May / June 2007
Ryerson launches automated lecture podcasts
Ryerson University's Department of Computer Science has developed the first in-house, fully automated lecture podcasting technology in Canada. With just a few clicks of a mouse, professors can record and post their lectures online - complete with video, audio and presentation slides. Students are then able to watch the lectures online or download them for later viewing on portable media players such as iPods or smart phones. They can also subscribe to the lectures using a web feed reader or iTunes.
"Instructors without a technology background will be able to use the service because it performs all the post-production work automatically," says Computer Science PhD student and Instructor Hossein Rahnama. Rahnama piloted the technology this past semester with great success in his CPS 630 Web Applications course. "By having the video, audio and slides available, students can re-capture the feeling of being in the classroom."
Rahnama developed the technology with the help of Computer Science students Craig Codeiro and Bart Gajderowicz, and Radio and Television Arts student Jim Loney. The project was a collaboration between the Department of Computer Science and the Rogers Communications Centre, where Rahnama worked as an undergraduate research assistant under the supervision of Bradley Fortner, Operations and Technology Program Manager.
Each Ryerson classroom currently has a Wi-Fi enabled camera installed, which communicates directly with the instructor's computer (either the classroom podium computer or a personal laptop). The instructor presses the "Record" button and the camera detects his/her location. The slides, video and audio of the instructor are recorded as separate streams, which are automatically sent to the computing department's production server, once the instructor clicks "Publish" at the end of the lecture. The production server synchronizes the streams and generates three different formats for different device capabilities.
"The learning experience is enhanced since students can listen to the lecture as many times as they want, instead of only reading over class notes or PowerPoint slides," said Rahnama.
The podcasts were particularly popular among commuter students, who were able to review lectures while traveling to and from campus.
"Students have found it extremely beneficial," says Dr. Alireza Sadeghian, Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Rahnama's research supervisor. "It adds value to the learning experience as students can review the course material at any given time."
"One issue about this technology could potentially see a decrease in student attendance," said Rahnama. "However, this could be addressed by creating policies such as only making the lecture slides, and not the exercises, available over podcasts."
Ultimately, Rahnama hopes to launch the podcasting system throughout the university using Apple's iTunes University program and eventually integrate it with Ryerson's Blackboard system.
For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca/news.
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