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Development of an EET Lecture Course in iPod© Format

Abstract

The method used to convert a conventional Old Dominion University Electrical Engineering Technology lecture course to Apple iPod© format is shown. Included are course pedagogy development; methods of creating PowerPoint slides, including graphics, animation, and text; file format conversion; file editing; and final production of iPod-compatible material. Additional information is included regarding the selection and testing of various types of commercially- available file capture, file conversion, and media editing software.

Introduction

As part of Old Dominion University’s (ODU) distance education program, the Electrical Engineering Technology program offers lecture courses in several formats including live televised courses, internet streamed courses, and CD-ROM-based courses. However, with the introduction and subsequent popularity of the Apple iPod©, if seemed a natural step to migrate course instruction into that particular method of course delivery. This paper encompasses the process of producing a 3-semester-hour lecture course in a format that can be effectively viewed by students on an Apple iPod©, or watched on any computer using Apple QuickTime© media player.

With the growth of the distance education program at ODU, several logistical problems began to appear, including shortages of satellite broadcast channels, broadcast studio classrooms, and classrooms at ODU's receiving locations, and an increase in the number of distance education students who are not located near a ODU receive site (termed "siteless" students). These siteless students include those located outside the of Virginia, those located overseas, and those in the military, especially aboard ships.1 Several years ago, this prompted an increase in courses designed to be delivered via CD-ROM or internet streaming delivery. However, both of these delivery methods require the student to be sitting at a computer, and the latter requires a high speed internet connection (either DSL or cable). For many students, one or both of these requirements is impossible.

Since most students own an iPod©, or as an alternative have a computer with QuickTime installed, it was determined that iPod© delivery of lecture courses would merit investigation. Since the course material would be engineering by nature, audio-only Podcasting was immediately ruled out. Video would be necessary in order to display schematics, equations, mechanical diagrams, photographs, and when necessary, animations.

As a goal, the course was to be delivered entirely in iPod© format with no supporting documents (other than the course textbook), and it should fit entirely in a standard 30 Gb iPod©. This would allow deploying military students to load the entire course on their iPod© prior to departure.

The ultimate goal of this paper is to include information on the development of this course, what works and what does not, all required development software, production techniques, limitations

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Hackworth, J. (2008, June), Development Of An Eet Lecture Course In Ipod© Format Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3192