IT 111 Podcasts from North Seattle Community College

IT 111 Podcasts for Fall Quarter 2009

2009-09-29T16:22:00.001-07:00

I am trying to decide if I'll continue with the weekly podcasts. One reason I think they might not be necessary is the weekly real time, virtual meetings I'll be conducting this quarter. These sessions allow me to share resources that I'd otherwise share in the podcasts. And, I record the sessions so students can view them even if they haven't been able to attend.

I think Twitter does a better job of providing updates. Yet another reason to discontinue the weekly podcasts.

Finally, I've gotten some feedback from previous students that there is almost too much content in the class.

I'll make up my mind in the next couple days and let everyone know my final decision.

IT 111 Week 11 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-06-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

This short movie shows you how to copy your final project web site to your NetID web account if you will continue on as a student at North Seattle Community College.

This is the final podcast for the quarter and it includes several reminders and answers to questions I frequently receive from students at the end of the quarter.

Listen to the Week 11 Podcast (3:32 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-06-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

This podcast focuses on the Final Project Assignment and has several tips for getting an excellent grade. I recommend you use the Grading Sheet to grade your own project before you submit it to me.

The screen snapshot on the left shows a photo sharing web site, Flickr, with a search engine for finding photos that are okay to use as long as you give the photographer credit. View the Camp Leha final project from a previous quarter to see how to give credit.

Remember if you want feedback on your project and an opportunity to make corrections, you must submit it by Tuesday, June 16th.

Listen to the Week 10 Podcast (6:21 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

IT 111 Week 9 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-05-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

This podcast includes several reminders, a brief introduction to the XHTML forms and some tips for the Chapter 9 Assignment. Next week's podcast will discuss the final project and give lots of tips for doing well on this important assignment.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast (2:39 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

IT 111 Week 8 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-05-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

This week's podcast has several announcements and an introduction to Chapter 8, XHTML Tables. The video has some tips on the Chapter 8 assignment.

One important announcement is that I've changed the deadline for the Final Project Part 3 Assignment to Sunday, June 7 by 11:59pm. You can submit this assignment sooner if you want to but I decided it might be a good idea to give you a bit more time to complete it.

Listen to the Week 8 Podcast (4:25 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-05-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

This week's podcast has some announcements and a brief overview of some of the concepts in Chapter 7. The short video (4:46 minutes) shown above has some additional tips on this week's assignment.

I encourage you to check out some of the links from the textbook web site.

Listen to the Week 7 Podcast (3:21 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

IT 111 Week 6 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-05-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

This podcast has some announcements, an overview of the Final Project Part 2, and some tips for the Chapter 6 Assignment. The Chapter 6 Assignment Tips video above gives some additional tips on this week's assignment.

I am highly recommending that you use some of the resources from the textbook web site for both Chapter 3 (for selecting colors for our web site) and Chapter 6 (for CSS for page layout). There are some excellent resources provided for you.

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast (3:45 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

It 111 Week 5 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-05-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

This short YouTube video (5:36 minutes) has some tips for doing well on the Chapter 5 Assignment. The podcast includes a few more tips and some announcements, too. I'm also recommending a book on web design and usability called Don't Make Me Think! 2nd edition by Steve Krug. The NSCC Library has two copies of it if you want to borrow it instead of buy it.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast. (3:22 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

IT 111 Week 4 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-04-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

This short video (2:35 minutes) shows how to determine the dimensions (width and height) and file size of an image using Firefox. I hope it will be helpful when working on the Chapter 4 Assignment.

This podcast includes some announcements and some tips for the Chapter 4 Assignment. It mentions a screen reader simulation used by visually impaired people who surf the web. Here is a link so you can check it out. It takes a few seconds to load so be patient. I think it will be a great motivation for including the alt attribute in all your image tags along with good descriptions of the images.

Listen to the Week 4 Podcast (5:09 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

I welcome your comments.

IT 111 Week 3 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-04-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

This short video (3:33 minutes) has some tips on avoiding common coding errors in CSS and I hope you'll watch it!

This week's podcast has some announcements and a quick overview of CSS and the Chapter 3 Assignment. I hope you'll get started early on the assignment and if you have any questions, please post them in our Angel Learning virtual classroom in the Questions / Problems / Answers discussion board.

Please join me on Wednesday, April 22 at 7pm for our real time, virtual meeting using Elluminate.

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

Listen to the Week 3 Podcast (3 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

Feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast - Spring 2009

2009-04-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Review these XHTML coding tips. They will help you, I promise.

This podcast has some workflow tips for the Chapter 2 Assignment and a strong recommendation for using Firefox and getting the Web Developer Toolbar. I wouldn't want to do web work without it. Here are a couple short YouTube videos that show how to install and use many of the tool in the toolbar. Video 1 (4:31 minutes) and Video 2 (6:51 minutes).

If you haven't taken the quick survey about your availability to participate in our real time, virtual meetings, please do it by tomorrow. I'd like to squeeze in a meeting this week. So far, Tuesday has the most combined first and second choice responses with Wednesday following close behind.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (5:11 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 1 Podcast Spring 2009

2009-04-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

This podcast has several announcements, an overview of the Chapter 1 assignment, and some tips about the brain and learning. The tips come from a presentation I attended recently and the web site , www.brainrules.net, is a must view for all students.

Of course I want you to learn XHTML and CSS this quarter, but if you can also learn more about how you learn, the class will be even more valuable for you. I really mean it. Knowing how you learn is very empowering.

I hope to see several of you at the information session on Wednesday.

If you want to subscribe to the IT 111 Podcasts so you can listen to them on your iPod, watch this tutorial.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (5 min 37 sec)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast Winter 2009

2009-03-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

This short video (2:50 minutes) has basic instructions for moving your final project web pages to your NetID web server space. Here is a link to the FAQs mentioned in the video.

This is the final podcast for the quarter and it includes answers to questions I often receive from students at the end of the quarter. Best of luck to all of you!

