Listening to Recordings through a Computer and Saving Them

If you want to listen to a lecture through your computer's speakers, you can merely left-click (once) on the link for the lecture (either High or Low quality). Depending on how your browser is configured to handle sound files, the recording should then automatically play using one of several players or plugins (e.g., Quicktime, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player). However, it is highly likely that you will want to listen to the recording again at a later date. So it is probably best for you to save the recording on your computer. To save the file, right-click the link for the lecture. This will bring up a pop-up menu. You should then choose 'Save Link As...' in the pop-up menu (in some browsers, this option will appear as 'Save Target As...' or something similar). When you choose that option, a dialog box will open that will allow you to save the file anywhere on your computer that you'd like (on the Desktop, for example). Keep track of where you save the file. After it is saved, you can listen to it repeatedly using any computer-based player of your choice.

Loading Recordings onto an Apple Player (one of the various iPods)

If you don't already have iTunes installed on your computer, you will need to install it. The program can be downloaded for free. After you download the installer, run the installer and follow the installation instructions. After iTunes is properly installed on your computer, you can proceed to the following instructions. Before connecting your iPod to the computer, you should first follow the instructions above (under the Listening to Recordings through a Computer and Saving Them section) and save the lecture file to the computer. Keep track of where you save the file (which can be anywhere you like). This example assumes that you save it to the Desktop. You can launch iTunes (if it's not already running), or you can simply plug your iPod into the computer and iTunes will automatically launch. Once iTunes has launched (and your iPod is connected to the computer), you should see your iPod appear as a connected device in the left part of the iTunes window, under DEVICES. Single-click on your iPod's icon. Click on the Summary pane in the main part of the window. Make sure that the checkbox next to 'Manually manage music' (or 'Manually manage music and video') is checked. Next, you need to add the saved file to the iTunes library. You can use the Ctrl-O keystroke, or you can choose 'Add to Library' under the File menu. When the dialog box appears, you'll need to choose the file you saved (in this case on the Desktop). After you've chosen the correct file, you should single-click on Music under LIBRARY on the left part of the window. This will display the files in the iTunes library, which should now include the file you just added. Simply drag that file to your iPod's icon (under devices) to copy it to your iPod. When the copying is complete, you can click the eject icon next to the iPod 's name, wait for the iPod itself to say it's okay to disconnect, and then disconnect. The file should now be playable on your iPod.

Loading Recordings onto a non-Apple Player

You should first follow the instructions above (under the  Listening to Recordings through a Computer and Saving Them section) and save the lecture file to the computer. Keep track of where you save the file (which can be anywhere you like). There is no single set of instructions that will work for all brands and models of players. Some players will be recognized by the computer as a drive (just like a flash drive). If that's the case, you will be able to see your player listed in Windows Explorer. You can launch Windows Explorer by choosing 'My Computer'. ('My Computer' is actually a shortcut to Windows Explorer, which is a directory viewer. Windows Explorer is NOT Windows Internet Explorer, which is a web browser.) Then it's simply a matter of locating the file that you want to transfer to the player and dragging it to the player (or to a folder within the player, if you prefer). If your player does not automatically appear in Windows Explorer, then you will have to install the software that came with your player. You should then follow the software's instructions for transferring files to the player. That means that you won't be able to transfer files using computers onto which you are not allowed to install software.