foulgerinnovations

Podcast

Page history last edited by Gina Kent 1 yr ago

PODCASTING

What is Podcasting?

What is podcasting? Podcasting is basically a radio show on the internet. You can go on the internet to any website that has podcasting and download their podcasts. Podcasts are like magazine subscriptions in that you can subscribe to them. When subscribing to a podcast you use aggregator (podcatching) software that can be set to automatically update your podcast list every time you log onto your computer. Aggregators reduce the time and effort needed to regularly check websites for updates. Many aggregators are free as well. Once subscribed to a feed, an aggregator is able to check for new content at user-determined intervals and retrieve the update. Your podcasts are downloaded onto your computer (media player, iTunes), and then you can download them onto any mp3 player.

Podcasting is useful for people that enjoy radio programs but are unable to listen to them when they are on. Podcasting is also useful for anyone that wants to present information and have people listen in (churches, individual podcasts).

Podcasting came to be known by comining the words iPod and broadcasting. Podcasts are designed for transfer from PCs to connected portable devices.
A podcast is a web-based audio broadcast via an RSS feed, accessed by subscription over the internet.
A podcast is: 1. An audio file you create in .mp3 format 2. Which contains your own radio show or any audio you wish others to have 3. That you upload along with an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) file to a server (your website for instance) 4. That your intended listeners download using one of several programs that have been created to retrieve your audio file automatically 5. So they can listen to it at their convenience on their own ipod or MP3 player or computer
It is a different way of communication; information on the go.
Podcasting is convenient; you can listen to a broadcast anywhere or anytime...So long as you have an ipod, MP3 player, web browser, mobile phone, or computer.
The host/author of a podcast is known as the podcaster. Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other formats by its ability to be downloaded automatically using software capable of reading feeds like RSS or Atom (RSS and Atom files provide news updates from a website in a simple form for your computer).

What is Podcasting?

Podcasting in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MSL42NV3c

A layman’s guide to podcasting http://www.podcast411.com/f12.html

A site that has tons of podcasting links http://www.newmediaexpo.com/podcastexpert/index.php?action=links&categoryid=5

This guy can walk you through a video of what podcasting is http://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/whatisit/

Learn to subscribe to podcasts via video http://learntosubscribe.com/

Start Your own Podcast

[edit]

What you will need:

A laptop/desktop computer with an internet connection.
A microphone (some computers have a built-in microphone).
Sound recording software- You can use a number of free or paid software programs to record your podcast.
An MP3 encoder- this software converts your podcast into an MP3 file. iTunes will convert your file to an Mp3 for free.
A web hosting service in order to publish your podcast.

For Mac users - you can create a podcast in Garageband and publish it using Podcast Maker.

(Garageband is a standard Application on every Mac)

Download Garageband

For PC users - you can use Audacity to create your podcast and publish it on a page such as Podcast Alley

Download Audacity

Here are four links that will help walk you through the steps of starting your own podcast

Podcasting with Garageband (Mac only)

Step-by-step tutorial

Podcasting with QuickTime Pro (Mac)

Step-by-step tutorial

Podcasting with QuickTime Pro(PC)

Step-by-step tutorial

General overview to start your own podcast http://www.wikihow.com/Start-Your-Own-Podcast

[edit]

Things to Consider When Making a Podcast

Make sure your presentation is clear and organized
- Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you have just told them.

Length
- Make sure the length of your podcast is appropriate for what you are trying to do (i.e. anouncement vs. a lecture).

Educational Uses

Mobile access to lectures in class - With podcasting, you can record your lessons and put it in a podcast and now your entire class can have access to every lesson you give, for the purpose of notes or refreshing their memory. Just think, you will never have to repeat yourself again!
Guest Speakers - It is very difficult to get guest speakers into your classroom because of scheduling, now with podcasting you can have a guest speaker with the touch of a button at anytime and anywhere.
Student feedback or evaluation - Instead of writing out student evaluations, you can just tell them what they need to improve on or what they are doing well via podacasting.
Videocasting - You can create a science experiment using a video podcast and the students could watch and use the scientific method to explain their findings (a huge plus is being able to reaccess the experiment in case they did not get something at first).
ESL classes - Teachers in New Jersey had students create podcasts to study for the proficiency test and they used GarageBand to record stories that they had written (The Journal).
Special needs students - By recording your lectures and putting them in a podcast you can provide easy accommodations for your students with limited note taking abilities or with eyesite problems.
Student created podcasts - This can be another form of media for students to submit assignments. It gives them a break from writing the traditional five paragraph essay.
A teacher can teach a class to a completely diverse range of students. If the teacher is using podcasting to broadcast the class, he/she can literally be teaching students from around the world, off all ages, from different cultures and backgrounds, all at the same time, in the same class. A classroom like this is not limited to the standard twenty-five seats. There can literally be hundreds of students in this class. This provides value because it connects a diverse range of people, perspectives, and ideas. Emails and discussions and questions can be broadcast and students can listen and participate when they choose to.
Using podcasting in education can help students review what has been gone over in class. For example, if class was on a Thursday, and the student wanted to review key concepts or ideas that were covered on Saturday, they can simply get the podcast and re-listen to the lesson. This adds value because a student can listen to class lessons anywhere, anytime - it provides convenience and can save time.
Podcasting provides students a unique way of getting their voices heard - throughout the world! Students can broadcast stories, audio diaries, plays, interviews, news, and reviews. It is a way to teach students the power of communication. It can provide a source of confidence and teach technological skills.
Students with disabilities can use podcasting as a way of communicating their thoughts, feelings, ideas, and insights into their own disability and experiences. Podcasting presents an exciting way for special education students to connect with the world.
English Language Learners can use podcasting as a way to learn English. There are many free podcasts available for students who are learning English. These students who are learning English can also use podcasting as a way of recoding their own speech and playing it back, creating awareness of their own pronunciation in speaking and reading aloud activities. Teachers can also record short "books on tape" of difficult passages in textbooks. The most beginner students can benefit from being able to read along to the recordings using headphones.