News and Tips for Higher Ed Pros

Last Wednesday, I was invited to attend the first 1-hour-and-$100 webinar of a series by Brian Niles targeted to the novice eager to learn more about new technologies such as podcasting, instant messaging (IM), RSS, etc.

38 people showed up for this session about podcasting conducted using Macromedia’s Breeze.

Although Brian experienced a couple of technical issues with his slides and the sound cutting out from time to time, he was able to present a rather engaging 101 session about podcasting.

Using Breeze’s screencasting service, Niles gave a 30-minute presentation about the basics of podcasting as well as a demonstration on how to search, select and subscribe to a podcast with iTunes. Once this was done, the rest of the session was used to answer questions asked by the audience through Breeze’s chat service.

During the chat, Brian did go a bit beyond podcasting 101 addressing questions about promotion, strategy and so on.

Despite the fact that none of the information shared during this webinar cannot be found for free on the Web (even on your favorite blog), the format — minus the technical glitches — is interesting to get any technology-challenged team or boss started on Web 2.0.

Three more sessions about IM, blogs and RSS are scheduled this month.

• Trying to find out if/how your institution should use Facebook, MySpace or its own social networking application? Register by Monday for Social Networking Websites Week
• Higher Ed Experts: 3 new professional development series - a total of 11 webinars - are open for registration
• It takes a crossover pro to manage the university website
• “Students on Student Technology” at XplanaZine: Live from high school
• Need help to launch your online video initiative this Fall (or later)? Register by Friday for “Lights, Camera, Action - How to Add Online Videos to Your Marketing Mix”