By: Samantha Gamble

Question What is a podcast? Have you ever listened to a podcast? Have you ever made a podcast?

What is a podcast? The New Oxford American Dictionarydefines a podcast as “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.” Podcasts are audio (sometimes video) programs on the Web which are usually updated at regular intervals New episodes can be listened to on the computer, or downloaded onto an MP3 player or iPod for later listening

Radio Podcasts Podcasts based on radio programs produced by radio broadcasting corporations Examples:

Independent Podcasts Web based podcasts produced by individuals and organizations Examples

Teacher podcasts Podcasts produced by a teacher for his/her own students Education Podcast Network

Student Podcasts Podcasts created by students Willow Web Radio Mr. Jaffe's 6th Grade Radio Cambridge

Where to find Podcasts? Podcast directories

How to create your own podcast What you need A microphone Audio editing software Download AudacityAudacity Download MP3 EncoderMP3 Encoder A website or hosting service that you can upload your podcast to Podango An RSS Feed Easypodcast All in one solution MyPodcast

YouTube Tutorial: How To Create a Podcast

Connecting iPod to projection equipment: iPod can be connected to projection equipment in classroom, and then audio and video clips can be played for listening and viewing.

Listening on the go… Download clips in your podcatcher (iTunes) to an iPod 1. Open iTunes 2. Connect iPod to computer. 3. The new episodes will download themselves automatically.

Listening on the go cont. Download to MP3 Player 1. Open “My Documents” 2. Open “My Music” 3. You will see a sub-folder named “iTunes” 4. The downloaded clips are all there

Activities for Student Podcasts Reading aloud Listen to classmates’ thoughts and respond Diary Group presentations on a completed project Oral book report Picture description Story telling Chained story telling Creating riddles Role play Debates Dramatic monologues Radio Drama

Benefits of Podcasting: Cheap Invites a global audience Involves few privacy concerns Can educate about copyright Interactive Creative Fun

Podcasting is cheap You need a microphone Audacity Free podcast publishing tools Podifer Podcasting invites a global audience Gives students motivational power for student writing

Podcasting involves few privacy concerns Students speaking during a podcast do not have to identify themselves by name If they do they identify themselves, they can state their first name only Images of students are not included in podcasts It is a good idea to solicit parent permission for student participation in a classroom podcast

Podcasting can educate about copyright laws Downloading music to enjoy or reuse in a podcast is not an unconditionally illegal and punishable offense There are copyright-friendly music files which can be legally used in classroom podcasts Podsafe Music Network Free Play Music Podcasters can also learn about exciting, legal developments in online music publication and sharing

Podcasting can be interactive The essence of web 2.0 is interactivity Podcasting can be creative Podcasting can be a creative outlet for students and teachers to express ideas, share perceptions Podcasting can be Fun!! Fun and engaging It can be used as a tool to further motivate student writers and more effectively communicate with a broad community about great things happening in the classroom

Find a podcast: Use one of the podcast directories to find a podcast of your interest

Podcasts for Teachers and Kids Poem of the Day Sixty-Second Science My German Class Radio Willow Web Wild Animal Chronicles ESL Teacher Talk Bookwink Click on one of these sites. Listen to a podcast. Reflect on what you heard. How would you use this podcast in your classroom?

Conclusion: Classroom podcasts can provide engaging opportunities for students to develop 21 st century skills

Review: What is a podcast? True or False: You need to buy software in order to create a podcast? Name one benefit of using podcasts in your classroom. Name one activity that can be used by creating a podcast.

References: www. podcast.com/