Listen to the Week 11 Podcast (2:36 minutes)
Or, if you prefer read the written transcript. PDF

Comments?

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-03-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

This podcast focuses on the final project with several tips for getting the best grade possible. I encourage you to print a copy of the grading sheet before you begin listening to the podcast so you can follow along with my comments.

The screen snapshot to the left is a Flickr site that allows you to search for images that can be used on your web site. The only catch is that you have to give the original photographer credit. Not a bad deal.

Your final project is due on the last day of class, Wednesday, March 25. However, if you submit it by Monday, March 23, I'll give you feedback and a chance to make improvements.

As a reminder, all outstanding assignments will also be due on Wednesday, March 25, the official last day of Winter quarter.

Listen to the Week 10 podcast (6:00 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 9 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-03-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

The screen snapshot on the left is from a web page titled, Web Design: From Good to Great in 25 Links, that Micah recently discovered and shared with me. It has some really interesting and useful information and I encourage you to check it out. If you find a web site that you think the rest of us would benefit from, please send me a link.

This week's podcast has some announcements and a brief introduction to Chapter 9 and the form you'll be including in your final project.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

Thanks again, Micah, for sharing this great resource!

IT 111 Week 8 Podcast - Winter Quarter

2009-02-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

The short video (6:48 minutes) above is a demonstration that shows how to save the CSS and XHTML from the web sites that offer layout templates. I've included links to a couple of the web sites in the Class Links page - see the sections that correspond to Chapter 6 and 7.

This podcast has some announcements and also encourages you to download, install, and use the Web Developer Extension that is available for Firefox. I'm including links to a couple YouTube movies that show you some of the great features of the developer tools.

Video #1 (4:31 minutes)
Video #2 (6:51 minutes)

Listen to the Week 8 Podcast (3:52 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript (PDF)

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-02-21T15:38:00.000-08:00

The screen snapshot to the left is for the Newseum and I decided to include in my podcast show notes for two reasons. First, it's a very, very cool web site. You can find the front page of newspapers in the US and around the world and either go to the newspaper's web site or print the front page.

Second, the Newseum web site represents what I like the best about the Web and Internet. It's a resource that would be impossible to duplicate in any other format and it's free. Check it out and tell me what you think.

This week's podcast has a brief overview of the Chapter 7 Assignment. I think you'll enjoy using pseudo classes to make interesting navigation links. And three column layouts using CSS are also introduced in Chapter 7.

Listen to the Week 7 Podcast (3:27 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF.

I like getting your comments.

IT 111 Week 6 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-02-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

This podcast has several announcements about the President's Day holiday weekend coming up, a book recommendation, and a quick overview of Chapter 6.

The book pictured to the left, Don't Make Me Think!, is one of my favorite books on web design and usability. There are two copies in the NSCC library if you want to check it out before you buy it.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 5 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-02-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

This short video (2:35 minutes) shows how to determine the dimensions (width and height) and file size of an image using Firefox. I hope it will be helpful when working on the Chapter 4 Assignment.

This podcast includes some announcements, some tips for the Chapter 4 Assignment, and a brief overview of the Chapter 5 Assignment. It mentions a screen reader simulation used by visually impaired people who surf the web and a web-based image editing site called Photoshop Express. I hope you'll check out the screen reader simulation (takes a few seconds to load so be patient) as it will great motivation for including the alt attribute in all your image tags along with good descriptions of the images.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast (6:47 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the printed transcript. PDF

Please feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 3 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-01-22T19:13:00.000-08:00

This is a screen snapshot of the Elluminate player which is used to listen to and watch our weekly "real time" sessions that I've recorded. I made a short video that shows how to navigate through the recording if you want to review it. Our first session, held last night, had five students in attendance and lasted about 50 minutes. This week's podcast has some highlights of the session for those who are wondering if it's worth their while to watch it.

This podcast also includes some tips on workflow as you write your web page code, copy it to your web account, and check it in the validator. You might want to print out the transcript for this podcast. I think the tips might be easier to grasp in written format.

Finally, I've briefly introduced the final project and I'm asking students to start thinking about topic ideas. I need to approve your topic before you get started.

Listen to the Week 3 podcast (6:58 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF.

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-01-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

View my short YouTube video (8:41 minutes) before you begin working on Chapter 2.

This week's podcast has some announcements, course updates, and tips for the assignments due this week and next. I'm encouraging you to start working on the Chapter 2 Assignment as soon as you complete the Chapter 1 Assignment. It is rather long and you may find it takes a while to get your web page code perfect.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (5:17 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the written transcript. (PDF)

If you'd like to subscribe to the IT 111 Podcasts and listen to them on your iPod, watch this tutorial.

Please leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 1 Podcast - Winter 2009

2009-01-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

The screen snapshot to the left is the National Weather Service Web Site. It's become my favorite way to check the weather - which I've been doing a lot lately. Since we've been having such dramatic weather, I thought I'd share this web site with the class. If you decide to check it out, notice you can type in your zip code or city to get your own local forecast.

This week's podcast has some course announcements and tips about the Intro Assignment and Quiz as well as a short discussion about the communication tools we'll be using this quarter.

I've asked students to login to the Student Information Services Kiosk to make sure they have an accurate email address listed. I'll be sending out important information in email messages and I want to make sure all students get them.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (6 mins 32 secs)
Or, read the written transcript if you prefer. (PDF)

Leave a comment!

IT 111 Final Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-12-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

This will be my final podcast for Fall Quarter, 2008 and it includes a few updates and answers to "frequently asked questions" that usually come up at the end of the quarter. I decided to share a short Christmas Ship Video (1:17 minutes) I took a couple years ago to help us all get in the right mood for the holidays.

Listen to the final IT 111 podcast. (3 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript. (PDF)

I hope everyone has a relaxing and peaceful holiday season with family and friends.

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-11-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

This podcast focuses on the final project with several tips for getting the best grade possible. I encourage you to print a copy of the grading sheet before you begin listening to the podcast so you can follow along with my comments.

