On March 1, the Office of Marketing Communications began producing a University Web site featuring free access to 20 streaming-video presentations of campus lectures and hopes to assemble footage of 50 events by June.
The Web site, named "Boston College Front Row" (www.bc.edu/frontrow), is sponsored by the Boston College Magazine and through the strong support of the Information Technology (IT) and Media and Technology Services staff, said Ben Birnbaum, editor of Boston College Magazine and executive director of marketing communications.
Birnbaum said he expects to produce 50 presentations per semester and provide an archive, allowing the newest material to stay on the Web site's main page.
Producing a Web site that contains streaming-video of presentations would be a good way to showcase lectures to the world, he said, especially since BC Magazine cannot cover every event.
"Why not make this available to the world if the speaker consents to it?" asked Birnbaum. "This is a resource. Otherwise, it gets poured down the drain. Now it doesn't. Now you can see it forever."
Communications department Chairman Dale Herbeck said he enjoys the Web site because of its global accessibility.
"With it being on the Web, everyone can see it. An alum can go on and see any event," said Herbeck. "There might be people on campus who might not be aware of the stuff, but now they can see it. I think to be able to archive it as a resource is wonderful."
While Herbeck said he does not see any downsides to Front Row, he said he was surprised that BC did not create any such Web site sooner. He also hopes that BC can expand on Front Row by using streaming media as a classroom tool.
"I hope down the road we simply ramp up," said Herbeck. "It'd be great to really have a crew like with a professional company and make it appear as if it were on television. With e-learning you may see it penetrate into the classroom. A professor can tape lectures for kids who miss class."
2008 Woodie Awards
