Podcasts
What is a podcast?
Individual downloadable audio files are not podcasts. A podcast is a syndicated feed of audio/video files that a user can subscribe to and receive automatic updates. By copying files to the user's portable media player or personal computer, a feed enables people to use the files at their convenience. The push-pull delivery technology behind podcasting is known as RSS (Really Simple Syndication).
The School of Medicine supports podcasting through the Stanford on Itunes U project. Stanford on iTunes U provides access to a wide range of Stanford-related audio and video content via the iTunes Store, Apple’s popular online music, video, and podcast service.
Users can find your video and audio within Stanford on Itunes U by following links from your Web site, or they can search for your content directly in the Itunes U Web site. Users in turn have the option to download individual files, or they can subscribe to a podcast feed to receive automatic updates when new audio or video is added.
The Stanford on Itunes U project includes the following sections:
Public Stanford on Itunes U
This Public Stanford on Itunes U is an easily accessible way to share audio and video content of major events and lectures via a central repository available to anyone, anywhere.Accessing content: All content can be accessed by the public for free. For an example podcast, please see the school's MedCast Album, which features some of the leading-edge lectures at the School of Medicine. For information on how to search and download content from the Public Stanford on Itunes, see the QuickStart guide.
Uploading content: All uploading of content to the public site is centrally controlled at the university level to ensure proper branding and to ensure all necessary consent is secured before a file is posted. This processing may take up to ten businesss days after you submit your content.
For more information on how to post a video or audio file, or to create a podcast out of an ongoing series of files, see How Do I Contribute To the Public Stanford on Itunes.
Access-restricted Stanford on Itunes U
The Access-restricted Stanford on Itunes U is limited to users with SUNet IDs. It includes a section for general use by the Stanford community and a section for specific coursework content.
This section provides a Stanford-wide space for organizations to share their audio and video materials. The site requires a SUNet ID for login, but otherwise is open to the whole Stanford community. Please contact Jeremy Sabol jsabol@stanford.edu if you are interested being set up with a private album for your content in this section.
Once set up, you will be able to upload your content independently. Audio files should be in the MP3 and AAC format; video files in MPEG4 (mp4) and Quicktime (mov). PDF files may also be uploaded.
CourseWork-linked iTunes U sites
This section allows the instructor to create a private iTunes site visible only to registered CourseWork users in a particular class. Administrators and instructors in a course can upload and edit content, while students can only preview and download it.
Because the School of Medicine does not use CourseWork, the university-wide course management system, additional steps are required to set up access for SoM faculty interested in podcasting their course content through Itunes.
For more information, please contact Jenn Stringer jenn@stanford.edu at the school's EdTech Group. The EdTech Group offers a variety of services and resources to support teaching at the School of Medicine.
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