The screen snapshot to the left is a Flickr site that allows you to search for images that can be used on your web site. The only catch is that you have to give the original photographer credit. Not a bad deal.

Your final project is due on the last day of class, Wednesday, December 10. However, if you submit it by Monday, December 8, I'll give you feedback and a chance to make improvements.

As a reminder, all outstanding assignments will also be due on Wednesday, December 10, the official last day of Fall quarter.

Listen to the Week 10 podcast (6:12 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript (PDF)

Did everyone survive Thanksgiving? I hope so!

IT 111 Week 9 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-11-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

This is a screen snapshot of one of the final projects submitted Summer quarter. As you work on your project template, I encourage you to review the examples I've provided in the Final Project Assignment page of previous projects.

This podcast has some announcements and a brief introduction to Chapter 9 - XHTML forms. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving next week.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast (3:33 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 8 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-11-13T17:45:00.001-08:00

This podcast has an announcement, a "shout out" for the Firefox Web Developer Extension, and a short introduction to Chapter 8 - XHTML Tables.

I've recently downloaded and installed the Firefox Web Developer Extension and I'm loving using many of the tools it provides. Please check it out.

I think you'll be able to figure it out on your own but I found a couple YouTube movies that introduce it and explore some of its more useful features.

Video #1 (4:31 minutes)
Video #2 (6:51 minutes)

Listen to the Week 8 Podcast (3:39 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-11-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

This is a screen snapshot for Jing Project which is free software that allows you to make a either a movie of the action on your screen or a snapshot. I'm using it when I review your assignments to show you problems - much easier than typing them.

Also, Karl mentioned "skip navigation" in his critique last week and I found a web site that does a good job of explaining it and has several examples. Check it out!

More about these web sites and a short introduction to Chapter 7 are included in this podcast. Enjoy!

Listen to the Week 7 podcast (3:30 minutes long)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer (PDF)

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 6 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-10-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

This podcast has some announcements, a book recommendation, and some tips for Chapter 6.

The book pictured to the left, Don't Make Me Think!, is one of my favorite books on web design and usability. There are two copies in the library at NSCC if you want to check it out before you buy it.

I encourage you to get your web site critiques posted to our discussion board sooner rather than later since you also need to review and comment on other critiques. Waiting till the last minute to post and review will make it harder for your fellow classmates.

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast (3:12 minutes long)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript. PDF

IT 111 Week 5 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-10-23T15:16:00.001-07:00

The screen snapshot to the left is from a free web-based image editing site called Photoshop Express. The Chapter 4 Assignment requires you to edit two photos and if you don't own image editing software, you might want to use this service. I have not used it but I've heard good things about it.

This podcast covers some important topics from Chapter 4 and gives a brief overview of the Chapter 5 Assignment due on November 2. In the podcast, I mention screen reader devices used by the visually impaired when they surf the web and the importance of including the "alt" attribute in your image tags. I hope you'll listen to this screen reader simulation as it reads a web page. It's an enlightening experience. Note: it is a large audio file and will take a few seconds to download.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast (6:16 minutes long)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment about the simulation.

IT 111 Week 3 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-10-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of an "EnergyPod" used by staff at Google and other high tech firms for short naps. A recent article in the Seattle PI discussed the role of sleep and naps in creativity and problem solving. The article might convince you to get more sleep!

This podcast describes the work flow I recommend when coding and testing your web page files. You might want to print out the transcript for this podcast to have a written description of the work flow, too. It also discusses my communication style and approach to grading.

Listen to the Week 3 Podcast (6:56 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF.

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast - Fall 2008

2008-09-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

This short video (8 minutes and 41 seconds) covers the 4 most important rules for XHTML documents. I hope you'll watch it before you start working on the Chapter 2 Assignment.

The Week 2 podcast includes some general course information and some tips for the Chapter 2 Assignment which is the first coding assignment. I'm sure you're all anxious to get started creating web pages. Make sure to give yourself enough time to complete it. And, remember what Lisa said in the interview. Work every day and don't wait till the last minute to do the assignment.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (4 minutes long)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript (PDF)

And, feel free to add a comment or question.

IT 111 Week 1 Podcast Fall 2008

2008-09-22T15:58:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first Fall quarter podcast for IT 111. I've used this podcast to explain how I use podcasting in our class, to make a few announcements, and to give you some quick tips on the intro assignment and quiz which are due on Thursday, Sept. 25.

My use of Meebo, an instant messaging tool, is one of the announcements. If I'm online and willing to get questions, the Meebo window on the course home page will show that I'm online. You can type a quick message into the window and hit the Enter or Return key and I'll get your message. I should respond right away unless I've stepped away from my computer. Make sure you include your name in your message so I know who I'm communicating with.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (4:05 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript for the podcast. (PDF - requires Acrobat Reader)

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast Summer 2008

2008-08-04T20:46:00.001-07:00

This podcast is all about your final project and getting the best grade possible for it. I recommend you print a copy of the grading sheet before you listen to the podcast.

The screen snapshot to the left is a Flickr site that allows you to search for images that can be used on your web site. The only catch is that you have to give the original photographer credit. Not a bad deal.

This will be the final podcast for the quarter I think unless I find something that I must share with you next week.

Listen to the Week 7 Podcast (6:13 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF)

Good luck on your final project!

IT 111 Week 6 Podcast - Summer 2008

2008-07-30T17:23:00.001-07:00

This is a screen snapshot of Mark Meyer's web site. He teaches ART 210 - Computer Art and I'm highly recommending this class to those who want to take more classes that relate to web design and development. Mark is a GREAT instructor!

This podcast has a few announcements, a quick overview of XHTML forms and the Chapter 9 Assignment, and some tips for the final project.

