Podcasting
Podcasting Overview
What is Podcasting?
Podcasting means many things to many people, but In its most popular form, podcasting is a way for people to selectively subscribe and download audio content over the Internet. This content, whether video or audio, can then be automatically downloaded to a computer, handhelds or mobile device, like an iPod. Think of it as a radio show on demand, you can listen to whenever and wherever you want. Podcasting for education can be much more though. There is actually two sides to podcasting.
- Podcaster/ Content Producer
The production or content delivery side of podcasting is actually the person or persons who create the actual podcast. This piece of podcasting can be easily done with a computer loaded with audio recording software like Audacity and a microphone.
- Podcast Subscriber /Consumer
The consumer side of podcasting is the subscriber. This is the person who subscribes and listens to the podcast either from a web site or through a podcatcher like iTunes.
An Introduction to Podcasting- "The World is Listening" - (click here)
"Digital Media Players/Recorders in the Classroom" - (click here)
The Road Map to Podcasting- (click here)
XML Sample- (click here)
How can podcasts be used?
Simple Podcasting Ideas:
- Delivering professional development for teachers along with PDF documents
- Record assignments, lessons, and lectures for students
- Delivering school/classroom announcements
- Student readings- poetry, creative writing, news stories
- Narrated books/text
- Podcast radio shows
- Podcast school's newspaper
- Roving Reporter (using iRiver with voice recording)
- Sound seeing Tour (using iRiver with voice recording)
- Round Robin Podcasting
- more to come..
How do you create a podcast?
The easiest way for Windows users to create a podcast is to use a free program called Audacity. This audio editing tool allows users to record and edit spoken word and music files. Once these have been recorded, they can then be exported as a MP3 file. A MP3 file is a cross platform file that has become a standard for delivering music and audio content.
What do you do once you have recorded your podcast?
Once the podcast has been recorded and exported as an MP3, it needs to be put on a web server so that other people can have access to it. There are two ways that it can be delivered from there. One way is to create a link from your school/classroom web site and allow it to be played directly from a web browser using either iTunes (Free for Mac and Windows) or using Windows Media Player. The second way your content can be listen to would be to upload the file to a web server and then create something called an RSS feed so that people can subscribe to you content through a podcatcher service like iTunes, Yahoo Podcasts. By subscribing with this RSS feed through one of these services, your audience can automatically have your podcasts delivered to their computers every time new content is posted. In a way, it is kind of like having your newspaper is delivered to your home, but it is audio and you pick the content that you want delivered. Once these files have be delivered to their computer, these files can then be transferred over to a mobile MP3 player like an iPod.
What is RSS?
In simple terms, RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a file that allows users to subscribe to your podcasts. It is a file that contains the information or a summary about your podcast file and also points to a service like iTune to that file for delivery.
What is needed?
- Windows XP (or maybe an earlier version, haven’t tested)
- Audio recording software, such a the free software Audacity. Be sure to also download the lame encoder library there to convert your output to mp3
- A microphone or a headset with a microphone
- Songs or jingles (Please make sure that the music you use is royalty free)
- Simple Music-Making Software - Super Duper Music Looper
Equipment
What are some suggested usages?
| Devices | Device Details | Usages | Prices |
| iPod Shuffle | Specifications |
The Shuffle is a inexpensive tool for classrooms that want students to take audio home to listen to. This device can be used for guided reading or audio assignments. It can be used for accommodations. The down side to the shuffle is that it does not have a screen so one must listen for the tracks. For more information:http://store.apple.com |
1GB- $79.00 |
| iPod Nano Video | Specifications |
The Nano is a great middle priced tool for both teachers and students. Unike the Shuffle, this device plays both audio and video. The benefit of the Nano is that it does have a screen for easy navigation and can also play videos and audio books for content enrichment. The Nano will also show enhanced educational podcasts. (Enhanced means they have still images that play during the podcast.) The Nano can record if a third party adaptor is added: |
For more information:http://store.apple.com |
| iPod Classic Video | Specifications |
The video iPod is high end tool for teachers and students who need larger storage for both audio and video capabilities. As far as instruction goes, the iPod Video is great for courses where the instructor either video tapes or has suggested videos for students to watch. This device should be a last resort if the iPod Nano cannot support your needs. Just like the iPod Nano, this device plays both audio and video. The iPod Classic Video does have a screen for easy navigation and can also play videos and audio books for content enrichment. This deice will show enhanced educational podcasts. (Enhanced means they have still images that play during the podcast.) The Nano can record if a third party adaptor is added: |
For more information:http://store.apple.com |
| Optional iPod Accessories | This item is highly recommended. Out of the box, the only way to charge an iPod is by connecting it to a computer. |
$29.00 |
|
| iRiver T10 | Specifications |
The iRiver is a great tool for those who want a portable recording device for creating content. It has a built in microphone that allows the user to record their voice without any additional equipment. These are great devices for instructor to record instruction. For more information: http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/t10/T10-1GB.aspx |
Approximate. $119.00 |
Suggested Microphones and Additional Equipment
| Devices | Device Details | Usages | Prices |
| Blue Microphones Snowball | This is a unidirectional and an omnidirectional USB microphone- this means it reduces background noise and is perfect for one host or for doing interviews. It includes a USB cable and stand. | High Quality Podcast Recording | $99.00 from www.apple.com
|
Tutorials
Podcasting PowerPoints
Podcasting Video Tutorials- These are high quality Windows Media files that can be viewed in full screen mode.
