on hiatus temporarily in late 2004

8
Podcasting Happens

• Podcasting
• Podcasting is a method of publishing audio
  programs via the Internet, allowing users to
  subscribe to a feed of new files (usually MP3s).
  It became popular in late 2004, largely due to
  automatic downloading of audio onto portable
  players or personal computers.
• From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

9
Podcasting Happens

• Podcasting is the current Killer App (or latest
  fad?)
• College students use iPods or other digital media
  players
• College students are about three times more
  likely than anyone else to own an MP3 player.
• More than 21 million iPods have been sold,
  according to Apple.

Source February study by the Pew Internet and
American Life Project.
10
Podcasting Happens

• Something big was happening here!
• Students are, in fact, using iPods regularly (or
  other digital media players)
• Podcasting appears to be the new trend in
  delivering on-demand media
• Our original design did not conceive of
  podcasting (it didnt exist)
• A change of course was in order to meet the
  students expectations

11
Podcasting as a Valuable Educational Application

• Duke Digital Initiative Spotlighted the
  Technology
• The 2004-2005 Duke iPod First-Year pilot gave an
  iPod to all incoming freshmen
• In 2005-2006, only students enrolled in courses
  using the iPod as part of the DDI will receive an
  iPod
• Students will get to keep their iPods after the
  course is over
• http//www.duke.edu/ddi/
• itunes.stanford.edu

12
How Podcasting Works

• The podcast feed URL
• address of a specially encoded page
• on the podcasters web server
• contains information about the podcast
• if viewed in a web browser, you will see the raw
  XML code used

13
How Podcasting Works
But youre not meant to look at this raw data

• you copy the URL into a podcatching client
  software
• there are many different podcatching applications
  available
• many applications for many platforms
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Etc.

14
Subscribing to a Podcast
Users can also click and drag an RSS link from a
Web Page Directly to iTunes to subscribe.
15
Podcatching Clients iTunes
16
Podcatching Clients iPodder Lemon
17
Podcatching Clients jPodder
18
Podcatching

• Podcasting audience uses Podcatching client
  software
• Software obtains audio automatically and stores
  to local computer
• Software can then load audio to iPod (or other
  digital audio device) when it is plugged into PC
• Process can be Automatic or Manual

19
How Does This All Happen?

• The Technology of Podcasting

20
XML Technology

• XML stands for EXtensible Markup Language
• XML is a markup language much like HTML
• XML was designed to describe data
• XML tags are not predefined. You must define your
  own tags
• XML is a W3C Recommendation
• An XML file is merely a text file that follows a
  universally agreed upon formatting standard

XML Sample
21
RSS Technology

• RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication (Maybe)
• RSS allows you to syndicate your site content
• RSS is a selected list of defined items on a site
  
• RSS defines an easy way to share and view
  headlines and content
• RSS files can be automatically updated
• RSS allows personalized views for different
  sites
• RSS is written in XML

RSS Sample
22
RSS Technology

• Why Use RSS?
• RSS was designed to show selected data.
• RSS Readers are designed to regularly check the
  RSS file for new data
• Without RSS, users will have to check a web site
  daily to check for new updates.
• This may be too time-consuming for many users.
• With an RSS feed they can check your site faster
  using an RSS aggregator
• Since RSS data is small and fast-loading, it can
  easily be used with services like cell phones or
  PDA's.

23
RSS Example Simple Podcast
24
RSS Example The RSS Elements Show up in a Client

• RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication (Maybe)

Here is the Channel
These are the Items
These are the Descriptions
25
RSS Podcast Creation Software
26
What do I need to Podcast?

• MP3 Audio File
• Created with MP3 Recorder
• Created with Editing Software
• RSS File
• Created with RSS Podcast Software
• Created Manually (if you are bored)
• Web Server
• Any Flavor
• Need a Web Page to post the RSS link
• Audience
• Audience needs to know where to find the podcast
• Audience needs to be interested in podcast

27
Putting It All Together

• Audio in MP3 format is stored on a web server
• RSS feed file is created with information
  regarding how to get to the MP3 file
• Podcatching client looks as RSS feed regularly
  for updates and downloads any new MP3 files
• Podcatching client stores MP3 file on PC and can
  upload to iPod
• Listener enjoys regularly updated podcasts

28

• When we last left the Purdue conversion to
  digital

29
The Pursuit of a Digital Storage System (Round 2)

• Podcasting was the way to go but
• While work thus far could accommodate, the
  paradigm was completely different
• However implementation of changes would not meet
  the Fall 2005 deployment target
• New approach taken
• Put Previous work aside and started from scratch
• New COTS recording hardware available
• Implemented the KISS principle

