Podcasting in Education An exploration of the medium and its educational applications. Toyota USA Foundation sponsors our Podcasting in Education Initiative.

Exploring podcasts in education What is a podcast? What tools are required? Where do I find content? What are the educational applications? How do I begin?

What is a podcast? “The practice of making audio files available online in a way that allows software to automatically detect new files and download them.” Wikipedia Podcasting is a means of one-to-many audio distribution via the Internet. Term was coined from “iPod” and “Broadcast”

Podcasts are a new web resource to support life long learning. The WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE under your control. Imagine if …

The process Find a podcast of interest, add it to your subscription list in iTunes on your CPU. Each time you launch iTunes or plug in your iPod, the most recent episodes will download into your personal library. Listen at your convenience from your CPU or portable MP3 player.

The re-birth of radio?

Actually, it is not just audio Audio Audio with images Video Photos PDFs Photos VideoAudio & Slides

Isn’t it just downloadable media? DOWNLOAD

The nature of the medium A series of media based episodes, not one file. Podcasts from hundreds of series can be managed and accessed from one application Podcast are often informal journals with dated sequential entries.

The nature of the medium Almost all podcasts are free. Technical & cost barrier is low for publishers of podcast series. Involves an application to find, subscribe, manage, and access content from hundreds of sources in one window. iTunes

The nature of the medium Your library of podcast episodes is automatically updated with new content. Content can be accessed from the CPU or a portable MP3 player. Subscribing to a podcast series, simply means you have added the series to your list of automatically updating content.

The evolution of podcasts RSS Subscribe to a Summary Feed of all your favorite Web sites Web-logs or Blogs Dated entries to a personal online journal iTunes support For aggregation of Audio RSS feeds iPod for portable Podcast Listening

Podcasts Sources

Strong points of podcasts? Audio can be listened to while doing other things. Adds a new dimension and learning style to the Internet. Efficient access to hundreds of sources in one application.

Where does the content come from? Traditional print, radio, and video publishers are re-publishing existing and original content as podcasts. Universities are supporting standard and distance learning courses with supplemental podcasts. Museums and other organizations with an educational purpose. Individual self-proclaimed content experts. Over 15,000 audio books available from Audible.com.

Universities Using iTunes To front end Their media libraries

Tools required? iTunes for Windows or Macintosh, a free installation: High speed access recommended Optional iPod for portable listening

Educational role Professional Development Supplemental Textbook Materials School-to-Home Communications Faculty Lectures or Daily announcements

Educational role Foreign Languages Audiobooks Speeches Music programs Test Preparation Synchronized Slideshows

Opportunities for authentic student products Sound-seeing tours Broadcast student audio plays Interviews with content experts Ongoing student produced “radio” talk shows about content learned

How to explore the Podcast World

First exploration Download and install iTunes 7

First exploration Launch iTunes Select Podcasts in Store.

First exploration Browse featured items Then select a category

First exploration Browse by New & Notable, Provider, Featured, or Top Podcast groupings.

First exploration Read the series description Note associated websites Click the Subscribe button

First exploration Navigate to the podcast section of your iTunes library.

First exploration Expand the series title (small triangle icon) Select episode, click Play button to listen If video or photos, choose View: Artwork Get passed episodes

First exploration Connect iPod and select Podcasts tab. Check Sync all unplayed episodes. Check those podcasts you wish on your iPod. Click apply.

Online handout Toyota USA Foundation sponsors our Podcasting in Education Initiative. El Paso Corporation sponsored the Pilot for the TRC Podcasting in Education Initiative.