Okay, so nothing is perfect. That’s something we can all agree upon, right? Juice is great for people who are already familiar with podcasts and all the ins and outs thereof. However if this is something you’re just getting into you might be better off using Mac’s iTunes store for its ease of use. The method of searching for podcasts is much more similar to typing a search term into Google and with similar results. With Juice you’ll need to know the podcasts RSS feed and although this is something simple to do once learned, it does take an advanced podcast listener to make it seem easy.
However once you become a wiz at subscribing to podcasts (something nice indeed to add to one’s resume) Juice provides a much more specific and therefore more valuable way of finding and subscribing to the types of audio programming that will help you, the librarian. However for the general populace it might be best to use iTunes so that all, from the neophyte to the advanced user, may benefit from use.
Which leads into another issue of the use of this type of software in a library setting. The use of space to store all of the subscribed to podcasts would eventually be an issue as would be the fact that some sort of filter might become necessary if users are found to be downloading undesirable material on public computers. However I would say these issues are ones that libraries are already faced with in regards to internet use and similar methods of approaching these issues would be beneficial and well worth the benefits offered in the use of the software.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Juice as a Teaching Tool
Teacher-librarians, if they’re smart, are always looking for ways to help teachers teach in new and innovative ways. You can see a good relationship between school media specialist and teacher when the teacher consistently seeks the input of media specialist and media specialist seeks out ways that the teacher can be assisted.
The use of Juice in classrooms or media centers is one way that this give and take relationship can be utilized. For instance, there are several podcasts which can be used as teaching tools. Mignon Fogarty’s Grammar Girl podcasts cover a different concept of English grammar in every episode. Teachers could use Juice to subscribe to this podcast then provide opportunities for students to choose from a list of activities including listening to these podcasts during class.
Another way to use Juice in a school media center would be to create a podcast for the school and subscribe to this feed using Juice for future classes to listen to the podcasts of previous year’s students in order to learn the same material. This would create a cycle of students learning by listening to the podcasts then making one of their own.
Of course, school media centers are not the only types of libraries where learning takes place. Public libraries are a great place to use Juice as a teaching tool as well. The library I currently work in, Gardner Public Library in Gardner, Kansas, works with the community college in it’s county to assist high school drop outs to obtain their GED so that they may go on to community college and beyond. The use of several podcasts related to the studies necessary to pass this test would be a valuable tool for librarians there to use. With the use of Juice librarians could subscribe to these podcasts and provide another way for patrons to garner the knowledge they need to move forward with their education.
Other ways Juice could be used in a public library are nearly limitless. Think of the community outreach classes you see offered in libraries across the nation. Computer classes, financial aide, small-business ownership, tax preparation; these all could be enhanced with the use of subscriptions to podcasts regarding that particular subject. Think of patrons who have a portable listening device but no computer at home to get new downloads. If each of the patron-use computers was outfitted with Juice, people could come into the library to download a selection of podcasts and listen to them at their convenience.
Like I said, the possibilities are nearly limitless. I’ve barely scratched the surface here. What are some ways you can think of that Juice could be used in a library setting?
The use of Juice in classrooms or media centers is one way that this give and take relationship can be utilized. For instance, there are several podcasts which can be used as teaching tools. Mignon Fogarty’s Grammar Girl podcasts cover a different concept of English grammar in every episode. Teachers could use Juice to subscribe to this podcast then provide opportunities for students to choose from a list of activities including listening to these podcasts during class.
Another way to use Juice in a school media center would be to create a podcast for the school and subscribe to this feed using Juice for future classes to listen to the podcasts of previous year’s students in order to learn the same material. This would create a cycle of students learning by listening to the podcasts then making one of their own.
Of course, school media centers are not the only types of libraries where learning takes place. Public libraries are a great place to use Juice as a teaching tool as well. The library I currently work in, Gardner Public Library in Gardner, Kansas, works with the community college in it’s county to assist high school drop outs to obtain their GED so that they may go on to community college and beyond. The use of several podcasts related to the studies necessary to pass this test would be a valuable tool for librarians there to use. With the use of Juice librarians could subscribe to these podcasts and provide another way for patrons to garner the knowledge they need to move forward with their education.
Other ways Juice could be used in a public library are nearly limitless. Think of the community outreach classes you see offered in libraries across the nation. Computer classes, financial aide, small-business ownership, tax preparation; these all could be enhanced with the use of subscriptions to podcasts regarding that particular subject. Think of patrons who have a portable listening device but no computer at home to get new downloads. If each of the patron-use computers was outfitted with Juice, people could come into the library to download a selection of podcasts and listen to them at their convenience.
Like I said, the possibilities are nearly limitless. I’ve barely scratched the surface here. What are some ways you can think of that Juice could be used in a library setting?
You Mean We're Not Talking About Something to Drink With Breakfast?
Juice is no longer just a common breakfast beverage. It’s also graduated past being just a beverage to mix drinks. Although these are two valuable and beloved definitions of the word, there is now a new definition that might just change the way your library serves it’s students.
Juice, the open source software program was created so that users can subscribe to podcasts and listen to them at any time. Users can download these audio programs to several different types of portable music devices and listen to them any time it’s convenient.
The program, which works for both Windows and Mac users, uses a programming language called Python to search for the particular RSS feeds that the user is subscribed to and gather them in one place on the harddrive in nested folders titled as the program. Users can then listen to these podcasts on their machines or download them to an ipod or other portable digital device and listen to them anywhere at anytime.
Juice is good. Other…ahem…drinks mixed with juice are great. But Juice is a program that can be used in countless ways both on a personal level and in an educational setting. What are some ways you can think of to use this yummy Juice in your library?
Juice, the open source software program was created so that users can subscribe to podcasts and listen to them at any time. Users can download these audio programs to several different types of portable music devices and listen to them any time it’s convenient.
The program, which works for both Windows and Mac users, uses a programming language called Python to search for the particular RSS feeds that the user is subscribed to and gather them in one place on the harddrive in nested folders titled as the program. Users can then listen to these podcasts on their machines or download them to an ipod or other portable digital device and listen to them anywhere at anytime.
Juice is good. Other…ahem…drinks mixed with juice are great. But Juice is a program that can be used in countless ways both on a personal level and in an educational setting. What are some ways you can think of to use this yummy Juice in your library?
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