CNET Car Tech Offers a Good Automotive Podcast
February 25, 2008
One of the best uses of computers in the automotive business is to manage all the automotive information that is made available online. In this previous post I talked about managing content using RSS/XML subscriptions. This same technology (RSS/XML feeds) can also be used to automatically send you audio and video content, and is often called a podcast. This post will focus on audio podcasts which can be played on virtually any computer or transferred to any portable MP3 player for mobile use.
A podcast is made up of individual audio recordings which are sometimes referred to as episodes. Most websites that publish an audio podcast will make the episodes available for individual downloads. One of the better automotive podcasts is produced by the guys on CNET’s Car Tech.
On the Car Tech Homepage you will find tons of information on how technology is being implemented in todays cars. You will also find a link to the CNET Car Tech Podcast page. From that page you can listen to the individual audio recordings or get information on how to subscribe to the podcast using iTunes or any other podcast aggregator.
Click here to hear the “Car Tech Episode 39: Are plug-in hybrids coming — or not?” If you like what you hear, go on over to CNET and subscribe to the podcast you you will automatically receive all future episodes automatically.
Whats the Deal with “Digital Literacy Project”?
February 24, 2008
Why not call this project something like “PC Skills for Automotive Technicians” instead of the “Digital Literacy Project”? Good question. I pondered on how to brand my idea for quite a while. I ran a successful automotive business for 18 years and have been involved in a few other web projects; therefore, I know the importance of developing a good brand. A brand which must take into consideration many things, some of the more important aspects are:
- A name that is simple to remember, but is also descriptive of the project
- A look and feel that can be duplicated in all medias
- The logo and look must work on a t-shirt and also look good a trade show banner
- A name that is available as a domain name is also important
“Digital Literacy”
This project has been brewing for a couple of years and I kept thinking about what to call it. It was hard to come up with a simple name that identifies the study of how computers and other digital technologies are used in the automotive service industry. I finally came to the conclusion that it would take both the name and an extra subtitle to do this, so I began to focus back on a short and simple name.
In late 2006 while working on a committee at the school (Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) Jamestown, NC) where I teach, I met a technology-in-education specialist, David Warlick. The committee was developing guidelines on how to integrate podcasting into the classroom and we had hired David, as a consultant, to work with us for three days. I was impressed with his fresh ideas and observations about technology and its impact on our lives both inside and outside the classroom. I made it a point to monitor David’s work via his excellent technology in education (teched) blog, 2Cents Worth, and his books.
David has written three books. I bought Classroom Blogging (Classroom Blogging, A teacher’s guide to Blogs, Wikis, and other tools that are shaping a new information landscape - by David F. Warlick - ISBN 978-1-4303-2676-2) to brush up on my knowledge of blogs as I research for my book rewrite. David often speaks of “digital literacy” in his presentations and his books. He even has a whole book (Redefining Digital Literacy for the 21st Century - by David F. Warlick - ISBN 978-1586831301) dedicated the subject, as shown to the left.
The point that David makes is that in the past if you could read at a basic level and count money, you were considered literate. You could likely find a job and survive on that level of literacy. In today’s world, this level of literacy is not enough. You must have a minimal level of digital literacy to perform almost any job. A person in today’s world that is not literate in basic digital skills is as illiterate as someone that could not read in the past generation. Actually, they are likely even worse off than the illiterate of yesteryear.
Audio Clip of Warlick Talking About Digital Literacy
This is the same scenario that is going on in the automotive service industry. Those that do not develop digital skills are going to find it more and more difficult to advance in the automotive service industry. They will find themselves to be an illiterate worker in an industry that left them behind.
So, I am going with “Digital Literacy”! For just two words, I think it is pretty thought provoking. Also by using the word digital instead of computer it implies a much larger application, which is the case.
“Project”
I went with “Project” because that is what I am starting, a project, not a short term effort. There are so many working techs that need this type of training and with the influx of new workers, I don’t see this challenge being fully met for the foreseeable future. I have about 15 years left before retirement age and I suspect I could work this project for the rest of my career (along with my teaching job, of course). Unless circumstances change, that is what I plan to do.
