Jan
16
2009
We’re gearing up for a WordPress Mu pilot at the college, and I’m feverishly researching plugins to use with it. Here are the big three I found:
- PodPress: The godfather of podcast plugins. It hasn’t been updated in a while, and there have been mixed reports about how well version 8.8 works with WordPress 2.7. A new version 9 is apparently in the works, but no one knows if/when it will appear. The file upload interface is a bit clunky, but there are a huge number of backend-options, plus stat tracking.
- Podcasting: A simple plugin that requires you know the URL of the file you want to podcast. That’s fine for tech-savvy people, but I think it’s going to fail the “quick and easy” test for everyone else.
- Blubrry: The lead contender. It works with the regular file upload interface for WordPress; if you insert a file into a post using the regular interface, it adds an MP3 player to the post. It also has a nice selection of backend feed options.
I still need to experiment with how these different plugins handle video files (so far, Blubrry worked like a charm), and I’m continuing to look at other options. I’d love to get some feedback on how well these different plugins work, as well as recommends for plugins not on the list
Dec
10
2007
Poor “Learning the World” — it’s been so long since I updated you. Well, here’s some news: we’ve got three new ITS Coffee Break podcasts up:
Oct
26
2007
On this edition of the ITS Coffee Break, Ken Newquist and guest host Jason Alley (filling in for Courtney Bentley) talk about the HighEdWebDev conference, innovative ways that schools are using GIS on campus and announce a new brownbag about understanding the Interent. In Tech News they fill people in on an update to the popular Quicksilver fast application launcher for Mac OS Xand contemplate a CSI-spawned murder in Second Life while in Help News they offer suggestions for getting more out of search in Firefox and streamlining your Del.icio.us bookmarking experience.
Oct
22
2007
Lafayette’s network upgrade rolls through campus and host Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley try out the second of three new microphones in this edition of the ITS Coffee Break. In Tech News, they discuss new apps for Apple’s iPhone, how to collaborate with Google Docs and Sheets and speculate on Microsoft’s plans to offer DRM-free downloads through its Zune Music Store. Finally, in Help News they review ITS’ web site update project and take a look at the upcoming Web and Video Conferencing lecture being held in November. Get the podcast.
Oct
15
2007
The ITS Coffee Break goes stereo as it tests out one of three new microphones recently purchased for podcasting. In Tech News, hosts Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley talk about ways to spruce up your Facebook profile, discuss Berkeley’s decision to upload 200 course lectures to YouTube, and speculate on Google’s purchase of the microblogging platform Jaiku. In Help News, two new “Integrating Teaching with Technology” presentations are announced, as well as an ITS brown bag about getting started with Linux. Listen in iTunes or download it from Soapbox. Listen in iTunes or download it from Soapbox.
Oct
08
2007
CommandN is my favorite video podcast, featuring a great mix of tech and web tips, news and suggestions. Not a week goes by where I don’t learn something from this show, and that’s something I can say of every podcast I listen to. It’s well worth the time it takes to watch it, and its the perfect show to start your geeky morning routine.
Oct
06
2007
The October 10th edition of the Coffee Break leads off with news of Lafayette’s implementation of Shibolleth and the recent Podcamp Philly event held at Drexel University. In Tech News, hosts Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley discuss the new Firefox Campus Edition, the Chronicle of Higher Education’s new Tech Therapy podcast, and one professor’s attempt to rate the trustworthyness of Wikipedia’s contributors. In Help News they review file compatibility issues with Microsoft Office 2007, announce upcoming Outlook and NetStorage workshops, and offer a tip for quickly saving photos using Safari.
Getting the Podcast
There are several ways to get the podcast:
Jul
03
2007
Technology in the class room is the focus of an upcoming LVAIC symposium, and news of the event leads off the latest edition of the ITS Coffee Break, recorded on location at the Cosmic Cup Coffee Co. on College Hill. Hosts Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley also have news about the network upgrade project and upcoming outages associated with it, as well as an update about progress with Moodle.
In Tech News, they discuss the much hyped iPhone, review Google Maps new “drag your route” feature, get organized with Unclutterer.com, and discover how to build things from scratch with Instructables.com. News about July and August workshops and of just-added Moodle documentation rounds out the podcast.
Jun
15
2007
The ITS Coffee Break begins with news of the first-year student technology guide, an update of ongoing work on the network redesign project, and latest about our progress importing Fall 2007 course data into Moodle. Moving on to Tech News, hosts Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley look at MIT’s virtual residence halls within Second Life, discuss the new Leopard edition of the Mac OS X operating system, and check out the new Windows version of Apple’s Safari web browser.
There are several ways to get the podcast:
Jun
06
2007
Hosts Ken Newquist and Courtney Bentley settle into their summer routines with the latest edition of the Coffee Break. In ITS news, they provide an update on the conversion from Blackboard to Moodle. In Tech News, they provide a rundown of their summer reading and projects lists, talk about Google’s new ‘Street View’ addition to its Maps tool, and take a look at the new beta version of CNN’s web site. Finally, they announce the first batch Moodle Quickstart workshops for the summer.
