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Sent: January 09, 2001 3:45 PM
Subject: A Professor of English Broadcasts From His Own Internet
'Radio' Station (fwd)


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Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001 10:57:24 -0500 (EST)
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A Professor of English Broadcasts From His Own Internet
'Radio'
    Station




This article from The Chronicle of Higher Education
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_________________________________________________________________

The following message was enclosed:
  There's nothing better than a free education (except maybe a
  free lunch!) Maybe this trend will catch on...


_________________________________________________________________

  Monday, January 8, 2001



  A Professor of English Broadcasts From His Own Internet
  'Radio' Station

  By JEFFREY R. YOUNG



  Douglas Rowlett has turned his English-department office into
  a virtual radio station that broadcasts continuously on the
  Internet, offering a mix of poetry readings, lectures, and
  popular music. He plans to deliver entire courses over the
  Internet radio station.

  Mr. Rowlett, a professor of English at Houston Community
  College-Southwest, set up the station last year as a
  supplement to his traditional literature courses, and he
  encourages students to prepare radio programs as class
  projects. Other courses in the department have also used the
  radio station, including a creative-writing class.

  Anyone in the world can listen in live or hear archived
  student programs by tuning in to the World Wide Web site for
  the station, which is called HCC Southwest Internet Radio.
  Much of the time, the station practically runs itself, serving
  up preprogrammed sets of songs.  Other times, students crowd
  into Mr. Rowlett's office to produce shows.

  "I do get a few grumbles" from colleagues in nearby offices
  who wonder what all the commotion is, says Mr. Rowlett. "We
  just close the door."

  So far, programs have included student readings of poems by
  Allen Ginsberg, Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, and
  others, as well as readings of original writing by students in
  the creative-writing course. Mr. Rowlett plans to use the
  Internet radio station for distance education, delivering all
  or part of future classes by audio online.

  "There's nothing worse than reading someone's lecture," he
  says, referring to online courses that rely on printed
  lectures by professors. "People like hearing. They like the
  voice. And when you're listening to it you, can hear the
  audiences' response and pick up humor and sarcasm."

  Creating the virtual radio station was cheap and easy, says
  Mr. Rowlett. The professor used the computer in his office as
  the server, and he downloaded free software from Real.com to
  manage the broadcasts. Prospective listeners must download the
  free Real Player software to tune in.

  "This whole thing cost about $500 to put together," he adds.
  "We have a $79 Radio Shack mixer and a $100 microphone."

  So far, the audience has consisted mainly of parents and
  friends of the students, Mr. Rowlett says.

  "Internet radio isn't like a regular radio station, where
  people can spin the dial and run across your show," he adds.
  "They have to know you are there, know what the address is,
  have the time to go to a networked computer, and have the
  computer skills necessary to actually be able to listen."

  Many college radio stations, as well as commercial ones, have
  begun setting up Internet radio stations to rebroadcast their
  existing programming online. But as the technology to run
  Internet radio stations continues to become cheaper and easier
  to use, more individuals and professors may take to the
  virtual airwaves.


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Copyright 2001 by The Chronicle of Higher Education


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