Technology Update Dr. Heather S. Gibbons, Brenau University

Reaching This Generation Pew Internet & American Life Project: Teens and Technology, July 27, 2005: “Youth are leading the transition to a fully wired and mobile nation.”

Evolving Technology Blogging ( etc.) Podcasting (iTunesU) podcast.htmhttp:// podcast.htm RSS Feeds ( Wikis ( &

Blogging User-generated Journal style Offer commentary or news Personal journals Ability to comment 60 million blogs in November 2006

Podcasting Media file by subscription over the Internet via syndication feeds Playback on mobile devices and PCs Automatic download possible with RSS or other feed-reading software. Try podcasting at which can be accessed from anywhere by a toll-free phone call. How cool!

RSS Feeds Used to publish frequently updated digital content Users of RSS content employ programs called feed 'readers' or 'aggregators' Users subscribe to a feed by supplying to their reader a link to the feed Reader checks the user's subscribed feeds to see if any have new content since the last time it checked Reader retrieves that content and presents it to the user

Wikis Website allowing visitors to easily add, remove, and otherwise edit and change available content No need for registration Ease of interaction and operation makes this an effective tool for collaborative authoring.

Software Programs Audacity - sound Camtasia - movies Captivate - movies Impatica - slideshow compression Snagit - snapshots

Audacity Recording and editing sound files for your classes Price: FREE Download: With easily identified controls, you may create files and save them in MP3 format. When saving a file, you will be prompted to download the LAME program, which is needed to convert the file to MP3 format.

Camtasia Mini-movies of activity on your computer screen AP: $ Download FREE 30-day trial: Examples: –How to use a software program –Steps involved in creating an end product

Captivate Very similar to Camtasia Fewer bells and whistles – simpler AP: $ Download FREE trial : ical.html ical.html

Impatica Compress your PowerPoints to almost half their files size – faster download AP: $ Download an Evaluation copy: Compressing PowerPoint shows is particularly helpful if the show is narrated.

Snagit Quick screen shot (or partial screen shot) in nearly any software program. AP: $29.95 (Bundle with Camtasia: $199.95) Download 30-day FREE trial: Place the graphic jpg file in another document or presentation format.

Student Engagement Reach students where they are. Give them something portable. Use the tools that are available. Never stop learning.