Learning Technologies Course Practising listening speaking with online audio

1. Learning Technologies CoursePractising listening & speaking with online audio 

2. Learning objectives By the end of this session you will be able to:  understand the potential of audio technologies for receptive, productive and communication skills development understand how Learning Technologies Course is organised

3. What skills can you develop with digital audio? This slide contains custom animation. Ask participants to discuss the question and use the animated text boxes during feedback. Digital audio can be used to practise both listening and speaking. Importantly it can be used to enable communication, which can be either synchronous (i.e. at the same time as in a telephone conversation) or asynchronous (i.e. not at the same time, as in leaving a recorded message)This slide contains custom animation. Ask participants to discuss the question and use the animated text boxes during feedback. Digital audio can be used to practise both listening and speaking. Importantly it can be used to enable communication, which can be either synchronous (i.e. at the same time as in a telephone conversation) or asynchronous (i.e. not at the same time, as in leaving a recorded message)

4. Podcasting What is a podcast? What do you need to listen to one?

5. A Podcast is .. Technical level: A podcast is a digital audio file that is located on a web server. Users subscribe to the podcast using a feedreader such as I-Tunes, Netvibes etc. The feedreader is then automatically informed when the podcast is updated and the audio file is sent to the user�s computer. The user can then listen to the audio on their computer or download it onto a portable device.A podcast is a digital audio file that is located on a web server. Users subscribe to the podcast using a feedreader such as I-Tunes, Netvibes etc. The feedreader is then automatically informed when the podcast is updated and the audio file is sent to the user�s computer. The user can then listen to the audio on their computer or download it onto a portable device.

6. A Podcast is .. Content features: consistent structured format genre scheduled content (daily, weekly, monthly etc.) episodic content building into a series In terms of content, a podcast is structured audio text (has a beginning, middle and end section), usually following a common entertainment genre such as a talk show or magazine type programme. The content is usually scheduled at regular intervals (each day / week) and each episode follows the same or similar structure to build into a series.In terms of content, a podcast is structured audio text (has a beginning, middle and end section), usually following a common entertainment genre such as a talk show or magazine type programme. The content is usually scheduled at regular intervals (each day / week) and each episode follows the same or similar structure to build into a series.

7. What do you need to listen to a podcast? To listen to a podcast you need: Basic level:Just a computer which can play sound plus speakers/headphones. To become mobile: Some form of portable device is necessary (i-Pod, Mp3 player, mobile phone, etc) You can listen to a podcast either on your computer or on a portable device such as MP3 player, mobile phone etc. You can listen to a podcast either on your computer or on a portable device such as MP3 player, mobile phone etc.

8. What makes a good podcast? Content Language level Sound quality Length File size Accessibility Page design Support materials Price? Other?

9. Making your own digital audio 10 considerations: Audience Theme / topic Structure of content / genre Length Script Rehearse You vs students Platform Media format Support materials Audience Who will want to listen to the audio and why will they want to listen. These are the most fundamental two questions which should guide your thinking throughout your planning Theme / topic It�s good to think about how many episodes your topic is likely to sustain. Will the theme be different for each episode or will the series explore a single theme Structure of content / genre Will you have a consistent structure for all episodes? Will the structure be like a narrative, a news report with presenter and interviews etc??? Length What�s a reasonable length to fit the concentration span of your audience and to be a reasonable file size (if you choose to deliver over the web) Script Will you script the whole of each episode or will some parts be spontaneous and improvised? Rehearse If you want a very professional finished product it might be worth putting a bit of time into rehearsing before you record your text. You vs students Decide if the you will do the speaking and use the audio as listening practice or if you will get the students to do the speaking Platform What platform / application will you use to produce and deliver the audio? Some platforms will also host your audio file and automatically create the feed. You may prefer to do this yourself from your own server. Media format Will you produce mp3 audio that can be downloaded and played on a mobile audio player, or will you use a different media type? Support materials Will the audio be complete within itself or will you produce materials such as scripts and listening exercises.Audience Who will want to listen to the audio and why will they want to listen. These are the most fundamental two questions which should guide your thinking throughout your planning Theme / topic It�s good to think about how many episodes your topic is likely to sustain. Will the theme be different for each episode or will the series explore a single theme Structure of content / genre Will you have a consistent structure for all episodes? Will the structure be like a narrative, a news report with presenter and interviews etc??? Length What�s a reasonable length to fit the concentration span of your audience and to be a reasonable file size (if you choose to deliver over the web) Script Will you script the whole of each episode or will some parts be spontaneous and improvised? Rehearse If you want a very professional finished product it might be worth putting a bit of time into rehearsing before you record your text. You vs students Decide if the you will do the speaking and use the audio as listening practice or if you will get the students to do the speaking Platform What platform / application will you use to produce and deliver the audio? Some platforms will also host your audio file and automatically create the feed. You may prefer to do this yourself from your own server. Media format Will you produce mp3 audio that can be downloaded and played on a mobile audio player, or will you use a different media type? Support materials Will the audio be complete within itself or will you produce materials such as scripts and listening exercises.

10. Making your own digital audio Possible projects: Culture show News (local / school) Revision show Stories Chat show Travel show Your course book Other?