Webcasting at the University

Have you heard of webcasting but are not sure where to begin searching for more information? This is the place!

What is webcasting?

Webcasting is the broadcasting of an audio/video presentation over the internet, usually in a streaming format. Streaming means that information is quickly transmitted in small chunks, in a transient manner, never to be downloaded and stored on the recipient’s viewing device (personal computer, PDA, etc). Recommended reading: Adobe Streaming Media Primer (PDF).

A streaming format ensures that a large file of 30 minutes or more can be delivered immediately and continuously for the duration of the presentation. Presentations can be broadcast live and recorded and archived on a server for on-demand viewing. Once a presentation is recorded, it is compressed, encoded, and transferred to a server that provides streaming. The webcast is viewed using a media player such as Quicktime, Real, or Windows Media.

Why should I care about webcasting?

The ability to record lectures, tutorials, or other instructional presentations and make them available for viewing on the Web is becoming easier, thanks to a range of new tools that automate or eliminate many time consuming production tasks and processes.
Faculty can create online streaming presentations to solve class scheduling conflicts, provide optional learning opportunities, present additional materials, and review lectures.
A recent study of lecture webcasting in large enrollment courses at UT indicates that the ability for students to review lectures is a positive experience for both students and faculty. For more information, see the section on DIIA’s webcasting impact study.