Multimedia presentation

I am almost finished creating the independent training program for Tutoring English Online. I created a multimedia presentation using Audacity, PowerPoint, and Soft Chalk. The process seems cumbersome. I think I can do the whole process using Garage Band on my Mac. Not counting the creation of the original Power Point, it has taken me a week and a half to complete this presentation.

1. I attended training for putting voice to Power Point using Audacity and Soft Chalk on the 17th.
2. I checked the lab for computers with this software and found nothing.
3. Since I do not have administrative rights to the computer I had to ask my supervisor to send a ticket to IT to install all the software.
4. It was quickly installed by the next day.
5. I spent 2 - 3 hours experimenting and recording my voice with Audacity and modifying my Power Point only to realize I was missing a plug-in to convert the Audacity file to an mp3 file. (In all fairness, I was told this plug-in was needed during my training session.)
6. I had to request an additional ticket from my supervisor to IT.
7. We had a 3-day weekend.
8. LAME (seriously, that's what it's called) was installed when I came in this morning.
9. I spent an additional 2 hours editing the Power Point and converting the aup files to mp3 files, and converting my Power Point file into jpg files.
10. I then put all this stuff into a very basic looking webpage in SoftChalk because I got tired of playing with everything.

Simple is good.

AskOnline summer update

This summer we opened up online tutoring to all instructors of Comp I and Comp II with the stipulation that they complete a brief form regarding each major writing assignment they assign their students. So far we have received one from an instructor I've spoken with in person. I've come to the conclusion that while many things work well online, extra initiative is needed from all participants. Instructors are much more willing to put forth the extra effort needed to recommend the program to their students if I've spoken with them in person (and often). This is the first full week of classes, so I hope to see some submissions later this week. Meanwhile this week we will be conducting most of our English Prep, EAP, and Strategies orientations in the lab.
I have 2 professional development workshops to attend this week, one on social networking through ning and the other on adding voice to Power Points in Lesson Builder. I'm also finalizing the tutor training for the rest of the tutors. Very little of the training will require the tutors to meet with me, so they can work at their own pace. I hope to have this completed and in place by Wednesday.