Audio Podcasting

Dan Cabrera, Ph.D.Multimedia Coordinator

Faculty Development and Instructional Design CenterNorthern Illinois University

May 14, 2008

Outline

• Objectives

• Review of Introductory Concepts

• Examples of Audio Podcast

• Discussion of Hardware and Software

• Hands-on

• Review

Objectives

• Be able to discern the difference between conventional access to online materials and podcasting

• Be able to identify the process of podcasting– create, upload, and publish an audio file as a

podcast

Workshop ParametersWhat it is/is not

• Simplify the process

• Making minimal hardware and software demands

• Universal application

• Not about how to use an iPod

• Not about Blogging

• Limited time

Review of Intro Concepts

Definition

• Podcasting, a portmanteau of Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting", is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription, usually at no cost.

• Subscribe one time only• Podcasting first became popular in late

2004, used largely for audio files

The Pedagogy of Podcasting• The power of the spoken word

– Appeals to auditory learners– Anytime, anyplace – “m-learning”– Capture the instructor’s enthusiasm– Can listen multiple times for review– Bring in guest lectures, debates, virtual

field trips, etc.– Office hours (iCube)

Prof. Burks Oakley II, 2006

Methods of Content Distribution

• Face-to-face

Methods of Content Distribution

• Online

Methods of Content Distribution

• Subscription

Concept behind Podcasting

• Distributing content

Pull

Push

Podcasting Concepts

• Personal On-Demand entertainment/learning & broadcasting, giving: POD-casting

Podcasting Concepts

• Personal On-Demand entertainment/learning & broadcasting, giving: POD-casting

• Class (Show)– Episodes/Chapter

• A podcast is really just an mp3 audio file that is distributed via an RSS feed (typically by linking the mp3 file to a blog posting).

Definition

• Syndication - The supplying of information or content for simultaneous publication in several periodicals or web sites.(http://www.investorwords.com/4852/syndication.html)

RSS• Really Simply Syndication

• XML file format – Universally readable by feed readers and

podcatching software

• XML vs. RSS– Either term/button can refer to the existence

of a feed (RSS = process; XML = file format)

RSS XML

What does XML look like?  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> - <rss version="2.0" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"

xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd">- <channel>  <title>The FrenchPodClass</title>   <link>http://frenchpodclass.com</link>   <description>&#60;p&#62;&#60;i&#62;Le genie de notre langue est la clarte -

Voltaire&#60;/p&#62;&#60;/i&#62;</description>   <language>en</language>   <copyright>The FrenchPodClass</copyright>   <managingEditor>frenchieproductions@gmail.com</managingEditor>   <generator>Liberated Syndication - libsyn.com</generator>   <webMaster>podcasts@libsyn.com (Liberated Syndication)</webMaster>   <lastBuildDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2006 04:10:00 GMT</lastBuildDate>   <ttl>180</ttl>   <itunes:subtitle>Learn - Discover - Enjoy ... French !</itunes:subtitle>   <itunes:summary>Learn French and discover some piece of French culture. Grammar, vocabulary, video

vocabulary, bilingual text, movie or book review and a spread sheet to get a better look at the French language !</itunes:summary>

+ <itunes:category text="Education">  </itunes:category>  <itunes:keywords>learn french language learning tour de france teach education francais culture transcript

lessons lesson leÃon leÃons classe class movie book discover discovering paris europe read speak understand italian spanish english tour eiffel amelie news paris</itunes:keywords>

  <itunes:author>Sebastien - Let's learn French the fun way!</itunes:author>

Traditional “Pulling” of Content from the WWW

manual processes

Podcasting Concepts

• Current “podcatching” software, (Ex. iTunes, Juice), allows the user to subscribe to an RSS feed; the software will automatically download new podcasts when they become available

• Server

Podcast = Pushing Content via RSS & Podcatching Software

RSS

User-determined User-determined frequencyfrequencymanual or

automated download

Podcasts

RSSRSS

RSSRSS

RSSRSS

RSSRSS

RSSRSS

RSSRSS

Discussion of Hardware and Software

• Computer to create, upload, view (PC or Mac)• Internet access• Server Space• Headset with microphone• iPod (don’t need to create podcast)• Audio capture/edit program (Audacity, free)• Software to create, upload, files (audio, video,

enhanced). • Podcatching software (iTunes, Juice)

Hands-on

• What is a podcast?

• Understand that is a file with a feed works with a podcatcher to automate downloading

• Transfer to mobile device

• Don’t have to go online

• Don’t have to worry about where the file is

• Can take it on the go

Audio Podcasting

• Audio editor and recorder

• Free

• Easy to Use

• Important tools

http://www-audacity.com/

Creating a Podcast

The default title is the name of the course

Uploading Podcast Episodes

Enabling the RSS Feed

• Set up the podcast so that students can subscribe

If student has iTunes, then they can subscribe directly into this podcatching software program

Adding a Link to the Course Navigation Menu

• Automatically come to the window to subscribe

• Take to podcast tool area where students can view all available episodes

Weekly Podcast

Weekly Podcast

Podcasting in BlackboardTutorials

http://www.blackboard.niu.edu/blackboard/resources/podcasting.shtml#