Podcasting? This is not some strange form of communication developed by the youth. And, contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with the iPOD. Podcasting is simply a way to package audio files and place them on the Internet in a way where they are easy to download. On the technical side, a true podcast is an audio file saved in an mp3 format and placed on the Internet. An RSS page is then created which points back to the file on the net. While this sounds quite technical, it can be simplified to the point where anyone who can use a phone can create a podcast. You never want the technical stuff to get in the way of great learning opportunities. So, don’t worry if it is REALLY a podcast. If it is audio and easy to access via the web, you have succeeded in making what most people consider a podcast!
What are people making into podcasts? Just about anything that can be recorded. Podcasts have tremendous promise in education. We just need to look at them with “21 st century eyes.” You can use podcasts to keep current in the news, listen to famous lectures or give your student’s writings a voice. Podcasts can also provide a unique way to bring expertise and creativity into the classroom.
Once recorded and posted on the Internet, podcasts can be listened to with a computer or they can be downloaded to any mp3 player.
The following set of adventures serve as an introduction to the world of podcasting.
Adventure 1: Anyone can podcast: All you need is a phone Adventure 2:
Creating a recording with Audacity Adventure 3: Explore educational podcasts available for download Adventure 4: Set up your own Gabcast account and create your first podcast Resources:
ADVENTURE 1
Objective: In this adventure, you will have a chance to create and post a simple podcast on the Internet for the world to hear.
DIRECTIONS
This adventure makes use of a podcasting sandbox. This is a space that has been created for this conference where you can experience the simplicity of podcasting with your cell phone. Using the information below, you will dial an 800 number for Gabcast and enter the channel number and password provided for this sandbox. Follow the directions on the phone carefully remembering to press 2 at the end of the entire process to post your recording on the Internet. Go ahead!
Press 2 to Post Message or follow directions on phone for other options.
Now that you have made your first podcast, I am sure you would like to hear your message on the Internet. Welcome to the Conference Podcasting Sandbox. If you were the owner of the account, you would then be able to log into this page and add additional information regarding the recording.
So now that you have a way to podcast, how will you use it? Just to start the ideas flowing, imagine the following…
You teach poetry… contact a contemporary poet and invite them to use the posting information below to read one of their poems and provide a brief commentary related to the reading.
You teach English…have your students use a phone to read in their voice, original poetry
You teach government…contact a senator and invite them to share a brief (5 to 10 minute) lecture on how a bill is passed, branches of government etc.
You teach history…invite your students to create a 2 to 3 minute radio spot in the style of NPR on the history of their family.
Objective: Explore the possibilities with OpenSource sound recording software.
DIRECTIONS
Audacity is a simple yet powerful sound recording software package that is free to download from the Internet. In this adventure, you will have a chance to make a short recording and save it on the local computer. This is a fabulous tool if you want to make your recordings a bit more professional. You could then upload your audio file to the Internet and link to it from your schools web page. You could also upload the file into a Learning Management System such as Moodle, WebCT or Blackboard and link to it from inside the course. While you will not be placing these clips on the web, this adventure will give you a chance to experience the ease at which you can make and edit recordings.
Option 1 (Open Exploration)
Open Audacity (Link is on the desktop) and simply explore the possibilities. When you have finished your recording, you can save it in the Desktop folder named NAIS-Recordings.
Option 2 (Multi-Track Recording)
Perhaps you have heard of Karaoke. With this option, you have the chance to record a round with only one singer. Yes, you get to sing with yourself! To make this easy, we will work with the song Row, Row, Row your Boat.
Video for how to make a multi-track recording with Audacity
Directions for Option 2
Open Audacity (Link is on the desktop)
Put on the headphones and adjust the microphone so it is in front of your mouth
Prepare your self to sing by closing your eyes and pretending you are the only one in the room.
When you are ready to sing, open your eyes and click the Red Record Button.
Start to sing! You will see a new track appear in the space below the recorder buttons. Here are the lyrics if you need them:
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream…
Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily
Life is but a dream…
Sing the song at least two times through then press the square stop button. Click the left arrow button (the first control button on the left) to take you back to the beginning of your recording.
Now we will see how good you are… When you are ready to sing again, you will click the record button again. This time you will hear your first recording while it records another track! Listen to the first recording. When the recording reaches the start of the second line of the song, you will start to sing the first line. Now you have a round! This sound recording will demonstrate (it is ok to laugh) how this might work…
When you have finished singing the song twice through, click the square stop button and you are done!
Click the green play button to hear your masterpiece.
Now reflect on how you can incorporate this into your 21st century classroom… We would love to hear your ideas, you can leave a Gabcast message in the sandbox (see adventure 1 above) or you can leave your ideas on the 21 st Century Schools Conference Wiki.
Objective: Explore educational podcasts available for download.
DIRECTIONS
In this adventure, you will have a chance to explore a sample of the resources currently available as a podcast. This exploration includes simple audio files that have been placed online to actual podcasts available for download to your computer or mp3 player.
Sample of the content available on iTunes U
iTunes U is a relatively new feature of the iTunes store. While there are some universities selling content, much of the content is free. Check out the following universities on iTunes and listen to campus guests, lectures from their professors and special programs provided by the university.
The following is the Education Podcast Network (EPN). This is a repository of podcasts organized by subject. Because the Internet is an open environment and anyone can publish, you always want to review the information posted prior to assigning to students. To get a feel for what is available in this space, check out some of the links provided from this site. EPN: http://epnweb.org/ Here you will find student podcasts as well as those made by teachers and specialists across the globe.
Follow the directions provided on the screen. Make sure you write down your channel number and PIN so you will be able to make your podcasts from your phone.
Dial 800-749-0632 and follow the directions given on the phone. This is where you will need your channel number and PIN.
Go to Gabcast and search for your podcast by searching your name or channel number. Hint: your channel will have a specific address which you can share with others. This will make it easy to share your podcast with anyone you wish.
Now that you have created your first podcast on your own Gabcast account, remember that you can add additional channel for each project or class you might be teaching.
TAG your channel and or podcasts as nais2008. This will make them searchable with del.icio.us as well as through Gabcast. This is one quick way to share your new podcasting channel.