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, read the transcript, if you prefer (PDF)

IT 111 Week 5 Podcast Summer 2008

2008-07-23T20:10:00.001-07:00

This podcast has several announcements, some ideas from the Edward Tufte workshop I attended last week, and a brief overview of Chapter 7.

The web site for WebAnywhere, a web-based application for blind people that allows them to use public computers, is shown to the left. I've been thinking a lot about accessibility and decided to include a short audio portion from the WebAIM screen reader simulator in this podcast, too. I've mentioned screen reader devices this quarter and this will give you a chance to hear what they sound like.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast (5:38 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 4 Podcast - Summer 2008

2008-07-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

This podcast has some announcements, a book recommendation, and tips for the Chapter 6 Assignment. The book I highly recommend is shown to the left - Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. The NSCC Library has 2 copies of it if you'd like to check it out.

I must say, I can hardly believe we are already half way through the quarter. Thanks to all of you who are keeping up and doing such great work!

Listen to the Week 4 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer (PDF)

IT 111 Week 3 Podcast - Summer 2008

2008-07-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

This is a short video (4:21 minutes) I took during our Fourth of July celebration last week. I used my Flip Video Camera to film these activities.

This week's podcast has some announcements as well as some discussion of important topics from Chapter 4 on Visual Elements and Graphics. There's also an introduction to the Chapter 5 Assignment.

Listen to the Week 4 Podcast (6:02 minutes)
Or, read the podcast transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast

2008-07-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

This week you'll start learning Cascading Style Sheets or CSS. The screen snapshot at the left shows the W3School CSS Reference which I highly recommend you bookmark or favorite. It explains each of the properties used in CSS and also has "Try it yourself demos" so you can see immediately if you're getting the new concepts.

This week's podcast has some announcements as well as information on my communication style and grading practices. It also has some tips on the Chapter 3 Assignment due on Thursday, July 3.

Have a good 4th of July, everyone.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, read the transcript (PDF)

Week 1 Podcast - Summer 2008

2008-06-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

I hope you've watched the short welcome video (1:17 minutes) linked above. I know some of you won't be able to attend the information session tonight but watching the video will give you a chance to meet me.

This week's podcast has several announcements and an overview of the Chapter 2 Assignment. We are jumping right into XHTML so fasten your seat belts! Also, this assignment is rather long so please get started on it right away. With summer quarter being so short, we don't have any time to waste.

The podcast and transcript are linked below. Enjoy!

Week 1 Podcast (5:55 minutes)
Week 1 Podcast Transcript (PDF)

IT 111 Week 5 Podcast - Spring 2008

2008-04-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

This screen snapshot is what I'm calling my "15 minutes of fame" because I'm the featured educator in a newsletter from the software company that I use for making the tutorials and demos for our class. So far, I've been contacted by someone from Ireland and Washington State. I couldn't resist sharing this with you.

This weeks podcast has some announcements and a brief overview of Chapter 4 and Assignment 4. I'll also be producing a special podcast at the end of the week after I attend a conference at Microsoft. Listen to the podcast to find out why! By the way, I'm giving presentations on podcasting and screencasting at the conference. I'm also giving a three hour workshop at a conference in Spokane. So, this is a busy week for me.

Listen to the Week 5 podcast (5:03 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Week 4 Podcast - Spring 2008

2008-04-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

This week's podcast has an announcement, a brief discussion of my communication style and grading strategy, and tips for Assignment 3. You'll be learning about web safe colors and using CSS to format color and text in this assignment.

The screen snapshot is of the W3Schools CSS reference page. It lists all the common properties used in CSS and I encourage you to bookmark or favorite it. I find it an extremely handy list and refer to it on a regular basis. Please check it out!

Listen to the Week 4 Podcast (4:21 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment, too.

IT 111 Week 2 Podcast Spring 2008

2008-04-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

The week 2 podcast for IT 111 includes some course updates and gives an overview of the assignments that are due this week and next. The video (about 8 and a half minutes long) I've embedded above will be helpful when you start working on Assignment 2.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (4 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. (PDF)

Welcome to IT 111 - Week 1 Spring 2008

2008-03-30T16:59:00.001-07:00

This is a short (55 seconds) welcome video that I created with my Flip Video camera.

I've just finished the first podcast for the class. I'll add a link to it (and the written transcript) below. It has some announcements, information about the podcasts I'll be producing this quarter, and an overview of Assignment 0 and Quiz 0.

There's an information session scheduled for Tuesday, April 1 from 7pm - 7:50pm in IB 3406. I hope you can come because I enjoy meeting the students who'll be taking the class.

I've also created an online orientation that everyone needs to watch. It's in several parts and the whole thing takes about 30 minutes to view. It will give you important information on the course goals, the requirements, and how the class works. The first quiz will cover both the orientation and the syllabus. Make sure you watch the orientation before you take the quiz.

Welcome to IT 111.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (4:33 minutes).
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF

View the Online Orientation
Get a copy of the handouts that accompany the orientation.

IT 111 Week 10 Podcast

2008-03-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is the final podcast of the quarter and it focuses on the final project and how you can get the best score possible. Remember this is 25% of your final grade!

Why don't you print out a copy of the grading sheet and use it as I explain each of the grading elements?

Listen to the Week 10 podcast. (6:17 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. PDF

IT 111 Week 9 Podcast

2008-02-29T16:24:00.000-08:00

This podcast include announcements, some information about Assignment 7 and Chapter 10, and tips for the final web site project.

Don't forget to check out the Chapter 10 updates from the textbook web site. There's an error in the textbook and you'll want to know about it in advance before you get frustrated.

Speaking of the textbook web site, you might want to use the Chapter 4 page to find free-to-use images and logo and navigation button generators for your final project. Past students have found them helpful.

You can also find images at Flickr. Many are available as long as you give the author credit.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast. (3:25 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. PDF

IT 111 Week 8 Podcast

2008-02-22T17:55:00.001-08:00

I took this picture during the lunar eclipse on February 20th. It didn't turn out too well because I didn't use a tripod but I'm glad I spent some time watching the eclipse.

