Just Getting Started with Podcasting

1. Just Getting Started with Podcasting Cleo D’Arcy and Darin Eastburn Department of Crop Sciences cdarcy@uiuc.edu, eastburn@uiuc.edu

2. Why get started? • Extra time? • Extra funds for teaching? • Seriously, we have been studying students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of different instructional formats and media. • iPods are “in”, so how can we use them effectively for instruction?

3. (USA Today article)

4. Plants, Pathogens, and People(PLPA 200) • uses plant disease epidemics to introduce issues in agriculture • fulfills general education requirements: natural science, advanced composition • capped at 75 students

5. PLPA 200 Students • sophomores, juniors, seniors • from 6 to 8 different UIUC colleges • some have lots of college biology; some have one course in high school • most are taking the class to fulfill General Education requirements

6. PLPA 200 Formats and Media • lecture • handouts • visual aids: chalkboard, overheads, color slides, PowerPoint slides, videotapes • i>clickers • discussion: small group, whole class • review grids • writing: in class, out of class • textbook • PPP web site: text, images, interactive exercises • Compass site: on-line quizzes, PowerPoint notes

7. What do podcasts add? • appeal for auditory learners • repetition and reinforcement of material • enthusiasm and emphasis from the instructor’s voice • anytime, anyplace learning - “m-learning”

8. PLPA 200 Podcasts:PPPodcasts • one each week • 5-7 minutes • three parts • key concept or issue • point of confusion • study hints • music

9. What do our students think?(some very preliminary findings) • 45% use the podcast every week 45% use it some weeks 10% never use it • >90% access the podcast from their home computer

10. What do our students think?(some very preliminary findings) • the most useful feature is the point of confusion • the podcasts are a good length • the music doesn’t really add to or detract from them • 65% never listen to other podcasts

11. The technical stuff… “A podcast is a multimedia file distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.”

12. The technical stuff… “Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other digital audio formats by its ability to be downloaded automatically using software capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom.” (Wikipedia)

13. In other words: • a podcast is an mp3 (or other) audio file • it can be distributed directly through a web site, such as a course Compass site • and/or through subscription to an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed

15. How to Hints:What you Need • computer (PC or Mac) • computer compatible microphone or microphone and digital converter • sound recording program • Audacity for PC, iLife for Mac • music files (mp3 files) [optional]

17. How to Hints:The Process • compose the material for the podcast (write a script) • record the sound file (voice) • edit the sound file • add music clips (if desired) • save the edited sound file • export the edited recording as an mp3 • post the podcast

18. Audacity Audio Recording Software

19. DEMO Time

20. How to Hints The UIUC Podcast Server: http:podcast.ics.uiuc.edu