ChinesePod’s lessons are independent, and, for the most part, non-sequential. This is actually one of our lessons’ greatest strengths. When lessons do not explicitly build upon each other, they can be selected and arranged in an infinite number of ways, creating a course of study tailored to the individual’s needs and interests. We are still in the process of “filling in the holes” with regards to vocabulary, grammar, and covering the whole range of difficulty levels, but eventually the capabilities will be powerful indeed.
The process of organizing the content of the podcast archive has already begun, and premium subscribers can take advantage of it by using Lesson Sets (linked to on the Lesson Archive page).
Here is what you see there:
When you click on “Add,” the lessons are added to your personal Lesson list in My Studies. That gives you an RSS feed just for this list. Using that RSS feed, you can easily download just those lessons through iTunes (or whatever rich media feed reader program you like).
Of course, you build your own list of lessons (complete with its own RSS feed) without actually using the Lesson Sets. But because it’s a Lesson Set, it’s easier to add and readily available to everyone.
What if there’s a lesson set you believe needs to be added? No problem. You can just contact us with your list and if we like it, we can put it online. Recently Frank put together his own list of “Need to Know” lessons before going to China (mostly Newbie). This could totally be an awesome new Lesson Set.
Anyway, if you’re a premium subscriber, we hope you’ll give it a try and let us know what you think. Do you have any cool new ways to use them? Any Lesson Sets you’d like to see? Any questions or problems? Let us know.
-John
Personally I find I don’t really have much use for lesson sets and my course, because I’m not study any particular area, I just want to know everything.
So broadcast order is fine for me.
Hi John-
To me, there are two questions. Content and method.
Yes, there is great value to lesson sets as an alternative. So
But the effort into creating lesson sets should instead be put into improving the mechanics of archives (btw, an ongoing rant by myself
I’ve set up my own lesson sets using the tag-filter system. The content packaging in the effort is excellent. Why mess around with pre-package sets when a user can make their own, giving the user a much greater range of possibilities?
It’s the system design and performance of the archiving pages that needs to work better for me.
Thanks!,
Ron
Let the premium users beat themselves to death over this issue. Personally I kinda like the lesson sets. Now, how about a “set” on live action role playing games?
And how about using Monty Python screen captures for the pictures. I can think of a good one for eating mind you- “just one last mint”.
Ron,
I hear you.
Ken Carroll
Hi Ron,
You’re not alone in thinking there’s room for improvement in the archiving/web site structure.
RSS,
Umm…okay, so I’m not really THAT hip with my new iPod Nano. I would like some automatic RSS downloading/synching with my iPod into a playlist. Anyone want to walk me thru it?
1. Go to iTunes store
2 - 3x …
10. Shuffle “Cpod Eating” playlist.
Lantian,
You’re not alone in thinking that Ron in DC is not alone in thinking that there’s room for improvement in the archiving/web site structure. That’s why I say “V3″.
Ken Carroll
I’m not smart enough to know if the variaous functions need to be improved. I am smart enough, however, to know that a real “help” section might be useful for the computer illiterate like my self. Example. he vocab. in describing RES has the word feed in the first couple of sentences, which I’m sure means something, but not to me. I’m more then willing to learn the basic skills, hell even upgrade my skills in order to make this program work for me but I would rather do it somewhere else and not here. I am currently associating frustration, dissapointment and ect. to learning Chinese. Not good. Not good for me and not good for you if other students are having the same experience. Another example. Ive spent about an hour trying to listen to a lesson. I hit the listen button and I get about 4 seconds of sound and it stops, pauses for about 9 10 seconds and then starts again. If I download the main page using the “due to earthquake download” I get the download. If I download from the archives I get a web page of the lesson and no audio. I clearly understand the potential of your program and I fully intend to subscribe if and its a big if I can get this thing ork for me. Now, I have a sence that your probably concluding, “who needs this dodo heard” And I in a way understand that kind of attitude. Please keep in mind, however, that I know of three other people in Kunming that would be using your podcast if they didnt share my feelings about the “instructions” that you use. For a six month subscription that adds up to $450 bucks.
thanks for your time,
Bill Butler