Author Archives: Anne Leonard

Wrapping up and reflections

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Tuesday, May 21 is our final meeting. Group projects are due on the project site by the end of class on Tuesday, May 21. In one blog post you should post the following to the OpenLab project site:

  • a link to the podcast on SoundCloud
  • the bibliography, including citations for all music/audio used
  • a link to the the group outline
  • a few images (sketches or photos) from group members’ site visits that you feel capture the spirit of your podcast.

On Tuesday the following groups will present their podcasts:

Gentrification: Jodian, Karen, Jayden

Safety: Stephanie, Marvin, Santanu

Open Space: Wenderin, Laurin, Michelle

Sometime before this Friday, please complete this survey and share your reflections on the course and what you learned.

See you all in class, on time, on Tuesday.

 

Getting ready for podcast presentations on Thursday 5/16 and Tuesday 5/21

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As we move to the last 2 meetings of the semester, a few reminders about producing the final project. Everyone received an invitation to the Barclays Center project OpenLab site. Please join so you can post all content described below.

One member of every group should have a SoundCloud account; that person is responsible for uploading the final cut of the podcast. The group should work together to determine what Creative Commons license to assign and metadata (keywords & tags) to assign.

Group projects are due on the project site by the end of class on Tuesday, May 21. In one blog post you should post the following:

  • a link to the podcast on SoundCloud
  • the bibliography, including citations for all music/audio used
  • a link to the the group outline
  • a few images (sketches or photos) from group members’ site visits that you feel capture the spirit of your podcast.

Please get in touch via email or OpenLab message with any questions about finishing and submitting the assignment through the project site.

Groups presenting on May 16:

Happiness: Huiyi, Charlie, Cristian, Bryan

Evolution of Place: Yang, Huiyi, Shuwen, Maria

Health: Javonni, Dalila, Mohamad

Groups presenting on May 21:

Gentrification: Jodian, Karen, Jayden

Safety: Stephanie, Marvin, Santanu

Open Space: Wenderin, Laurin, Michelle

It’s not too late to help the library improve what we do! Take our student survey for a chance to win a gift card.

Group work this week: Podcast scripting, recording, and editing

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This week is all about writing your podcast scripts, recording, and editing. Next Tuesday groups can finish editing and recording (see Prof. Almeida’s instructions), and presentations begin next Thursday, May 16 and continue on May 21. We have use of the library classroom and the library projection room for groups to record in a quiet space during class. Groups can always use the library study rooms to record anytime the library is open. One member of each group should create a SoundCloud account where you will upload the final cut of your podcast.

Groups presenting on May 16:

Happiness: Huiyi, Charlie, Cristian, Bryan

Open Space: Wenderin, Laurin, Michelle

Evolution of Place: Yang, Huiyi, Shuwen, Maria

Health: Javonni, Dalila, Mohamad

Groups presenting on May 21:

Gentrification: Jodian, Karen, Jayden

Safety: Stephanie, Marvin, Santanu

During last Thursday’s workshop a few people asked about using music. Start your search for CC-licensed music that you can legally use at CCMixter, Jamendo, or one of the other sites listed here. You can find non-music sounds that are free to use at Freesound.org.

Please help the City Tech library out by taking a very short survey. If you provide your name and email address, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card, but it is fine to take the survey anonymously.

Podcast lecture slides, and Jane’s Walk NYC this weekend

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In class today Prof. Nora Almeida of the library presented a workshop on the technical aspects of creating a podcast, including Audacity software, SoundCloud, and Creative Commons licensing. Thanks to all who contributed questions in advance. We now have a project site to showcase this semester’s podcasts, along with annotated bibliographies and outlines. Last semester’s projects live here.

Jane’s Walk NYC starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday. All walks are free and open to all. Several are very pertinent to our theme this semester, including Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park at 6pm Friday and POPS – Privately Owned Public Spaces at 1:30 on Saturday in Bryant Park.

Podcast workshop on Thursday, May 2, and a list of podcasting resources

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On Thursday, May 2, Prof. Nora Almeida of the City Tech library will facilitate a 1 hour workshop on podcasting. In class we generated questions about content, format, and production. I will share your questions with her in advance, and when you think of new questions, please bring them to class or ask them in a comment on this post. By Thursday, everyone should read the podcast assignment guidelines carefully, and one person in each group should create a SoundCloud account; we’ll use SoundCloud to host and license the podcasts.

Some podcasting resources:

Anchor.fm for iOs and Android – a mobile app for recording and producing on your phone

Audacity is free open-source audio recording and editing software

Garageband for Mac and PC is also free

Consider attending the free Let’s Record and Edit workshop at the Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library, this Thursday 5/2 at 6:30 pm

Here’s my Lynda.com playlist of podcasting how-to videos (log in with your New York Public Library or Brooklyn Public Library account)

The Bello Collective podcasting 101 offers short articles about podcast production, team management, and community building

On Tuesday 5/7, Thursday 5/9, and Tuesday, 5/14 we have the use of L540, the library’s classroom, and L432, the library’s projection room, during class time. If you find another quiet place to record on campus, let us all know in the comments.