Using Audacity Audio Editing and Recording Software
- Downloading Audacity
- Downloading Lame Encoder
- Creating a Podcast- Basic Features 1
- Creating a Podcast- Basic Features 2
- Creating a Podcast- Basic Features 3
- Additional tutorials coming soon!
iPod and iTune Tutorials- Apple offers some great tutorials on both the iPod and iTunes.
Additional Resources
Suggested Podcasts- All of these podcast can be subscribed to on iTunes
| Audience | Name of Podcast | Author | Description |
| Educators | Connect Learning | David Warlick | |
| Moving at the Speed of Creativity | Welsy Fryer | ||
| EdTechTalk | Jeff Leboe and Dave | ||
| Building LEarning Communities | Alan November | ||
| Smithsonian Podcasts | |||
| TechPodZone | TechPodZone | Technology integration ideas and tips for teachers | |
| Book Voyages | Hosted by Art Spencer | Book reviews about children’s literature with interviews with authors and students. | |
| KidCast: Learning and Teaching with Podcasting | Dan Schmidt | Gives information about starting your own podcast and suggestions for how to use | |
| Photoshop Quicktips | Seely Design Studio | Every episode varies, but it is a great step by step on how to use various application in Photoshop. This is becoming a popular piece of software for most educators. | |
Digital Photography |
Chris Marquardt |
Tips on digital photography |
|
| Students | Rolling R’s: Free Video Spanish | Larry Leim | Provides Spanish lessons via video |
| Share the Earth-This is Our Earth-PBS Kids Podcast | PBS Kids & Milkshake | Students can sing & dance with all the PBS characters. (earth day focus) | |
| Test Prep Vocabulary | Liangatang | Vocabulary Test Prep to prepare students for the ACT, SAT, and GRE | |
Podictinary |
Hodgeson |
History and meaning of different words |
|
Instant Anatomy |
Whitaker |
Different areas of the anatomy |
|
Colonial Williamsburg |
Williamsburg Foundation |
Sound-seeing tour of different areas of Williamsburg |
|
| School/Parents | A focus on Positive Discipline Podcast | Ken Ainge | A podcast for parents to help them with discipline |
| Tween Talk | Beacon Street Girls | Bringing parents and experts to discuss daily issues 9-13 yr olds face. | |
| Teachers Teaching Reading | Paul Allison, Susan Ettenheim, et al. | 3 public teachers who moderate a weekly podcast about teaching reading and writing. | |
| Internet Safety | Eric Chamberlin | A presentation on challenges with keeping young people safe on the internet today. | |
Maths in motion |
Milthorpe |
Aims at parents to aid them in helping their children |
|
| Vodcasts | Izzy Video | Learn how to shoot better videos | |
| Sun-Earth Education | NASA’s Sun-Earth Education Form | A description of the Sun and how it affects the earth. | |
| Photoshop TV | The Photoshop Guys | Introduce new and various ways to use Photoshop within itself and with other applications. | |
| CM Algebra I, #053 | On-Demand Math Instruction | Linear Equations, Slope: Using the graph of a line to find slope | |
| Northwest-Shoals | Ann Lynden | Linear Equations – Identifying 3 types of linear equations |
Directories/ Search Engine
- PODZINGER-The largest and most comprehension podcast search engine- search for both audio and video podcasts
- Educational Podcast Network
- educate- podcasts for educators, schools and colleges
- Podcast Alley
- Podcast.net
- PODCASTDIRECTORY.COM
- Podcast Pickle
Podsafe Music
- Freesound- Podsafe music
- Podsafe Music Network- Podsafe Music
- Common Content- Podsafe Music
- Loop 1
- Loop 2
- Loop 3
- Loop 4
- Loop 5
- Loop 6
Podcasting Documents
- Podcast Script Template 1
- Podcast Script Template 2
- Segment Planning Booklet- Here is a really well thoughtout podcast planning booklet created by Tony Vincent from Radio WillowWeb.
- Podcast Rubric- Coming Soon!
- Podcasting Legal Guide- This is a great legal guide from the Podcast Brothers that one should read before they really get to far into podcasting.
Miscellaneous Resources
- Apple's Podcasting in Education Educational podcasting. Content to go.
- Learninginhand- Resources for handheld computing in education by Tony Vincent
- David Warlick's- Educational Podcasting Network
- Edupodder.Com- Podcasting in education
- Podcast About Podcast
- The Power of Portable Information - an article from Advance for Speech-Langauge Pathologists & Audiologists June 5, 2006
- iriver T30 firmware update
- Converting UnitedStreaming Videos to MPEG 4 (Using UnitedStreaming Videos with Video iPods)
For more information or training on podcasting or integrating these devices into you classroom, please contact Brad Niessen at 973-4743 or at bniessen@usd259.net.

