Podcasting Made Easy

1. Podcasting Made Easy Bronwyn Desjardins ~Grayston Preparatory~

2. Podcast Overview • What is a Podcast? • What is RSS? • Tech Terms to Know

3. What is a Podcast? • 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

4. 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.

5. Tech Terms To Know • Blog: weblog – 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

6. ObjectivesParticipants will... • 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.

7. Why have students Podcast? • Better understanding of curriculum content • Develops language skills • Develops critical thinking skills • Opportunity to share knowledge and opinions with a greater audience

8. Hardware • Computer with Internet connection • Microphone and webcam • iPod touch can record video

9. Software Audio podcasts: • GarageBand (Mac only) • Audacity (fee – can be used on Mac OS or Windows) • Podomatichttp://www.podomatic.com/ - record online Video (Vodcasts) • iMovie (Mac only) • MovieMaker (Windows only) • YouTube

10. Rubric • 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

11. Pre-production • Plan • Storyboard (important for Vodcasts). There are samples online. • Write script • Peer response to script • Revise/ rewrite • Repeat steps 4 and 5 as needed

12. Production Tips • 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)

13. Ideas for Podcasts • 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

14. Podcast Hosting • 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

15. Ask yourself... • 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

16. Safety • Nicknames – make up on-air names • Don’t give out private information – school name/ address etc. • Check privacy restrictions with school

17. Learner Examples • http://www.youtube.com/cdspodsquad

18. Educational Podcasts – How to.. • Tech Chicks http://techchicktips.net/ • *Kidcasthttp://www.intelligenic.com/blog • Teach With Video http://teachwithvideo.com/podcast.html *Step by step 45 minute lessons on how to podcast

19. Useful Tech Tips • www.IHeartEdTech.com (Blog) • Twitter: @SimpleK12 @EdTechUNcon

20. Audacity • What is it and how to use it • Introduction to Audacity Interface

21. 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)

22. Menu bar • 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.

23. Project Window • 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.

24. Creating the podcast • 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)