Mash-ups (websites and applications that mix two existing ideas or applications) are the new big deal in Web2.0. For the most part, they are all excellent ideas (or at least really cool ideas, even if they end up not having a real purpose). SlideShare – the online PowerPoint hosting site (think YouTube for PowerPoints) – has come up with an incredible mash-up idea: slidecasting.
What is slide casting? It is SlideShare mashed up with podcasting. Yep – you can now add audio to your PowerPoint presentation that is hosted online. AND – you can embed the whole thing into your website or LMS.
The tools look pretty easy, at least in the demo. You have to host the mp3 file somewhere else online (they give a suggestion in the tutorial), but the rest is offered by SlideShare. Including the ability to put markers in your PowerPoint that syncs the audio with the correct slide. Viewers can just play the whole presentation, or skip to a slide and listen to audio for that slide.
Sounds like a great improvement for an already useful free online tool. Check out the tutorial here:
http://www.slideshare.net/faqs/slidecast
Matt is currently an Instructional Designer II at Orbis Education and a Part-Time Instructor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Previously he worked as a Learning Innovation Researcher with the UT Arlington LINK Research Lab. His work focuses on learning theory, Heutagogy, and learner agency. Matt holds a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies from the University of North Texas, a Master of Education in Educational Technology from UT Brownsville, and a Bachelors of Science in Education from Baylor University. His research interests include instructional design, learning pathways, sociocultural theory, heutagogy, virtual reality, and open networked learning. He has a background in instructional design and teaching at both the secondary and university levels and has been an active blogger and conference presenter. He also enjoys networking and collaborative efforts involving faculty, students, administration, and anyone involved in the education process.
I just tried out the SlideCast function of SlideShare, and I have to say I was quite impressed. The edit function had a nice, slick interface. I had to use an older mp3 to do this, but here is what it turned out like (ignore all of my comments about ‘next slide’ – SlideShare will advance to the next slide at the appropriate time):
(This presentation and audio is from a presentation at the Innovations in Online Learning Conference – Austin, TX in June 2006)