This podcast has some course updates and information about Assignment 6. I hope everyone has noticed that I've extended the due dates for Assignment 6, Quiz 6, Assignment 7, and Quiz 7. Also, there are come Chapter 6 updates that you should review before you start working on Assignment 6.

I'm ordering online course evaluations that will be sent to the email address that's on file with the college. Visit the Online Student Kiosk to make sure it is correct.

Listen to the IT 111 Week 8 Podcast. (3:48 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF)

I hope everyone is getting a chance to enjoy the spring-like weather we've been having!

IT 111 Week 7 Podcast

2008-02-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

This is a short tutorial (3:30 minutes) that provides 4 tips for avoiding CSS validation errors. I hope you'll find it helpful.

This podcast has some information about Assignment 5 which is based on Chapter 9 in the textbook. Notice that we are skipping around again. I also hope everyone is aware that I've extended the due date for Assignment 5 to Thursday, February 21. It might take a bit longer to understand how Cascading Style Sheets work and to complete the assignment which is a little longer than some others.

I encourage you to make the W3Schools CSS Reference List a bookmark or favorite. It is an excellent resource for coding your CSS.

Have a good holiday weekend everyone but don't wait too long to start Chapter 9 and Assignment 5.

Listen to the IT 111 Week 7 Podcast. 3:21)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. (PDF)

IT 111 Week 6 Podcast

2008-02-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

This podcast includes some general course information, an introduction to the second discussion assignment, and some advice on studying for the test next week. Discussion 2 gives you practice in applying the web design principles from Chapter 7 in our textbook. In addition, I found a great article from Smashing Magazine called "10 Principles of Effective Web Design." I encourage you to read it.

I've also included a short recording I made from a screen reader simulator that will give you a real world example of how blind people experience the web. You can access the simulator yourself. At the very least, it will help you understand why it's important to include the title and summary attributes in your table tags.

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast. (4:56 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. PDF

IT 111 Week 5 Podcast

2008-01-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

The screen snapshot on the left is from the ColorMaker - a helpful web-based tool for picking good colors for a web page or site. I encourage you to use it when selecting colors for your final web site project. It, along with some other helpful sites are linked from the Class Links page on the course web site.

This podcast includes an overview of Chapter 4, which covers colors and images, and Assignment 4. Even though this isn't a web graphics class, I want students to be able to edit images so they look good and download quickly on the web. If you don't have an image editing program like Photoshop Elements or PaintShop Pro on your computer, you can download and use Picasa- a free image editing program by Google. If you're working on a Mac, you'll probably want to use iPhoto instead.

Finally, in order to complete the Chapter 4 updates on your case study, you'll need to get the Textbook Student Data Files from WebCT.

Listen to the Week 5 Podcast (6:55 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF)

IT 111 Week 4 Podcast

2008-01-23T19:08:00.001-08:00

The screen snapshot to the left shows the Seattle PI front page story on online learning which features North Seattle Community College. If you missed it yesterday (1-22), you can read it online.

Anyone for a "virtual office hour?" If you're having problems with an assignment, contact me via email or Meebo and we can set up a time to talk. I'm using a program called Gizmo Project that allows me to receive calls on my computer for a small annual fee ($36/year). We can discuss your problems in real time and work together to figure out how to fix them.

This podcast also discusses my grading strategy and gives some tips for Assignment 3.

Listen to the podcast (4:27 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF.

Is anybody listening? Feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Podcast #2 for Winter 2008

2008-01-17T19:44:00.000-08:00

This podcast took a bit longer to produce than I expected. I'm still getting software installed and tested on my new computer and it's been very time consuming.

The main focus of this podcast is Assignment 2 - your first web coding assignment. Get an early start on it since you'll need to download and install a few programs to complete all the tasks. All this software is listed and linked on the Tips Page which is where you can find the ePacket, too. Make sure you watch the tutorials (found on the Tutorials Page). They should help you a lot as you work on the assignment.

In addition to the short movie above, there are some excellent resources for Chapter 2 on the Class Links Page. One of them is the W3Schools XHTML Reference - a list of all the XHTML elements or tags and how they are used. There's also a web page that has plain English explanations for the error messages you might receive when you validate your pages.

Listen to the second podcast (4 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Week 1 Podcast for Winter 2008

2008-01-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

I'll be producing a short weekly podcast for our class this quarter and this first podcasts explains why and how I'm using them.

One of my favorite Christmas presents was a flip video camera, pictured in the image on the left. It takes decent videos that are easy to upload to YouTube or just watch on your computer. Find out more about it by going to the Flip Video web site. My welcome video was recorded with it.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast. (2:52 minutes)
Read the transcript if you prefer. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #10 for Fall 2007

2007-12-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist making a short movie of the snow that fell today in Seattle. Did you enjoy it?

This podcast has some announcements and several tips for getting a good grade on your final project. I'm recommending that you print a copy of the grading form I'll be using before you listen to the podcast. Then you can follow along as I review and give advice on each of the project elements.

Remember there are many web-based tools you might be able to use with your project. A quick review of the Class Links will direct you to sites that allow you to:

Listen to the Week 10 Podcast (6:23 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF)

Please feel free to leave a comment.

IT 111 Podcast #9 for Fall 2007

2007-11-22T14:16:00.001-08:00

This week's podcast has some course announcements, an introduction to Assignment 7, and a very cool web site you'll want to use the next time you fly someplace.

Before you start Assignment 7, look at the Chapter 10 Updates on the textbook web site. There is a correction that will save you time and frustration if you know about it before you begin.

While you're looking at the Updates page, I encourage you to explore the CSS Page Layout Creator. It might help you understand these new CSS techniques or even help you create the layout for your final web project if you decide not to use tables.

Finally, make sure you check out the SeatGuru.com. I used it on both legs of my flight from Seattle to London and had good seats both times.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast (3:51 minutes long)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment, too!

