Mediasite Global Webcast

On December 15th, Sonic Foundry originated a global webcast from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The topics including a presentations by Bill Cherne entitled, "Understanding Mediasite Security", John Pollard on Mediasite 5.5 and integration with Camtasia Relay, and Kristin Zurovitch explained the new MUG Community web presence, and UNLEASH 2011. I provided a video tour of the Wing Technology Center and our new Academic Building. Terry Wirkus provided technical support, and well as "priceless" stories from La Crosse.

Fund Raising with Technology

At times, especially during these financially-challenging times, we need to find technology solutions that help us communicate. Recently, e-Campus magazine interviewed me on how web casting can assist us in finding potential donors for our institutions. To learn more of our successes, and of others, check out the latest issue.

EDUCAUSE International Conference Presentation

At the EDUCAUSE Conference in Anaheim, I was an invited guest presenter to talk about a national "hot topic"- namely how to create effective IT organizational structure. The presentation entitled, "Avoiding Your IT House of Cards- Building Your Own Solid Foundation" was extremely well received and included a dynamic collaborative discussion on how to build better functional enterprises. The PowerPoint is now available on the EDUCAUSE conference web site. Keys to success include: communication, collaboration, employee satisfaction, being a leader, understanding advocacy, empathy, identifying failure and learning from it, and identifying and eliminating silos.

Understanding each of these core issues will ensure success in your own IT environment.

"Peter's Story" Documentary Film is Released

I have just completed a new documentary entitled, "Peter's Story" which relates to my strong belief in using rich media that has a strong emotional component. If you click on the image, you will be sent to a Mediasite web cast of the video. I enourage you to watch this emotional story. You will not take smoke alarms for granted after watching this program. Enjoy, but also remember.

There's an App for That!

On August 31, I held an interactive poster presentation at the 12 Annual Teaching and Learning Conference held at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The title of the presentation was, "There's an App for That- Using iPads in Education." Matt Ebert (photo-right) and Kevin Mont from Apple Corporation collaborated with me on the session. Approximately 200 faculty members attended and interest was extremely high for this new mobile appliance. I showcased some free and very intriguing apps and also demonstrated how to project selected applications to an external monitor or video projector. Videos and web pages can display fairly well, but most other applications cannot be projected at this time. I am certain this situation will quickly change as more apps are added daily. There is also interest in how Flash video could play on the iPad but this is still under development. We shall see how this unfolds.

Some of the most interesting apps discussed include:

Planets- see what constellations and planets can be seen at specific times and locations
AppsMosaic- get a random search of free and paid apps with a mosaic interface- it's fast!
Shakespeare- download the best of the playwright for free
Bombardier- a game that helps you to understand gravitational forces- very addictive
Action Buggy- a game that improves your hand (finger) and eye coordination
Epic Citadel- demonstration of high quality graphics, navigation, and sound- highly recommended!
VGA Expedition- display some apps on an external monitor or projector
X Invasion 2- free game for flying a fighter jet or Corsair aircraft- get a sense of flying and navigation
Dinosaurs- Tour the American Museum of Natural History for free
Gravity HD- game of logic and physics- highly interactive game, and allows for custom design
Crystal Portal HD- interactive mystery with high quality graphics, music, requiring problem solving skills
Louvre- tour artwork, learn about the masters, and take it on your own tour at the Louvre for free

100 Years- Once in a Lifetime

This video was produced to celebrate 100 years of world history as part of our University's Centennial Celebration. It was created within Adobe Affect Effects with nearly 40 independent annimation channels. To see more videos on YouTube subscribe to jjorstad13 or go to the The Learning Space within YouTube. Enjoy.

UNLEASH 2010 International Conference

I just returned from the Sonic Foundry UNLEASH International Conference in Madison, WI. The event was extremely well attended with attendees from all across the U.S., in addition to my colleagues from Brazil, Helder Conde, Atitude Digital Media; Leon Huijbers, Technische Universtiteit Delft, the Netherlands; and Mark Dashper, University of Aukland.

I gave a presentation entitled "Creating Rich Media-Bringing Good Things to Life." The key concept was to utilize the MUSE strategy when developing rich media for academic and administrative uses, M=memorable, U=understandable, S=sustainable, and E=emotional. To see a preview of the session, click here.

EDUCAUSE 2010 Midwest- Learning Space Workshop

I presented the workshop "Navigating Your Path When Designing Effective Learning Spaces" at the 2010 EDUCAUSE Midwest Regional Conference. The session looked at current trends worldwide regarding learning space design, but also core concepts such as learning space assessment, design consideration, learning commons, furniture, podium design, teaching and learning, sustainability, and Web 2.0 in the design.

Participants broke out in groups to discuss their specific opportunities and challenges in their own project design and implementation. General trends emerged from their individual projects that had universal implications to the group. Attendees came from throughout the Midwest, with one attendee from New Zealand.

Merging Learning Space with Web 2.0

Today, when designing new learning spaces perhaps we should reflect on how these environments can be enhanced with Web 2.0 technologies. While, some of these technologies may have no immediate effect on the spaces we create, perhaps when we think about how students utilize rich media in their social lives, and academic lives, we can maximize their learning (and social) environment. One area we can make an immediate impact is with furniture.

Steelcase has come up with the concept called Media:Scape. The concept brings students around a table with comfortable seating, but more importantly it provides a mechanism for each student to share their computer "image" by way of an innovative "puck." You simply click on the puck, and your computer is displayed on the main monitor. This Media:Scape provides the opportunity for students to share and collaborative. This same system is being used at Drexel University in the Hagerty Library atrium. As we design spaces to promote collaboration, simply changing the furniture can help to enhance the experience for the students.