I retweeted a post today that went like this: “@rosslarocco,@gfriese: 3 ideas to create #eLearning content with #GoogleVoice, http://ow.ly/hFR7 easy audio recording 4 faculty!” After visiting that page it hit me that the text transcription of the voicemails in GoogleVoice could have some implications for section 508 compliance in online courses. Basically, by using GV to record audio you will also automatically get a text transcription of the audio. Although you won’t have the highest quality of audio, as we’ve seen over the last decade or so, great content overcomes diminished production values. Also, the text transcription won’t be perfect, but after touching it up, you will have at least had a super easy way to record and embed audio into your course, as well as a head start in transcribing the text for the audio.
So here goes:
And here’s the text, which I can retrieve from either the email GV generates or logging into GV itself:
Hey, this is Clark. This little mini lecture is about how you can use your google voice number to leave yourself a voicemail and then you can embed that into your course has an audio file. So you could use it for recording, say, a little mini-lecture or an announcement for students for which want audio and so on. And then once I’m done, of course google voice is also going to transcode or make a transcription of that voicemail into text which means that I can take that text and I can touch it up, because I’m sure there’ll be a few errors in there, or you know here or there. But I can touch that up and then I can, you know, use that text transcription to make this audio more section 508 compliant by including the text transcription of the audio file in my course as well. So I’ve got an easy way to call in by phone, basically, or on the computer as I’m doing and make an audio recording that I can… it’ll give me an MP3 of that recording it’ll make make it so that I can embed that recording into an activity or discussion forum in my Moodle course, for example. And it will also transcribe it in the text so it’s kind of a multifaceted easy way of doing audio for an online course and helping you along the way of getting a text transcription for that audio as well. So I think that is pretty cool and, have a great day, thanks.
Here are some of the things I’ve currently be using: (in a non-cellular region ie. no iPhone or the like:)
Gizmo5 – very much like Skype, and supports porting your number. Cost is similar to Skype, but it also works with other instant messengers. Calls can be forwarded to Skype, GoogleTalk, and other places.
Gtalk2VOIP – turns out this little Russian invention will allow you to receive SIP calls in Gmail’s Chat window (if you have the audio/video plugin installed) – even though they “only support using the GoogleTalk application” which is only for PCs (and they actually went as far as to say “use Google Voice or don’t use it at all” which was rather annoying…) Anyway, I found that if I set up their service and used it on the Mac in Gmail chat, I can receive calls to my 718 SIP# – for up to 3 minutes for free. Turns out they also have a “follow me” number you can set, and if you use an SIP URI, it will forward to that for free if you don’t answer the Gtalk call.
Skype – of course, for skype to skype calls. And SkypeOut is reasonable at under $30 for unlimited calling to land lines and call forwarding. But SMS is too expensive, there’s no way to port a number to Skype.
Google Voice: Speaking of SIP URI’s, Google Voice just took over from where GrandCentral left off, and is looking good, as you can have 1 number ring all your other numbers. GV has an SIP URI you can plug into the GTalk2voip Follow Me field, so that calls are routed to your Google Voice number, or, your Gizmo5 number which also supports SIP URI.
Ok, confused yet? I’ll map it out:
Someone calls my old 718 # from a land line.
This actually calls my SIP number at Inphonex.com
It rings me in Gmail chat – thanks to Gtalk2Voip connecting to my SIP provider (free up to 3 min.)
If I refuse or don’t answer, it forwards to my SIP URI. Let’s say that’s set to my Gizmo5 SIP URI. (free)
If I don’t answer there, it’s set to forward to my Skype name. (free up to 3 min.)
If I don’t answer there, it’s set to forward to my GoogleVoice number. (free)
That will ring my cell, office, home or other number.
It’s all pretty dumb, but it seems to work, and that way if I’m running around here or there, one can just dial 1 number and it should track me down.
If or when Google Voice starts allowing number porting, and receiving calls in Gtalk, I will port my 718 # to GV, drop inphonex, save some money, and then I’ll have 1 converged number which I’ve been using for years, and can simultaneously ring my cell, office, Gtalk, Gizmo5 (and thus, Skype). I’m actually glad Skype doesn’t allow number portability, as I might have ported my number there previously and been stuck. Notice that among them, currently I’m paying for SkypeOut and for Inphonex. Once GV allows porting, I should be able to drop the Inphonex and only pay for SkypeOut to have full coverage. Whew. Is there anything more boring than this blog post?
Availability and choice of resources is the name of the game for student access and success. Educational podcasts can enhance both of those in a big way, since they are portable. Here’s another success story of podcasting in the classroom, from a college not unlike MCNY. They use WebCT, coupled with Tegrity to offer students the option of reviewing classes (whether they missed the class or not) with audio and/or video. By podcasting class sessions, students can review as much and as often as they need to. And meeting student needs is the name of the game. Wait a minute!
A nice article in Campus Technology about capturing lectures in video or audio with Tegrity to enable students to have remote access to lectures and notes on their iPods, for example…