IT 111 Podcast #8 for Fall 2007

2007-11-14T12:44:00.001-08:00

This podcast has some announcements and tips for completing Assignment 6.

One of the announcements is the online evaluation I'll be ordering for our class next week. Since the evaluation is sent to your email address, I'm asking you to check the email address that's listed for you in our system and correct it if necessary.

The screen snapshot shows the Chapter 6 web page for the textbook and if you want to learn more about the scripts that process forms or free remotely hosted form processing services, check out this page.

Listen to the Week 8 Podcast (4:21 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. (PDF)

Feel free to post a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #7 for Fall 2007

2007-11-09T17:45:00.001-08:00

This podcast has some additional tips for Assignment 5 and includes two book recommendations as well. The web page to the left shows Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug. The NSCC library has a copy but if you decide to purchase it, do it from this web site.

Here is a link to Eric Meyer's CSS Compatibility Chart but I think you might want to use the one from the W3Schools web site instead. It is more up-to-date.

The NSCC Library web site will help you order and/or place a hold on the two books mentioned in the podcast.

Thanks to Lisa for finding and sharing the Seattle Times article about Vint Cerf a founder of the Internet back in the 1960s.

Listen to the Week 7 Podcast (4:14 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #6 for Fall 2007

2007-11-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

This podcast introduces Cascading Style Sheets and Assignment 5 which covers chapter 9 in the textbook. The screen snapshot to the left is of the W3Schools CSS Tutorial which I strongly encourage students to use as they begin learning CSS.

I'll get the test graded ASAP and I apologize for the technical problems that arose during the test. I know it impacted at least one student who had planned on taking the test in the afternoon.

Listen to the Week 6 Podcast (4:16 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #4 for Fall 2007

2007-10-17T02:16:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my great nephew Tommy and me taken in London. I'll be returning to Seattle on Wednesday, Oct. 17 so we'll be in the same time zone soon.

This week's podcast has some background information on web color and graphics and some tips for Assignment 4.

Listen to the Week 4 Podcast. (6:24 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. (PDF)

IT 111 Podcast #3 for Fall 2007

2007-10-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

I cannot tell a lie, I'm in London, England now and soon I'll be traveling to Sweden. If you want to keep track of my whereabouts, check out my travel blog at http://www.offexploring.com/jkent20/home. I've been adding photos, videos, and blog entries about the sights I am seeing. I guess you could say this is one of the perks of teaching online.

The screen snapshot shows my travel blog - a free tool that I'm learning how to use. One thing is sure, I'll remember my trip much better with the help of this blog.

I am struggling with the wireless connection here in London so I haven't finished grading Assignment 1 yet. But I will keep working on it.

I've been sharing a YouTube movie with students that gives a great explanation about RSS. I highly recommend that you watch it. It's short but very well done.

Listen to the Week 3 podcast . (5:02 minutes)
Or read the podcast transcript. PDF

Feel free to leave a comment.

It 111Podcast #2 for Fall 2007

2007-10-02T15:39:00.000-07:00

In this podcast, I review the assignments that are due in the next couple weeks and encourage you to check out a couple resources linked from the Class Links section of the course web site. The image to the left is a screen snapshot of the W3Schools XHTML Reference, one of the most helpful resources for XHTML coding. It not only lists and explains all the elements or tags but it also gives you a chance to practice using the element in the "Try-It-Yourself Demos."

The other resource explains the validation error messages in plain English. This should really help you as you work on getting your web pages to validate. The link for this page works okay from the Class Links page but for some reason, I couldn't get it to work here. Very strange. Thanks, Lisa, for the heads up about this.

I'd also like to remind you to look for chapter updates on the textbook website. Any errors that have been found after the book was printed will be listed for you. It could save you a lot of time when working on your assignments.

Listen to the Week 2 Podcast (4:40 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer.

Feel free to leave a comment!

Rules for Coding XHTML

2007-09-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

I made a video (8:41 minutes) that explains four of the most important rules for properly coding XHTML. If you follow these rules, you'll avoid about 90 - 95% of the validation errors that student often make at the beginning of the quarter.

These are the rules (but watch the video to get a better understanding of them):

Documents must be well formed.
All element and attribute names must be written in lower case letters.
Attribute values must always be quoted.
Elements must be closed including empty elements.

IT 111 Podcast #1 for Fall 2007

2007-09-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the IT 111 podcasts. I hope you will enjoy listening to them and that they will enrich your experience of this online class. When possible, I'll include a printed transcript so you have the option of either listening to or reading the podcasts.

The image to the left is a screen snapshot of the online orientation for the class. I'll keep it available throughout the quarter in case you want to review any part of it. After the first week I'll place the link to it on the Tips page.

This podcast discusses some of the communication tools I'll be using this quarter (Meebo and Skype) and the three graded assignments that are due on Friday.

Listen to the Week 1 Podcast (3:43 minutes)
Or, read the transcript. PDF

Feel free to leave me a comment, too!

IT 111 Podcast #3 for Summer, 2007

2007-07-13T12:42:00.001-07:00

The image to the left is a screen snapshot of Pageflakes a very handy service that I've been using for several months now. It allows me to select items (called flakes) that provide updated information on a wide variety of topics to appear when I launch my default web browser. For example, I can see the weather forecast for the next five days. I can see the time in Sweden where a close friend, with whom I communicate using Skype, lives. I can also see the new pictures of my great nephew that my niece living in London uploads to her Picasa web album.

There are several flakes that students might find helpful, too. For examples there is a grade tracker, a schedule maker, a dictionary flake, a calculator, a notepad. I encourage you to check it out. Pakeflakes is a free service and I love having my information handy and updated constantly.

This podcast summarizes some of the great suggestions from Discussion 1, explains my grading strategy, and gives an overview and some tips for Assignment 3.

Listen to the Podcast #3 (4:05 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. PDF

IT 111 Podcast #2 for Summer, 2007

2007-07-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

This podcast gives some course updates, talks about the WebCT quizzes, and discusses Assignment 2 which is due next week.

