Read:OutLoud and Deep-Freeze: At a NIMAS/ROL training I did recently a question came up about districts that use Deep-Freeze and how that would prohibit saving student-specific ROL files and settings on individual computers. At that time, I told participants in the training that I didn’t have an answer, but would look into it. I’ve since spoken with Kevin at Don Johnston who quickly shared with me what I think could be an easy solution. While a network version may be available in the future, what may be a better solution is available now. There is a SOLO Student Path Modification Program that you can find here:
http://www.donjohnston.com/support/solo_sup/index.html
There are also several other good resources on that page for ROL. The path modification program is found in the 2nd section under “Updates” about 3/4 of the way down the page. It can be downloaded here as a zipped folder with 2 pdf and an exe file in it.
Mobcasting: Hopefully, since last week you’ve had a chance to look at some of the mobcasting examples I shared and to think about how mobcasting could potentially play a role in your own professional networking. I have received a few questions during the week from people trying to get their head around mobcasting. If you’re not quite sure what it is yet, think of it as having all the same characteristics as ‘normal’ podcasting in that there are a collection of audio files stored somewhere on a public server and all of those audio files are tied together with an XML document. That XML document provides the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) or the feed. So, when a person subscribes to that podcast, the RSS Feed sends them new content (new audio files) every time new content is produced. I use the analogy of a magazine subscription a lot. When you subscribe to a magazine, you never go back to the newstand to buy subsequent issues because they come to your mailbox. When you subscribe to an RSS feed (audio, text, video, etc) you never have to go back to a particular website to get new content, it comes to you! Ok, so a mobcast has those very same properties. Where it differs is in HOW the audio is created and produced:
-Podcast: Audio (or video) episodes are typically created and produced by one or two people for everyone else to listen to (watch).
-Mobcast: Lots of people potentially creating and producing content from multiple locations at any time. (how exciting and collaborative does that sound?)
So, given the difference in who and how a mobcast gets created, we have to realize that it’s not likely to be as ‘finished’ or fine-tuned a product as a true, well-produced podcast will be and thats OK! Multiple people are going to be in varied and uncontrolled environments, using varied equipment, with varied voices and speaking styles, etc. We’re focused on content here rather than presentation. (Some of us have to talk to ourselves for a while in order to be OK with that) 
That is, it’s OK if it doesn’t sound great as long as it can be understood!
The how-to part:
There are several ways one could do this. The one I’ve used a bit and like is called Gabcasting, which I’ve blogged about briefly once or twice before. Basically, Gabcast is a free resource that allows people to produce a multi-person podcast with nothing more than their cell phones! One person to create an account and a podcast channel. Then that person can share the channel # and password with anyone they’d like to be able to produce content.
Step 1: Decide who among your team or network is going to take the lead and set up the free account.
Step 2: Visit http://gabcast.com/and create your free account and podcast channel.
Step 3: Write/Type the Gabcast Phone Number along with your newly created Gabcast Channel #, Password and Conf. # in at least 3 different places! I like to keep mine in a file on my phone as well as on a little piece of paper that I keep folded up in the case of my phone and in a file on my computer.
Step 4: Call in to your new podcast channel and record your introductory episode!
Step 5: Give at least 2 other people the phone #, channel, password and conf. # needed for your channel.
Next week: Accessing your podcast channel, listening to it and submitting it to iTunes!
