Web 2.0 Applications-Snapvine Online Audio Blogging

Snapvine Online Audio Blogging
G.D. Brogdon


Introduction

MATX 604-Production and Applications Workshop created an environment for me to explore many of the new digital technologies available. It also allowed me to gain knowledge and expertise from each student in the class. This learning by exploring set in motion my quest to see if Snapvine, and other digital technologies would be applicable in creating learning tools in an educational environment.
Collaborative learning and teaching has taken on a life of it's own in the past few years. It seems like over night a vast number of new technologies have come on the scene to change the way we communicate, learn and socialize. Many of these new and old social networking applications are part of a vast open source network on the web.
These applications are simple technologies, but are having a dramatic impact on the way we conduct our daily lives. It is making global communication connectivity much faster, simpler, and more mobile than email. Yet, still providing 2-way communication, but with less restraints.
Snapvine?
One growing social networking tool is Snapvine (www.snapvine.com), an online audio blogging site. Snapvine offers total blogger mobility. Unlike traditional blogging, where the only option is to use a computer, Snapvine allows you to post audio blogs using your phone (land or cell), or you can use a microphone and blog directly through the computer. You can download a Snapvine player to your personal blog. At this time Snapvine is connected to 15 countries, making it a simple process to connect your thoughts and ideas around the globe.
How Snapvine Works

Snapvine needs no elaborate equipment to post an audio post. A computer, a cell phone, landline phone, or a microphone is all needed to get started. The registration is quick and simple. As part of the registration, you provide your cell and/or home phone numbers. This allows Snapvine to know it's you when you leave voice comments or blog posts.
Once registered, you are given two voice blog telephone numbers. One number is used to phone in your blog post to the out going voice blog, and the second phone number is to access your inbox, so you can check incoming voice blogs if you are away from your computer. Snapvine offers toll free calls. There is only one drawback about Snapvine; you are limited to a 10-minute blog. There is a way to get around that, save the first blog as Part One and start Part Two as a continuation.

Snapvine

Personal Usage

It is obvious from a personal perspective, Snapvine offers great flexibility and versatility in the way we blog as a form of communication. It’s a more personal form of communication. Even though it is a voice recording of the person, compared to email or text messaging, it is less impersonal. It gives you the same feel you get when someone leaves a voice mail on your phone.
It allows you to connect with the person on a different level, because not only are you hearing the words, but you are also capturing the essence of the person based on intonation of their words.

Educational Usage – K-12

I can see value in using Snapvine, as an educational tool. Listed below are a few innovative ways Snapvine can be used in education.
Online Radio Station (Snapcast) – This is a excellent tool to create radio broadcasts, or as I call it Snapcasts in the classroom.
Students could Snapcast :

•School News Broadcasts – They can be heard by students in other classrooms via the computer,

•findings after completing science projects,
•school field trips,
•classroom/school projects,
•original stories written and read by the student,
•explain how to work a math problem,
•original poetry,
•collaborate on a project with students from another school.

Teachers could Snapcast :

•information for parents,
•announcements of school events,
•homework

With a little imagination, the list could be endless. This is a great classroom and homework tool!

What’s New With Snapvine

Snapvine Social Media API. a recently developed application creates a viral environment allowing the user to personalize photos with audio descriptions and embed them in websites or on MySpace.
In Education Snapvine Social Media, API allows students to annotate photos and images. It could be used in any lesson that requires the student to analyze or critique images. Thus building the students’ ability to think more critically about a subject or issue.
Higher Education

In Higher Education I envision Snapvine as a online research tool. A place a student could audio blog their research findings. Using the new version, Snapvine Social Media API , students could collaberate and record findings on three-way calling with other research students, globally.

Snapvine, a small, yet powerful social networking application, opens the door to global exchange and collaboration.
Web2.0 Tools Website.


Works Cited

e-Learning Reloaded: Top 50 Web 2.0 Tools for Info Junkies, Researchers & Students
http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/e-learning-reloaded:-top-50-web-2.0-tools-for-info-junkies,-researchers-&-students