I’ve been working over the past few months to get a new podcast launched here at work, and I think we’ve finally gotten to the point of promoting it. Here’s our formal announcement, more comments follow.
The Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) at Xavier University of Louisiana is pleased to announce the official launch of our new podcast series, Teaching, Learning, and Everything Else.
Each episode is a conversation with a teacher in higher education, in which we examine how teaching intersects with a diverse range of topics. So far we have completed four episodes and touched on issues relating to technology, service learning, master teachers and dealing with personal problems of students. But we’re just getting started, and hope to continue branching out and exploring new topics with each episode. It’s a fresh and personal approach to faculty development that will appeal to anyone who teaches at the college level, regardless of discipline or rank.
The series is produced by Bart Everson, Media Artist at CAT. Dr. Elizabeth Yost Hammer is the Director of CAT and host of the show.
For more information, and to listen to the show, please visit our website at cat.xula.edu/podcast
It’s been a blast cooking up this concept and realizing it. At first I thought I’d host the show myself, but I soon realized the show would have so much more credibility if hosted by an actual college professor — and who better than my boss, the director of our center? So with a bit of cajoling she has embraced that role. It is requiring her to stretch outside her comfort zone, but in a good way, I hope. This has allowed me to work strictly as a behind-the-scenes producer. I’m finding I enjoy this. From researching and identifying prospective interviewees, to getting in touch with them and scheduling the conversations, to brainstorming interview questions and coaching the boss-lady on her technique — it’s all about reaching out into the world and making connections. It’s a barrel of fun.
Congrats!
Seeing that you’re in higher ed, I have to ask: where’s the transcript? The hearing impaired are left out.
Garvey: We are just waiting on you to get typing.
I actually do type out my podcast transcripts. I didn’t mean that to be a slam, but accessibility should be a goal, no?
One way is to make doing transcripts easier is making the podcasts shorter. Of course, if 508 compliance or accessibility for those with disabilities is not a concern, this is moot.
Well I’ll be damned. Garvey, I really thought you were pulling my leg. I thought you were probably making a sarcastic jibe at federal accessibility requirements. My bad. Since we are a private university, I believe that 508 compliance is not required for us. I do agree accessibility is a worthy goal, but I’m not sure we have the resources to make that happen with this podcast. Thanks for raising the issue though. Gives me something to ponder.
I am not an anarchist, B. I’m all for the “public good.” (I just draw the line in different places than some on what a public good is.)
My university is public, yet we don’t have to meet 508 necessarily. However, my unit (which is pretty much the same as yours) strives to be accessible. In fact, our webmaster had made it a requirement for everything we post/distribute, which is cool.
You may not have the resources now, but it’s a good thing to make accessibility part of the conversation. “Well, I know we can’t do it now, but we really ought to have a transcript posted for the hearing impaired.” Etc. And if you get people thinking about it, then down the line, things may change.