I know it isn't related to the course content but I'm providing a link to a web site that discusses and rates sunscreens (a screen snapshot of the web site appears at the left). There was an article about it in the PI earlier this week and I thought it might be useful information for those who will be spending the 4th of July out doors.

Speaking of the 4th, I hope everyone has a safe and sane holiday. We live on Lake Union and have a ringside seat for those fireworks. I'm planning to take some photos and maybe even a movie which I'll share if they turn out.

Listen to Podcast #2 (5:31 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF)

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #1 for Summer, 2007

2007-06-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

This podcast introduces IT 111 Internet and Web Authoring using XHTML. I'll be experimenting with two communication tools this quarter. One of them is Skype (web page pictured to the left) and the other is Meebo. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript to find out more.

I've created an online version of the orientation for those who can't attend the on-campus orientation on Tuesday, June 26. The orientation will help you understand how the class works and I guarantee you'll be more successful if you take the time to watch it. The orientation is organized into five parts and it takes about 30 minutes to watch the entire thing. You'll find a link to it on the course web site.

Listen to Podcast #1 (4:35 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer!

Please feel free to add a comment.

IT 111 Podcast #10 for Spring, 2007

2007-06-04T19:46:00.001-07:00

This weeks podcast has some class announcements, tips for the final project, and a discussion about password management systems. The screen snapshot to the left shows the Lifehacker blog posting on handling passwords. Read the entire posting called Track your passwords ten different ways.

I've decided to make taking the second test optional and the podcast explains why. If you want to take the test, it will be held on Thursday, June 14 from 5pm - 7:30pm in TB 1643B.

The quarter is almost over and next week will be my last podcast for the class.

Listen to the Week 10 podcast (4:39 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the podcast transcript. (PDF format)

IT 111 Podcast#9 for Spring, 2007

2007-05-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

This week's podcast has course announcements, a few comments on Chapter 10, and some resources for the final web site project. The screen snapshot to the left shows a forms-based tool called "List-o-matic" that helps create CSS navigation for a web site. You decide on the number of navigation links, the link text and their URLs and then select a style. The CSS and XHTML code are generated for you and you can copy and paste it into your own code. Very cool. The URL for "List-o-matic" is http://www.accessify.com/tools-and-wizards/developer-tools/list-o-matic/.

Another resource for your final project is from a recent posting entitled Who Needs Headlines? from the blog A List Apart. It offers several interesting ideas for headlines that can seduce visitors into your web site. Since several of you are creating web sites for selling products or services, I thought it might help you write the copy for your project home page. Find the article at http://www.alistapart.com/articles/whoneedsheadlines.

Listen to the Week 9 Podcast. (5 minutes)
Or, if you prefer, read the transcript. (PDF format)

IT 111 Podcast #8 for Spring, 2007

2007-05-24T18:57:00.001-07:00

This is a photo taken last weekend of my great nephew and me. He is about 5 weeks old in this picture and a real cutie, I think.

This podcast has some tips about Assignment 6 which has a new due date because of the holiday weekend. Now it is due on Wednesday, May 30. You'll want to listen to the podcast or read the transcript before you get too far into Chapter 6 and the assignment.

Thanks for the positive feedback on last week's podcast. And, have a great Memorial Day Weekend. It even looks like we'll have nice weather - a special treat.

Listen to the Week 8 podcast. (4:14 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. (PDF format)

IT 111 Podcast #7 for Spring 2007

2007-05-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

This podcast is a little late but I hope you'll find the content worth waiting for! I attended an event at Microsoft on Friday, May 18 called the Center for Information Technology Excellence 2007 IT Education Futures Summit. IT faculty from community colleges around the state attended and one of the most worthwhile presenations was on employment and hiring for IT students. Listen to the podcast for a summary of this presentation. I've also included some updates on Assignment 5 which is due next Tuesday, May 22.

Listen to the Week 7 podcast. (6:43 minutes)
Or, read the transcript, if you prefer. (PDF format)

Here's a link to the NSCC Career Services web site. I think you'll find it a helpful resource if you're preparing to hit the job market soon.

IT 111 Podcast #6 for Spring 2007

2007-05-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

Better late than never, here is the Week 6 podcast. It has some information about the first test and Assignment 5 which covers Cascading Style Sheets. I'm also including a link to a blog posting from A List Apart on CSS. It gives several reasons why you shouldn't be afraid of learning this new type of code and why you'll like it once you learn more about it.

One last reminder, don't wait too long to start working on Assignment 5!

Listen to the Week 6 podcast (3:40 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer.

Feel free to post a comment.

IT 111 Podcast #5 for Spring 2007

2007-04-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

This podcast has some general course information, an introduction to the next assignment (Discussion 2) and some advice on studying for the first test. This week you'll be reading Chapter 7, Web Site Design, and yes, we are skipping around a bit in the book. I've also recommended a book titled, "Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability" by Steve Krug. If you are interested in the topic of usability, you should definitely check out this book.

I've also included a short audio excerpt from the screen reader simulator that I posted to the course web site last week. It helps us experience what blind people do when they surf the web. If you didn't have time to follow the link last week, have a quick listen to the podcast. The image shown here is a screen snapshot of the simulator.

Listen to the week 5 podcast. (4:59 minutes)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer. PDF format

IT 111 Podcast #4 for Spring 2007

2007-04-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

This week's podcast discusses some of the important topics from Chapter 4, provides an overview of Assignment 4 and introduces the Final Web Site project.

This is a screen snapshot of the Web Worker Daily, a blog I recently discovered. One of the postings caught my eye. It highlighted the importance of allowing one's unconscious mind to work on problems during sleep. There is convincing research that shows the more complex a problem or situation is, the better off we are to sleep on it. This made sense to me as I've often found I needed time to figure something out. Click on the link if you'd like to read more about the research.

Listen to Podcast #4 (5:47 minutes long)
Or, read the transcript if you prefer.

