1. PODCASTING put your ear and voice to the world
Karen Karr & Valerie Wilson Instructional Technology Coordinators West Virginia Department of Education
Edited slightly by Mark and Jennifer

2. Are you podcasting?
everyone else is…

3. Introduction to Podcasting
What is podcasting?
What are the requirements for listening to and creating podcasts?
How are podcasts used in education?
Terminology
Hardware and software requirements
Exploration of how podcasts are used in education by students, classroom teachers, and administrators

4. What is a podcast?
Method of delivering multimedia content to subscribers via the Internet
refers to audio and video files, typically in an mp3 or mp4 format
“sign up” to automatically receive new episodes of a podcast, much like subscribed readers automatically receive new issues of a magazine
multimedia
subscribers
Two elements of this definition bear further explanation – multimedia files can be audio or video

5. Important Terms
mp3 is a compression scheme for reducing the size of audio files without adversely affecting their quality
A three-minute song that consumes 32 MB of storage on a CD requires only 3 MB when compressed as an mp3 – reducing the download time by a factor of 10!
and, consequently the time it takes to download them

6. Important Terms
Content is then downloaded to clients automatically through RSS feeds
RSS (Really Simple Synchronization) is a method of automatically distributing links to content on a web site to facilitate its capture
New and updated content is uploaded to the web server

7. Important Terms
Aggregator – application that schedules visits to websites and automatically downloads subscribed content ?
NEW BLOG ENTRY
aggregator e.g., iTunes ?
NEW PODCAST ?
(NO NEW CONTENT)

8. Podcasting is so easy…

9. Where do I begin? Become a listener
Install an aggregator (iTunes/Bloglines)
Use a directory/search engine to find one or more podcasts to which you’d like to subscribe
Download episodes
Listen on the computer or copy to an mp3 player

10. What do you need? To listen to a podcast:
a computer to locate/download/listen podcasts
an aggregator to “collect” new podcast episodes [optional]
a mobile device to listen on the go [optional]
Headphones or earbuds

12. Finding Podcasts New York Times Bloomberg CNN iTunes NPR Podcast Alley
Scientific American
NASA
ESPN
CNET
The White House
Learning in Hand
iTunes
Podcast Alley
Podcast.com
Digital Podcast
Education Podcast Network
Podcast Pickle
Podcast Bunker
Digg.com

13. What do you need? To record a podcast:
a digital recording device (computer or mobile device for reporting “from the field”)
a microphone/headset
audio editing software
music/sound effects [optional]
a text editor to create an RSS feed [optional]
an FTP application to upload RSS feed and mp3 files to a web server
Can record with a computer or a mobile device (for “from the field” recording)

14. Where do I get music and sounds?
Create your own with a program.
ROYALTY FREE Sound Effects
Partners in Rhyme Free Sound Effects The Free Sound Project Copyright free, but must include a link stating the files are from Free Sound Project

15. Where do I put it? Storage sites
mypodcast.net **gcast.net-Call in a podcast using your cell phone! Can also upload audio files from a computer. think.com

16. Ways teachers might use Podcasts in Education
Introducing new content
Content review
Self-directed study
Foreign language practice
Band concerts
Field trip guides
Digital storytelling
Project-based learning
Parent communiqués
News/announcements
The podcast of a boring and unengaging lecture will be just as boring and unengaging as the original lecture and, once the initial novelty of the delivery method wears off, it will be no more effective.

17. What are some ways principals might use Podcasts in Education? ?

18. Podcasting Pointers
Design with the audience in mind A podcast for parents or members of the board of education should sound completely different that one created for middle school students
Plan from “Hello” to “Goodbye” What is the purpose of the podcast? How long will it be? Will you record voice only, or will music and sound effects be added? How frequently will episodes be published?
Practice Makes…Well, Fewer Mistakes After you get over the initial shock of hearing your own voice in a recording, you’ll be amazed at how many “umm”s you say. A script is essential.

19. “Transport of the mails, transport of the human voice, transport of flickering pictures — in this century, as in others, our highest accomplishments still have the single aim of bringing men together.”
– Antoine De Saint-Exupery ( ) French aviator and author

20. And remember…
…there’s a time and a place for everything!

21. Your challenge:
Individually or with a partner, create a podcast that you can play for your staff, parents and/or community.
Choose your audience and make an appropriate podcast that could be put on your school’s website or eportfolio!