1. Podcasting: Multimedia Syndication
OISE Lunchtime Series
March 29, 2007
Julie Hannaford,
Neil Tinker,

2. What is RSS?
In a nutshell, RSS is “automated web surfing” – Dave Winer (
RSS variously stands for: Really Simple Syndication, RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary
For a little RSS history, link here:
There are multiple RSS formats; all are XML files that syndicate; they allow you to subscribe to locate new content
Subscribing to an RSS feed means that you can easily track changes and additions; it’s a great way to stay current
To subscribe to podcasts, use RSS 2.0: or ATOM:

3. What Do You Need? RSS newsfeed(s) RSS feed reader or aggregator
On Web pages, look for “subscribe” links, an orange rectangle: an XML symbol: or an RSS symbol:
RSS feed reader or aggregator
A reader will store all of your feeds, automatically check for feed updates and allow you to read or hear the new content

4. Example
MERLOT RSS Feeds

5. Example RSS Feed
RSS URL

6. Aggregator Example: Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com)

7. Aggregator Example: Google Reader (http://www.google.com/reader/)

8. Podcasts
Podcast: a multimedia file distributed over the Internet, using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers (
A podcast is different from other digital audio or video formats because it can be downloaded automatically using software capable of reading feed formats such as RSS
To podcast, the RSS feed must support ‘enclosures’: attached media objects
Examples: CBC, PBS, ESPN, Comedy Central, OISE/UT’s ‘Ask the Experts’

9. Why Use Podcasts?
Subscribe to podcasts as an easy way to stay current:
Hear/see others’ presentations, demos. and talks on topics of interest to you
Listen/watch when it is convenient for you

10. OISE/UT ‘Ask the Experts’

11. ‘Ask the Experts’ Feed

12. Subscribing Using Bloglines

13. Adding the Newsfeed

14. Ask the Experts

15. iTunes Search for the RSS feed in iTunes’ Podcasts
Subscribe to the feed once you have found it

16. ‘Ask the Experts’ Podcast

17. Changing the Settings

18. Manually Subscribing to iTunes
The podcast that you would like to subscribe to may not be part of the iTunes library.
To subscribe manually:
Click on the ‘Advanced’ menu, then click on ‘Subscribe to podcast…’
You will then see a small box where you can paste your podcast feed’s URL.

19. Finding Podcasts Use podcast directories:
The Podcast Directory:
iPodder Podcast Directory:
Yahoo Podcasts:
Search iTunes podcasts in the Music Store

20. Other Aggregators: Doppler: http://www.dopplerradio.net/
Juice:

21. Why Create a Podcast?
You can use it for course-related activities: podcast your lectures, for example
Students can listen to a lecture again – useful for exam preparation
Students can hear a lecture that they might have missed
ESL students can listen to them and increase their comprehension
Instructors can listen to their own lectures to improve their presentations (Purdue University)

22. Why Create a Podcast?
A university may use podcasting to make their activities more widely available: lectures series, special events,etc.
Example:
Academic Libraries: library instruction, library tours:
Reach a broader audience; engage students and faculty

23. Educational Podcasts on iTunes

24. An OISE Example… Comparative International and Development Education
Database has the ability to podcast search results
In this way, you can subscribe and find out what new multimedia resources have been added to the database

25. Creating a Quality Podcast
QuickTime 7:
iLife 6: (which includes Garageband)
MovieWorks Deluxe:

26. Creating the RSS Feed
Once you have your media file, you need the RSS file (the following are links you may wish to tryout):
iTunes Podcast Technical Specifications
If you already have a blog and are storing your media files there, you may wish to consider using: Feedburner
Some other options:
Manually creating an RSS feed:
FeedForAll
Feeder
iWeb

27. Support at OISE
Technical support to create media content is available in the Student Production Labs for iLife '06 and QuickTime 7 Pro, see:
Student Production Labs
Production support: Production Services
Support for the RSS component: contact Julie Hannaford:

28. Suggested Resources/Readings
“Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms – Will Richardson
Tutorials:
Apple iLife 6:
GarageBand 3: