Podcasting Ben Buckert, Katie Dover, Cassandra Hulett, Kerri McCoy, Mark Swindle

Podcasting

Remember the good old days of TV and radio? Everyone would gather around to be entertained. Shows were broadcast at specific times and if you weren't there on time, you missed it. Just as blogging has enabled almost anyone with a computer to become a bona fide reporter, podcasting allows virtually anyone with a computer to become a radio disc jockey, talk show host or recording artist

What is Podcasting? a type of digital media consisting of files (audio or video) the Internet world's form of broadcasting a free service that allows Internet users to pull audio files (typically MP3s) from a Web site to listen to on their computers or personal digital audio players

What is Podcasting? term comes from a combination of the words iPod and broadcasting download the podcast on demand or subscribe via an RSS feed, which automatically downloads the podcast to your computers -- JUST SUBSCRIBE, DOWNLOAD AND STREAM!

How to Create Podcasts Determine your format Since they were originally designed with mobile devices in mind, it is best to stick to the standard formats

How to Create Podcasts The most popular format for audio distribution is MP3 and the most popular video format is MP4 If you have a direct audience on computers, you can also use AVI or Flash or other file types depending on which site you choose to host your podcast/vodcast

How to Create Podcasts: Creating Media Files You can create your podcasts in programs such as Audacity if you are recording an audio podcast (mp3) For video podcasts you can use any video recorder and then edit the files in iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Avid FreeDV and compress and export them (usually mp4)

How to Create Podcasts: Hosting your Video Post your videos or audio in the following Podbean.com (free initial packages) Blogger WordPress (with VideoPress plugin – for approx. $50/year) Feedburner Podomatic.com Libsyn.com (and it says "please feel free to contribute your video“)

Uploading your podcast/vodcast Where to post? Go to iTunes Click to go to the iTunes Store Go to the Podcast section at the top of the page In the right column, choose “Submit a podcast” Submit your podcast by typing the URL of your material

Uses of podcasts in the foreign language classroom Native speaker interviews: interviews with native speakers in the target culture can be conducted in the target language Presentational: recordings can be conducted in the classroom, for projects, or on field trips and shared with a selective or universal audience Review of Lesson: podcasts can be used as study tools as they allow for repeated listening Q/A: Students record questions and listen to answers given by a native speaker Presentation Podcast: students produce and record the target language in form of a presentation Listening: students need to listen to a podcast at home in order to discuss the content in class on the following day Speaking: students can develop their own podcasts, upload and share them with their teacher or on the internet

Pros of Podcasting Provides access to authentic materials Provides opportunities to notice vocabulary and grammatical structures Provides the learner with an opportunity to communicate with the target language community Can increase the learner’s confidence Combines language learning and use through authentic material Incorporates learning into everyday life Portability: podcasts are convenient and easy to use They are attractive to students They are easily accessible They can be good for publicity. Public podcasts can provide visibility that can create a good reputation for using the latest technologies

Cons of Podcasting

Negatives of using Podcasting in the classroom? Not good for visual / kinesthetic learners One way communication – no comments or questions Native accents can be difficult for novice learners without visuals No unified way to do it Students get caught up in the music and sound effects and forget the importance of the message Sometimes difficult to download depending on hardware Size can be a problem – files take up a lot of room Sound quality can be poor Anyone can create them…can be attacked and unsuitable for young learners Accessibility for some learners may be difficult

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