ITO-Announce August / September 2005

The following resources were added to ItrainOnline during August and September:

1. Online Activism
2. Podcasting
3. Strategic Use
4. Web Programming

1. ONLINE ACTIVISM

HANDBOOK FOR BLOGGERS AND CYBER-DISSIDENTS

Reporters Without Borders developed this handbook (in English, French, Chinese, Arabic and Persian), to support citizen journalism in repressive environments where media is frequently censored. The manual orients internet users on how to set up blogs and publicize them, while preserving personal anonymity as part of ensuring personal safety and online security. It also examines how to establish credibility, promoting ethical and journalistic principles. The guide looks at specific situations to offer appropriate methods, with tips from expert bloggers and journalists.
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=542

HOW TO CREATE PODCASTS WITH A SMARTPHONE

Andy Carvin talks about "mobcasting" - podcasting using a mobile phone for citizen activism and journalism. He developed this tutorial on how to record and transmit podcasts using a "smartphone" - a mobile phone with internet access.
http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/01/tutorial_how_to.html

EFFECTIVE ACTIVISM ON THE INTERNET

This website from Anitra Freeman offers suggestions for internet activism in websites. The simple text site gives tips on how to get your message across, how to make sure your HTML is accessible to all, including people who have physical impairments, and writing effective emails.
http://www.scn.org/~alf1701/

2. PODCASTING

PODCASTING OVERVIEW

Wikipedia offers an overview article on podcasting, defining this
publishing method for audio and video programs via the internet. The
overview includes information about aggregators, where syndicated web
content such as podcast files are grouped so that one can select
those of interest, as well as "tagging", to be able to label and find
the podcasts you want.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN PODCAST: A STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL

About Electronics and Gadgets' Corey Deitz gives a simple podcast
overview and step-by-step instructions on podcasting, using plain
language, including recording audio and saving in mp3 files, creating
an RSS file to facilitate your podcasts reaching others, and file
validation.
http://radio.about.com/od/podcastin1/a/aa030805a.htm

PODCAST TOOLS TRAINING: TOOLS FOR THE PODCASTER AND
LISTENER

For those who learn by seeing rather than reading, PodcastTools
developed these simple videos for orienting new podcasters. The video
series shows how to set up a free phone-based podcast, with step by
step video screen shots of the registration process in several free
online spaces that bloggers and podcasters can use. The second video
in the series examines publishing. More videos include the use of ID3
tags for MP3 players and producing radio quality podcasts.
http://www.podcasttools.com/training.htm

CREATING A PODCASTING SHOW ON WINDOWS

Zef Hemel produced this detailed how-to manual on how to create
podcasts using Windows, as opposed to Macintosh, using free and open
source tools. Available in PDF and a web site with user comments, the
manual provides screen shots, tips, and encouragement on recording
using Windows, sound editing, RSS feeds and web hosts for podcasts.
Very accessible language for non-technical folks.
http://www.zefhemel.com/upload/
CreatingAPodcastingShowOnWindows.pdf

AUDIO ACTIVISM PODCAST TUTORIAL AND INTRO

This Audio Activism guide to podcasting covers a wide range of tools
and technical levels, with links to other resources and handy tips
for newcomers to podcasting. The tutorial takes into consideration
Linux, Windows and Mac operating systems for producing podcasts. The
tutorial includes podcast creation, sharing and reception.
http://www.audioactivism.org/?p=37

3. STRATEGIC USE

A SOURCEBOOK ON ACCESS AND APPLICATIONS: MODELS OF
USE AND CASE STUDIES

This site hosts a series of chapters on access and how access issues
are being addressed from a variety of contexts and situations. The
sourcebook presents an overview of different access issues such as at
community learning centers, for organisational development, e-
commerce and education. Each chapter is accompanied by case studies
from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
http://learnlink.aed.org/Publications/Sourcebook/home.htm

4. WEB PROGRAMMING

INFORMIT REFERENCE LIBRARY

A reference web site offered in collaboration with Sams Publishing,
the site offers free online versions of selected "Sams Teach
Yourself" series, featuring "Teach Yourself" in 24 hours, 10 minutes,
or 21 days tools in operating systems, programming, databases and
productivity software. Tutorials cover Microsoft Office, Visual
Basic, SQL, HTML, and JavaScript, among others.
http://www.informit.com/library/