30
New Podcasting Service Conceived

• Short List of Criteria for a Purdue Podcast
  Service
• Utilize existing recording infrastructure
• Clean and easy user web interface
• Not limited to iPods
• Operation quick to learn for operational staff
• Courses online within 30 minutes of class
  completion

31
The Purdue Implementation

• Utilize telco infrastructure for record lines
  (dry audio lines a.k.a. alarm circuits)
• Tap into existing classroom sound systems
• Add ceiling mics and line drivers to rooms
  without sound systems

32
The Purdue Implementation

• Record lines conencted to central recording
  facility
• Utilize crosspoint router to choose specific
  classroom for recording
• Record course to digital record deck
• Over 60 Rooms in over 30 Buildings currently
  connected
• Capable of connecting to any campus venue
  including departmental classrooms

33
The Purdue Implementation

• Recording to analog and converting is a hassle
• Software recorders running on PCs are a hassle
  and not always reliable
• Purchased Marantz PMD-660 for another application
• Compact flash recording
• Record directly to MP3 format
• Found the Marantz PMD-570
• Rack mount equipment
• Record to compact flash
• MP3 format recording
• Operates like cassette recorder

This device allowed us to deploy the BoilerCast
system more rapidly than any other option would
have allowed. Michael Gay
34
The Purdue Implementation

• Using the Marantz PMD-570 allows us to capture
  the audio in the same manner as we were doing for
  cassette recording
• The digital recorders were half the price of
  professional cassette recorders we were using
• Recorders name the files using a track numbering
  system
• The operator needed a way to quickly
• Rename the files
• Edit the ID3 tag with course info
• Update the podcast RSS feed
• Update the web page

Ten recorders were purchased to replace the
cassette decks used in the existing service.
35
The Purdue Implementation

• Operator would continue to record course audio to
  the new digital decks as was done with the
  cassette decks
• Software would be written to automate many of the
  operators tasks
• Rename the files
• Edit the ID3 tag with course info
• Update the podcast RSS feed
• Update the web page

36
BoilerCast Custom Software

• Files recorded on digital recording decks are
  transferred using the BoilerCast custom
  software
• BoilerCast software
• Renames the files
• Edits the ID3 tag with course info
• Updates the podcast RSS feed
• Updates the web page
• Cleans the Flash Memory
• Course available within 10 minutes on most
  occasions

37
Operation of the Service

• Online Request form
• Instructors request the service
• They receive confirmation and a link to their
  course web page

38
Operation of the Service

• The BoilerCast Main Screen
• Create new course directories
• Get the audio file from the flash card
• Move the file to the BoilerCast server
• Secure an online BoilerCast course

39
Operation of the Service

• Adding a New Course
• Add course information
• Choose the data drive on the BoilerCast server
• Click GO!

40
Operation of the Service

• Moving the Audio File
• Selects the course web page
• Previews the File
• Clicks Move File and Update
• Everything automates after that click.

41
Operation of the Service

• Adding Security
• Chooses the course web page to secure
• Enters desired username and password for course
• Clicks Add Security
• Modifies an .htaccess file in the web directory

42

• BoilerCast Home Page Features
• Info about the service
• Link to request form
• List and RSS links for available courses

43

• Course Page Features
• Course info
• RSS Link Prominent
• Discreet download and streaming links for each day

44
Usage Statistics

• Service went live August 22nd, 2005
• 35 courses initially signed up
• 1080 downloads the first week of operation
• 70 courses currently served
• 39,777 downloads as of October 17th, 2005

45
Usage Statistics
Semester Break
46
Top 10 Players Used
47
Mid Term Results

• A mid-term survey was sent to faculty and staff
  using the service
• Some results were surprising
• Many comments useful for thinking about future
  additions to service
• 30 Faculty Response
• 1 Student Response

48
Results

• Preferred Player
• Windows Media Player 53
• Podcast 26.6
• Real One Player 15.3
• Other MP3 Player 5.1
• This contradicts the access statistics

49
Results

• Own or Planning to BuySelect all that apply
• iPod 41.8
• non-iPod Player 18.4
• Laptop Computer 59.2

50
Results

• Grade the Purdue BoilerCast Service
• A 13.3
• A 54
• B 23.5
• C 5
• D 0
• F 0
• Undecided 4

51
Results What is the Greatest Benefit of the
Service?

• Faculty
• Easy! I don't have to do it.
• Clarity of voices and speed in making them
  available.
• I started recording lectures on my own before I
  knew about Boilercast. It took a lot of time to
  then convert to mp3 and upload it to a server.
  Boilercast makes it easy.
• Ease of use and sign up.
• I like the availability of the lectures for
  students who were absent and/or want to go back
  and review material.
• Automatic, Great web page, multiple formats.