Please feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #3 for Spring 2007

2007-04-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

In this podcast I'll explain my communication style, share some of the great suggestions from the first discussion, point out a couple new resources I've added to the course web page, and talk a little about my grading strategy. I'll also include a few tips on Assignment 3 which you'll working on this week.

The screen snapshot above is the main Gizmo Project page. This weekend, I sent invitations to everyone in the class to become a Gimzo member and a few students have already joined. Thanks! Gizmo has a free conference calling feature and I bet it would be an easy way to create a study group. I might even try using it for office hours if enough students are interested.

Listen to Podcast #3 (11 minutes in length)
Or, you can read the transcript if you prefer.

Feel free to leave a comment!

IT 111 Podcast #2 for Spring 2007

2007-04-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

This is a screen snapshot of "Pageflakes" a start page tool that I discuss in this podcast and I've also added it to the IT 111 Playground page.

Listen to Podcast #2 (5:53 minutes).
Read the podcast transcript.

IT 111 Podcast #1 for Spring 2007

2007-04-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is a short sample podcast to welcome students to IT 111 - Internet and Web Authoring Using XHTML. I've included some information about the textbook and announced the things that are due this week.

Here is the podcast (2:31 minutes long)
Here is the transcript if you prefer reading rather than listening.

I always welcome comments!

IT 111 Podcast March 15, 2006

2006-03-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

This is the final podcast for IT 111. It has some reminders, a request to complete a short survey found in the WebCT quiz section, and information on a really interesting book on web design I've been reading.

Here's a link to the Week 11 Podcast. 3:40 minutes

Here's a link to the transcript.

I highly recommend reading Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug.

IT 111 Podcast March 8, 2006

2006-03-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

This week's podcast has some announcements, an update on the final project, and an introduction to an amazing new search engine I've recently discovered.

Here's a link to the Week 10 Podcast. 3:54 minutes.

Here's a link to the transcript.

Check out Podzinger to search through podcasts for specific information. It is really amazing!

IT 111 Podcast March 1, 2006

2006-03-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

This week's podcast has some announcements, course updates, and information on Jean's new technology toys - make that tools.

Here's a link to the Week 9 Podcast. 4:40 minutes

Here's a link to the transcript.

Remember, on Friday, March 3rd, from 5pm - 7pm you won't have access to the course web site, WebCT or your compass web account.

IT 111 Podcast February 22, 2006

2006-02-22T21:54:00.000-08:00

This week's podcast has some course announcements and updates.

Here's a link to the Week 8 Podcast. 3:49 minutes

Here's a link to the transcript.

Remember, the course web site, WebCT, and all NSCC web servers will be unavailable on Friday, February 24 from 5 - 7pm.

IT 111 Podcast February 15, 2006

2006-02-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

This podcast has some announcements as well as information about the Final Project. The due date for submitting Assignment 6 has been extended by one day and is now due on Wednesday, February 22. If you haven't given me your final project topic yet, please do so by the end of the week (February 17).

I read an article about how the Internet is changing the way people follow the Olympics. I've included the link in case you want to read the whole article.

Here's a link to the Week 7 Podcast. 3:31 minutes.

Here's a link to the transcript.

IT 111 Podcast February 8, 2006

2006-02-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

This podcast has information about the test and the next few assignments. Good news! My mom is out of the hospital and staying with my sister until she gets stronger and can go home. I am still trying to get caught up with my grading.

Here's a link to the Week 6 Podcast.

Here's a link to the transcript.

See you tomorrow for the test.

IT 111 Podcast February 2, 2006

2006-02-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

This podcast is short and sweet. As I said in an email message today, I've spent the last 6 hours in the Emergency Room with my mom who was admitted to the hospital. I still wanted to get a podcast created today, though. Short and sweet seemed good enough for today.

The next assignment is Discussion #2 and it allows you to apply the design concepts from Chapter 7 to one of two web sites. I am also encouraging you to use the study guide for the first test. It will help you! Please use it!

Finally, it might take me a bit longer than usual to grade your assignments till my mom is better. Thanks in advance for your patience.

Here's a link to the Week 5 Podcast.

Here's a link to the transcript.

IT 111 Podcast Jan 25, 2006

2006-01-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

This podcast discusses Chapter 4 and Assignment 4 and also talks about the first test that will take place on Thursday, February 9 in room IB 3406. I'll be putting a study guide online next week to help you focus your studying.

Here's a link to the Week 4 Podcast.

Here's a link to the transcript of the podcast.

IT 111 Podcast Jan 18, 2006

2006-01-18T21:29:00.000-08:00

This podcast offers a few more course tips, a brief overview of Assignment 3, and a mention of an article from the Seattle PI on "screen sucking."

Here's a link to the Week 3 Podcast.

Here's a link to the transcript.

IT 111 Podcast Jan 11, 2006

2006-01-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

It looks like my podcast postings will happen on Wednesdays unless something come up. This week's podcast has a few course updates and a quick overview of the assignments that will be due next week. I'll continue providing a transcript in case you would rather read than listen.

Still hoping that more of you will try Gizmo Project and call me on my computer. The instructions are in the course ePacket.

Finally, check out the tutorials before you tackle the assignment. They should help you a lot.

Here's a link to the Week 2 Podcast.

Here's a link to the Week 2 Podcast transcript.

IT 111 Podcast Jan 4, 2006

2006-01-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

Since I want to use podcasts in this class, I thought it would be good to create one for the orientation in order to demonstrate it. I don't know how many people have heard of or used podcasts before.

In the first podcast, I gave an update on the textbook and the course ePacket, discussed the assignments that were going to be due the first week, and welcomed everyone. It was about 3 and a half minutes long.

Here's a link to the first IT 111 Podcast.

And here's a link to the podcast transcript.

If you have "podcatcher" software like iPodder, you can subscribe to the Podcasts and get them automatically when they are published. More about iPodder and "podcatcher" software later.