Final Podcast Project Guidelines

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Final podcast project guidelines

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Your podcast assignment is the final project for the semester. Each group will contribute a page to an OpenLab project site we will create together. Each page will contain the following elements:

  • link to your group’s 15-20 minute podcast (audio recording)
  • uploaded annotated bibliography and outline; references for any images, music, etc that you use
  • a few original images (photographs or sketches produced by a group member) that illustrate the research question or theme. Images should have descriptive captions.

See the step-by-step podcast instructions from Prof. Almeida for technical assistance with recording and editing.

In addition to creating and editing an audio recording, each group will:

  • Strategically incorporate or reference at least two relevant information sources.
  • Provide basic metadata for your podcast including at least three descriptive keywords.
  • Select a Creative Commons license to dictate how your podcast can be used by others.

This activity will be completed in 4 stages

  1. planning and prewriting
  2. research and script development
  3.  technical production
  4. listening & reflection

Key Dates

April 29-May 2: planning and prewriting – in-class time to research, write script, rehearse, and record; OpenLab project site creation; Prof. Nora Almeida guest lecture on podcast production
May 7-9: research and script development – in class time to write and rehearse
May 14: in class time to rehearse and record; finalize technical production; podcast scripts due during class
May 16: Podcast listening part I
May 21: Podcast listening part II; all content must be posted on OpenLab project site by the end of class on that date; reflections & wrap-up

Resources for recording
The Multimedia Resources Center in the City Tech library lends out USB headsets with microphones. Use your college ID to borrow a headset/mic. Headsets must be used in the library. You can borrow an iPad Mini or laptop for up to 3 days from Multimedia with your college ID.

If you need a quiet place to record, reserve a library study room. During class time on 5/7, 5/9, and 5/14, you may use the library projection room or the eclassroom. Bring a laptop with Audacity or other recording software already installed. You can record with your phone using the voice memo app or Anchor for iOS or Android.

During last Thursday’s workshop a few people asked about using music. Start your search for CC-licensed music that you can legally use at CCMixter, Jamendo, or one of the other sites listed here.

Grading criteria

  • Successful attempt to answer research question
  • Inclusion or references made to at least two relevant information sources (articles, books, maps, films, etc.)
  • Quality of content analysis and synthesis of sources relevant to the research question.
  • Equal participation of group members in podcast recording
  • Good effort made to successfully record, produce, and edit
  • All required content appears on OpenLab site
  • Podcast successfully uploaded to Soundcloud with images and metadata
  • Podcast is between 15-20 minutes long
  • All content is cited in the bibliography, including images and music
  • Selection of an appropriate Creative Commons license

Group outlines are due Thursday, April 18

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In class today we reviewed the Annotated Bibliography guidelines and learned about vocal technique for storytelling from actress and podcast host Kate Leonard (yes, relation). The group outline is due on Thursday, April 18. Groups should submit the outline as a link to the document in a new post on the OpenLab by the start of class on that date. Looking ahead to the final weeks of the semester, the Annotated Bibliography is due on Thursday, May 2, the week we return from Spring Break. The gentrification group (and others) should check the updated Links post for the displacement map we looked at in class.

Don’t miss the Literary Arts Festival happening this Thursday evening starting at 5:30 in the theatre of the new Academic Complex across the street at 285 Jay Street. The festival features student performances and special guest José Olivarez, poet, educator, podcast host, performer, and author of Citizen Illegal.

Tonight – Battle for Brooklyn film screening & panel

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The film Battle for Brooklyn is screening at the Alamo Drafthouse at 6pm tonight. This film follows the journey of neighborhood activists who fought against the abuse of eminent domain at the heart of the Atlantic Yards/Barclays Center development. Tickets are $5 in advance and the film will be followed by a panel discussion. You can also stream the film through the City Tech library (or any public library) if you’d prefer to watch at your convenience.

Other events in the film series include William H. Whyte Revisited: The Art and Science of Observing Public Places on April 24. Whyte’s work on cities and public space is of particular interest to the Happiness and Open Space groups.

 

Living in Brooklyn: Housing Along the Brooklyn Waterfront conference tomorrow!

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Registration is still open for tomorrow’s conference: Living in Brooklyn: Housing along the Brooklyn Waterfront. The conference is free to attend, but you need to register in advance. It’s all happening on Friday, April 12 in the new Academic Complex building at 285 Jay Street. The fun begins at 8:30 am. Hope to see you there!

Site visit this Thursday

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This Thursday, April 11 we will meet for a site walk at 2:30pm sharp at the oclulus at the Barclays Center entrance, and we will not return to campus as a group. Please come prepared to observe, take notes, sketch, photograph, and otherwise document with your research question in mind.

The group outline is due on Thursday, April 18 and the annotated bibliography is due on Thursday, May 2. There will be time in class to work on both assignments later this month.

I updated the Links post with links to Brooklyn Community District profiles relevant to our site.