4.5 Technology assisted school counselor and principal collaboration  (Page 10/16)

Podcasts

According to Valesky&Sabella (2005), podcasting, in its basic form, involves creating audio files (most commonly in MP3 format) and making them available online in a way that allows users to automatically download the files for listening at their convenience (i.e., they subscribe to the podcast). After subscribing to the podcast, future broadcasts automatically download to your computer, which can then be transferred easily to a smart phone, tablet PC, or iPod. In essence, anyone with a computer, Internet access, free software, and a microphone can turn their computer into a personal studio and produce their very own radio show/program. School counselors and principals can collaboratively develop a podcast that provides vital information to all stake holders. Co-creating a podcast can be achieved by using free or almost free web-based podcasting services which greatly simplifies the process. Several popular web based podcasting services include:

• Blogger . One can use your Blogger account to make a Podcast feed that can be downloaded into iTunes and other "podcatchers." http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=80259
• liberated syndication (libsyn) will help you to start podcasting, get your podcast in iTunes and even turn your show into an App. (External Link)
• Podbean.com. This site has a user-friendly interface which allows you to upload, publish, manage and promote your podcasts with just a few clicks of your mouse. (External Link)
• Posterous.com . This website lets you quickly post files online using email. http://www.posterous.com/

Examples of school counselor and administrator podcasts include:

• ASCAway. School counseling issues, trends and interviews from the American School Counselor Association. http://ascaway.podbean.com/
• “School Counseling Today" Podcasts from the Missouri Center for Career Education. (External Link)
• Elementary School Counselor Podcast from Rob Ortega. http://bit.ly/bdN5Z3
• CounselorAudioSource.net. http://www.counseloraudiosource.net/Archive/archive.html The National Association of Secondary School Principals feature podcasts in their “Administrator Knowledge Center”. (External Link)
• The National Association of Secondary School Principals feature podcasts in their "Administrator Knowledge Center (External Link)
• The National Association of Elementary School Principals has their NAESP—Radio. (External Link)
• The American Association of School Administrators has their AASA Radio. (External Link)

Online or virtual meetings

School counselors and administrators can use online web meetings to present information, share applications, train, and/or collaborate on projects with colleagues around the globe as easily as if they were side by side. Some online meeting services are free with limitations on the number of participants that can log in and others charge fees. With most online meeting services, you can schedule meetings in advance or start an instant meeting with the click of your mouse. Or, you might send invitations via email or instant messaging. Most services also allow you to speak to each other over the internet using VOIP or they may include a telephone number that participants can use to connect and conference. Following are several free or low-cost solutions for online meetings: