Podcasting

Podcasting Julie Meyer and Pam Berman March 2006 Institute for Interactive Technologies, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Podcasting • • • • • • • • • • • • What’s the big deal with podcasting? What is podcasting? How is a podcast different from an audio file? What is RSS? How can I subscribe to a podcast? How can I use podcasting for instruction? Why use podcasting for instruction? What equipment do I need to create a podcast? How do I create a podcast? What are some techniques for a clean sound? What are some educational podcasts? How are other people using podcasting? What the big deal with podcasting? Kevin Bullis. Technology Review. Cambridge: Oct 2005.Vol.108, Iss. 10; pg. 30, 1 pgs What the big deal with podcasting? Kevin Bullis. Technology Review. Cambridge: Oct 2005.Vol.108, Iss. 10; pg. 30, 1 pgs What is podcasting? • Podcasting is the distribution of audio files, such as radio programs, over the internet using RSS syndication for listening on mobile devices and personal computers. • A podcast is a web feed of audio or video files placed on the Internet for anyone to subscribe to, and also the content of that feed. • Podcasters' websites also may offer direct download of their files, but the subscription feed of automatically delivered new content is what distinguishes a podcast from a simple download or real-time streaming. » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting What is podcasting? • Use of "podcast" to describe both audio and video feeds seemed natural to some users, while others preferred to reserve the word for audio and coin new terms for video subscriptions. Other "pod-" derived neologisms include "podcasters" for individuals or organizations offering feeds, and "podcatchers" for special RSS aggregators with the ability to transfer the files to media player software or hardware. • Podcasting's essence is about creating content (audio or video) for an audience that wants to listen when they want, where they want, and how they want. » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting How is a podcast different from an audio file? • Audio resides all over the web. Audio on the web does not = Podcasting • Podcasting is a unique distribution of audio files on the internet using RSS syndication. These files can listened to using a program on the computer or easily moved to mobile device. • Audience members subscribe to podcasts which upon update in, i.e. iTunes, can be downloaded for easy listening. What is RSS? • RSS is a family of web feed formats, specified in XML and used for Web syndication. RSS is used by (among other things) news websites, weblogs and podcasting. The abbreviation is variously used to refer to the following standards: – Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91) – RDF Site Summary (RSS 0.9 and 1.0) – Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0) • Web feeds provide web content or summaries of web content together with links to the full versions of the content, and other metadata. RSS in particular, delivers this information as an XML file called an RSS feed, webfeed, RSS stream, or RSS channel. In addition to facilitating syndication, web feeds allow a website's frequent readers to track updates on the site using an aggregator. » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_format%29 RSS Markup • • • • • • • Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania http://iit.bloomu.edu Information about Instructional Technology at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Everything you ever wanted to know about instructional technology. en-us © 2005 BU Dept. of Instructional Technology Eric Milks emilks@bloomu.edu metadata of individual podcast item • • • • • • • • • • • RSS Markup • • • • • Various MSIT Alumni In November 2005, Bloomsburg University Master's of Science in Instructional Technology (MSIT) alumni gathered to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Department of Instructional Technology. Numerous graduates reminisce about their favorite moments from the program. http://iit.bloomu.edu/dit/services/podcasts/0306/031306.mp3 Mon, 13 March 2006 13:19:00 EST 16:03 MSIT,Department of Instructional Technology,DIT,instructional technology,Institute for Interactive Technologies,IIT,Bloomsburg University,20th anniversary • • • • • • • • • • • •  • The “length” attribute in the enclosure tag means the number of bytes for the file. You can get this by right-clicking on the file and viewing properties. How can I subscribe to a podcast? • Find a podcatcher. – iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ – Juice (formerly iPodder) http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/ – WebbIE (accessible podcatcher) http://www.webbie.org.uk/ • Add the RSS URL to the podcatcher. • Subscribe through iTunes. • Listen to the podcasts. Subscribe through iTunes • Download and install iTunes. Which is available at http://www.apple.com/ itunes/download/ . This is a free download. • Using iTunes • Select “Advanced” – “Subscribe to Podcast” • Enter the URL, click “OK” (which will be a *.xml) How can I use podcasting for instruction? • • • • • • • • Recording Lectures for Syndication Distribution of supplemental information Syndication of Guest Lecture Digital Audio Books Self-Paced Distance Learning Upload text files, like interview questions Record interviews Upload PowerPoint files that have been saved as images Why use podcasting for instruction? • Allows for Flexibility. • Allows students to continue to travel for work and still asynchronously participate in lectures. • Creates a file that can be used in future Blended Delivery Courses. • It allows Faculty to critique their own delivery style. • Students can critique their own presentation skills from the recording. • Recording Student Team Meetings acts as Audio Minutes for team members. • Reiterates complicated course concepts at students own pace. • No more missed lectures due to traveling, illness, or work obligations. Vocal and instrumental Practice and critiques Slide presentations Music entertainment Photo slide shows Vodcasting Public Speaking Visual sharing ESL and languages Audio sharing Team work storage Interactive Multimedia Public speaking activities Podcasting Production Journalism Literature and Poetry Interviewing skills Study Skills Lecture sharing Lecture recording And note taking Teasers Management Research Showcase Program/Class Overviews/Info Sessions Events in other Areas Testimonials Radio Adds Marketing (Future Students) Alumni Invited Guest Speakers Education (Current Students) Missing Classes Guest Speakers, Unable to be Present on Campus Reach Students at a Distance Develop Future Blended Delivered Classes What equipment do I need to create a podcast? • Digital recorder • Microphone hooked up to a computer and a sound editor • Gizmo (long-distance interviews) http://www.gizmoproject.com/ • Skype (long-distance interviews) http://www.skype.com/helloagain.html How do I create a podcast? • Record the audio. • Get PodSafe music if needed. • Use Audacity (free cross-platform audio Recorder) http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Can be used to mix or edit recordings. What are some techniques to record a clean sound? • Sound-proof your mike. • Use a Pop Filter (“spit screen”) to prevent plosives and sibilants. • Add a little reverb to give it depth. What are some educational podcasts? To Name A Few… • EPN: The Education Podcast Network http://epnweb.org/ • http://www.highschoolpodcaster.com/ • The Podcast Search Engine and Directories List of Lists (Scroll down a bit) http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2005/05/2 0/where_to_submit_your_podcasts.htm How are other people using podcasting? • Some lectures are being recorded to be made available to students. These audio files are then placed in ANGEL. • It is not “Podcasting.” • Students have to actually download each individual lecture. Because the students have to manually download the file it is not a “Podcast.” • A PSU System is in Development. How are other people using podcasting? • We are starting to create an audio library of files to be made available via a True Podcast. • These Podcasts will share more Information about PSGV and its Unique Programs. • We will be developing a Web Presence to host GV Podcasts. Links • Penn State’s Testing Grounds for Podcasts http://podcasts.psu.edu/ • Data-mining Course Overview http://gv8722.gv.psu.edu/podcast/data-mining-introduction.mp3 • Dr. Laplante’s Course Overview http://gv8722.gv.psu.edu/podcast/Dr%20Laplante%20and%20his%20courses.mp3 Future podcasting @ Penn State Great Valley • Creating Podcasts/Teasers to introduce programs at Great Valley. • Creating Podcasts of Special Events at Great Valley. i.e. Management Research Showcase. • Using pieces of already recorded classes to create asynchronous activities for Blended Delivered Classes. • Vodcasting iTunes University http://www.apple.com/education/solutions/itunes_u/