52
Results What is the Greatest Benefit of the
Service?

• Students
• I like being able to review a lecture, if I
  didn't quite understand it in class. I also like
  reviewing what I might have missed while I was
  taking down notes.
• English is my second language so it is very
  helpful for me.
• When studying for a test it is nice to have a
  place to go for a review of what was said in
  lecture
• Being able to download it quickly on my iPod and
  go!
• Availability in multiple media player format
• It is nice to listen to clarify lecture
  material.
• I love using BoilerCast so that I can listen to
  the lectures even when I am on the bus going to
  and from school.
• I can take it anywhere and listen to it whenever
  I want.
• If you're sick and can't make it to class you
  can still get all the notes word for word. Also
  the clarity was amazing.

53
Results Suggestions for Future Additions to the
Service?

• Faculty
• Let faculty tag classes (if they want), Second
  would be the option to create an enhanced podcast
  with the slides from the powerpoint.
• Expand to other classrooms.
• Wireless mic. (And the ability to pause the
  recording for a ten-minute break during my 2-hour
  lecture.)
• I am always afraid that the BoilerCast system is
  not picking up the lecture. There should be a
  fairly transparent method to verify recording
  during lecture.
• Boilercast ideally would be linked to WebCT so
  students could access it easily and it would be
  password protected

54
Results Suggestions for Future Additions to the
Service?

• Students
• Improve audio quality. Lecture noise sometimes
  overpowers the instructor's voice. Possibly
  record from a microphone that the instructor
  wears. Instructor should repeat student questions
  into microphone for clarity.
• Add more classes.
• More classes signed up for it.
• Have all classes offered.
• If it is possible, also included the video of
  the lecture.
• Maybe be able to add visual aids, like the ones
  presented in class.
• Videos...it is good to watch the professor
  during there lectures, especially when they are
  doing some sort of experiment on the table or
  something in front of the class.
• I wish there could be a video component to the
  audio.
• Being able to pick up voice better, maybe video
  to see what is being written on the board.
• Eventually maybe a video camera set up to get
  both audio and visual on the site
• Video.

55
Results Open Final Comments

• Faculty
• Works great!
• Super, super service. So cutting edge, and yet
  so easy.
• Extremely useful for late students, or this
  year, hurricane victims who enrolled late and
  could easily catch up
• Outstanding service. very glad to have it.

56
Results Open Final Comments

• Students
• Great Idea! This service is useful for me to use
  while going over my notes!
• I found this very helpful!! I always use it
• I really like this service and hope to see more
  classes available through it in the future.
• Its a good service.

57
THE FUTURE

• Students want Video!
• How to get Video is a problem to overcome
• Video iPods now out

DEMO
58
ECET257 Example of One Course Currently Being
Video Streamed
Professor J. Michael Jacob ECET 257 Fall
2005 Purdue College of Technology
59
Video iPod Introduced

• Video iPods will drive the desire
• for video even further

60
Some Product Suggestions for Institutions
Considering Podcasting

• Broadcast Software International
• http//www.bsiusa.com/
• Skimmer Plus
• Automated MP3capture software
• Built in secureweb server
• No podcast yet
• 8 channels under 1,000

61
Some Product Suggestions for Institutions
Considering Podcasting

• Audio TX
• http//www.audiotx.com/
• Audio TX Pots
• Send high quality audio over telephone
• Use any PC and modem
• About 850

62
Some Product Suggestions for Institutions
Considering Podcasting

• Barix
• http//www.barix.com
• Instreamer Extreamer
• Audio backhaul over IP Network
• Works on any LAN/WAN
• Up to 320K audio
• Minimal Setup
• Set and Forget

63
Some Product Suggestions for Institutions
Considering Podcasting

• Marantz
• http//www.d-mpro.com
• PMD-570, PMD 660
• Record to Compact Flash
• WAV or MP3

64
Suggested Web Resources(Author makes no
endorsements or warranties information contained
in the following web links)

• Purdue Sources
• BoilerCast Home Page http//www.itap.purdue.edu/b
  oilercast
• Purdue University http//www.purdue.edu/
• Information Technology at Purdue
  http//www.itap.purdue.edu/
• Podcatching Clients
• Apple iTunes http//www.apple.com/itunes/
• iPodder Client http//www.ipodder.org/
• Podcasting Tools
• Podcast RSS Buddy http//www.tolley.info/rssbuddy
  /
• Feed for All http//www.feedforall.com/
• Podcasting Directories
• Podcast.net Directory http//www.podcast.net/
• Podcast Alley Directory http//www.podcastalley.c
  om/
• Podcasting Technology
• RSS/XML Tutorial http//www.w3schools.com/rss/
• Podcasting 101 http//maczealots.com/articles/pod
  casting/
• Make RSS Feeds http//make-rss-feeds.com/making-a
  n-rss-feed.htm

65
Question and Answer

• Time for your questions.

66
Thank You!
Michael Gay michaelgay_at_alumni.purdue.edu