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."
Birnbaum said that while his responsibility rests with producing lectures, he would be enthusiastic to advise others on creating similar Web sites to produce streaming-video for different University functions.
"I hope this shows other people the way to do it," said Birnbaum. "I hope the place is full of Web sites of streaming stuff. The livelier BC looks on the Web, the better off we are. More students will be attracted here. More alumni will be attracted to give money to the school."
Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculties John Neuhauser agreed with Birnbaum and Herbeck, saying that he likes the Web site and hopes that Front Row and sites featuring streaming-video can grow at BC.
"From an academic standpoint, it's just a terrific thing to have," said Neuhauser. "I wish we had a broader bandwidth so you could see it in a larger, more fine-grain picture. It's a terrific way to showcase the things a university can do with terrific outside speakers and discussion about topics, which are not necessarily classroom topics."
Neuhauser said BC has used other types of streaming-video in conjunction with a program in Scotland through the Center for International Partnerships and Programs (CIPP); students can use the video to help with coursework.
Birnbaum said events appearing on Front Row must be of interest to the general public, have strong content, and be of high quality. Front Row focuses on events that are free to the public and airs events regardless of political viewpoints. While Front Row tapes are not edited, Birnbaum hopes to edit material as videos of more events become available to the public.
"We will be able to produce much more polished highlights of a week at BC," said Birnbaum. "You're not going to need a television station to beam it to the world. You won't have to pay a cable company to carry the signal."
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