Drive-time Learning
I found out about .NET Rocks! recently.
This is something that I've wanted for a while - Drive-time Learning (I can't remember where I heard that phrase, but I'm sure I didn't coin it).
I'm impressed with the amount of video-based training material from Microsoft; seminars, webcasts, MSDN TV, The .NET Show*, Certified Partner content, and more. However, my number one frustration is that I just cannot find the time to take advantage of this content. It all requires that I be in front of a computer; and therein lies the problem. If I'm in front of a computer it's difficult to have the focus necessary to watch or listen to an entire presentation. Multi-tasking operating systems and the Internet allow me to be too distracted.
What I've often wished for is an audio-only version of the same content; and I mean a standard audio CD format that I can listen to in my vehicle - the only place that I can really focus. To listen to the .NET Rocks! shows, I've been downloading the MP3, converting it to a .WAV file, splitting it into tracks of 3 minutes a-piece, and burning to audio CDs**. I work about 7 minutes from my house, but the amount of information I can consume in even this short drive is amazing. I can get about 30 minutes of listening time per day just going to work in the morning, driving home for lunch, back to work, and back home at the end of the day.
I would like to see the Microsoft content done this way. I don't need a bunch of slides to keep my attention - the audio usually suffices. If additional material is needed (such as diagrams), package it separately so I can quickly scan it at my computer before or after listening.
In the meantime, I'd like to find some tools for converting existing content into audio. The main problem is that they use a bunch of different formats to archive them and don't always link to downloadable, but rather streaming media.
Does anyone know of any useful tools to convert Windows Media streams into .WAV files or CD Audio recordable content?
*I saw this comment today from Kevin Dente after I began writing this post: "I appreciate Microsoft's general strategy of carpet-bombing developer's with technical information [...] but does anyone actually have time to watch an hour and a half video on IIS 6?".
**In case you're interested, here's a detailed breakdown of how I convert the .NET Rocks! show into multi-track audio CD format:
Comments
Steve,
We're soon going to be delivering the show a week early on CD to those that want it for a small fee. Is this something you'd be interested in?
Carl
Posted by: Carl Franklin | September 16, 2003 04:56 AM
Steve, Glad you like the show and lucky for you the commute is so short. The normal show length runs an hour or more and we have over 35 great shows available to listen to, from Alan Cooper to the Microsoft .NET dev team. As you know this is not fluff but entertaining, informative and irreverent developer content.
Posted by: Todd Follansbee | September 17, 2003 10:06 AM