podcasting made easy

Podcasting Made Easy

Bronwyn Desjardins~Grayston Preparatory~

What is a Podcast? What is RSS? Tech Terms to Know

Podcast Overview

Fusion of two words about 5 years ago: iPod + broadcast

Also in video now as Vodcast. Downloadable audio file for computer or

portable audio device (iPod or MP3 player) – doesn’t have to be downloaded.

Has subscribers – receive automatic audio feed updates

Perfect for Instant Information World Anytime Anywhere and most are free

What is a Podcast?

What is RSS? RSS = Really Simple Syndication It turns an audio recording into a podcast Saved in .xml format Provides: creator; show title; content

description; link to audio file. It is created by using .xml coding or a

program that creates the feed automatically.

NB: Audio file has to be stored on a server first.

Blog: web log – chronological publication Exit: music or sounds to end show Host Site: server that stores podcast and

RSS feed Intro: music or sounds that “lead into” the

podcast MP3: audio file in compressed digital format Podcatcher: program used to subscribe to

and download podcasts e.g. iTunes

Tech Terms To Know

have a clear understanding of what podcasting is.

be able to oversee student podcasting projects.

have the knowledge and understanding to implement podcasting in their classroom.

ObjectivesParticipants will...

Better understanding of curriculum content Develops language skills Develops critical thinking skills Opportunity to share knowledge and

opinions with a greater audience

Why have students Podcast?

Computer with Internet connection Microphone and webcam iPod touch can record video

Hardware

Audio podcasts: GarageBand (Mac only) Audacity (fee – can be used on Mac OS or

Windows) Podomatic http://www.podomatic.com/ -

record onlineVideo (Vodcasts) iMovie (Mac only) MovieMaker (Windows only) YouTube

Software

Know what you want for the end product Focus on content Treat it like an essay: introduction; body and

conclusion Time constraint – get unnecessary content

as they will ramble Technical aspects (sound, lighting, etc.) –

focus on one or two aspects Show examples and critique them

Rubric

1. Plan2. Storyboard (important for Vodcasts). There

are samples online.3. Write script4. Peer response to script5. Revise/ rewrite6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 as needed

Pre-production

Rehearse before record Don’t read lines – memorise line by line if

necessary and pause recording between as it looks more professional

Record in a quiet place Keep sound at the same level – keep mike

at same distance, practice speaking at same level. Audio adjustments can be time consuming.

Have good lighting (video)

Production Tips

School news Curricular reports: foreign languages; book

reviews; history projects; biology reports etc.

Topics of interest: practise creative writing and speaking

Communication tool: school announcements; student or parent announcements

Ideas for Podcasts

Podomatic* YouTube* School web site Your own web site: more control Wiki* Blog* NB: iTunes does not host podcasts – you

have to link it to the store*Free

Podcast Hosting

Would this enhance your curriculum? Hardware assessment: camera; computer;

cables etc. Software assessment: try using itself first –

have basic understanding of it; make sure necessary programs are installed

Create the rubric Find examples Present the project to the students

Ask yourself...

Nicknames – make up on-air names Don’t give out private information – school

name/ address etc. Check privacy restrictions with school

Safety

http://www.youtube.com/cdspodsquad

Learner Examples

Tech Chicks http://techchicktips.net/ *Kidcast http://www.intelligenic.com/blog Teach With Video

http://teachwithvideo.com/podcast.html*Step by step 45 minute lessons on how to

podcast

Educational Podcasts – How to..

www.IHeartEdTech.com (Blog) Twitter: @SimpleK12 @EdTechUNcon

Useful Tech Tips

What is it and how to use it Introduction to Audacity Interface

Audacity

Free audio editing software Record multiple tracks in a single audio file

– up to 16 and more Can import file types as tracks MP3, wav.

etc. Cross platform – can work on any OS

(Windows, Linux, Mac)

Audacity

Four separate tool bars Control toolbar (like a CD player) Meter toolbars (input/ output) - red = too

loud Mixer toolbar (output – speaker icon/ input –

mike icon) – can adjust input level Edit toolbar – cut, copy, paste, trim and add

silence. Zoom in or out of tracks to get a closer look.

Menu bar

Each track has its own display area Any track will appear with its own control panel It appears in wav form – mute will mute sounds

and other volume controls (Gain) adjust volume of each track. Solo – will isolate a track.

Close button, track name, and track menu down arrow with varied menus – you can name a track.

Get to know the basic tools first.

Project Window

See Audacity notes Podsafe audio: http://podsafeaudio.com/ http://www.flashkit.com/loops Visit Dropbox folder for software download, copy of

Audacity notes, and Podcasting ideas Visit Diigo Podcasting Made Easy group for links

mentioned in this workshop blip.tv.com – create an account Upload file blip.tv.com/username/rss – copy this URL link to iTunes

to create RSS feed in iTunes store (more difficult) Or upload file as audio file in a website or wiki In wiki embed as widget RSS feed (easy)

Creating the podcast