How’s and Why’s of Podcasting Staci Trekles Milligan Purdue University Calumet [email_address]

Objectives: You will learn… What a podcast is What podcasts can be used for How to find useful and fun educational podcasts created by others How to bring podcasting into your own classroom lessons How to record and edit audio with Audacity How to make a video podcast with Movie Maker

What a podcast is

What podcasts can be used for

How to find useful and fun educational podcasts created by others

How to bring podcasting into your own classroom lessons

How to record and edit audio with Audacity

How to make a video podcast with Movie Maker

Objectives: You will learn… Where to find other free tools for editing audio and video into podcast files How to publish your podcast files for others to download Where to get tutorials, more tips, and other resources for teachers and students creating their own podcasts

Where to find other free tools for editing audio and video into podcast files

How to publish your podcast files for others to download

Where to get tutorials, more tips, and other resources for teachers and students creating their own podcasts

What the heck is a “podcast”? Simply stated, a podcast is a digital media file that one can play on a computer or any personal MP3 player (iPod TM not required) Can be audio only or video and audio People can often subscribe to any series of posted podcasts through “feeds” accessible over the Internet through any program that can interpret and “catch” them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

Simply stated, a podcast is a digital media file that one can play on a computer or any personal MP3 player (iPod TM not required)

Can be audio only or video and audio

People can often subscribe to any series of posted podcasts through “feeds” accessible over the Internet through any program that can interpret and “catch” them

What kinds of podcasts are people creating? The podcast phenomenon is roughly 3 years old so there are LOTS of different podcasts out there Media companies like TV networks, NPR, and other radio stations are now posting their content on podcasts so that people from any region can enjoy them Thousands of “indie” podcasts are produced daily by people all over the world in all topics from business and world current events to music and pop culture

The podcast phenomenon is roughly 3 years old so there are LOTS of different podcasts out there

Media companies like TV networks, NPR, and other radio stations are now posting their content on podcasts so that people from any region can enjoy them

Thousands of “indie” podcasts are produced daily by people all over the world in all topics from business and world current events to music and pop culture

What about educational uses? Many teachers and professors have joined the podcast “revolution” Duke Univ. started a program where all incoming freshmen received iPods loaded up with professors’ lectures and helpful information about campus The students and professors had a whole new avenue of teaching and learning to explore, and they loved it http://www.campustechnology/article.aspx?aid=40314

Many teachers and professors have joined the podcast “revolution”

Duke Univ. started a program where all incoming freshmen received iPods loaded up with professors’ lectures and helpful information about campus

The students and professors had a whole new avenue of teaching and learning to explore, and they loved it

Educational uses of podcasting Today, lots of schools and universities are publishing some lectures or other learning materials as podcasts Students can subscribe via iTunes or another program and listen and re-listed any time they want to, as many times as they want Educators, however, are split as a whole on the value of podcasting their course content - see http://www.danieldrezner.com/mt/KeYaHaMlAs.cgi?entry_id=2793

Today, lots of schools and universities are publishing some lectures or other learning materials as podcasts

Students can subscribe via iTunes or another program and listen and re-listed any time they want to, as many times as they want

Educators, however, are split as a whole on the value of podcasting their course content - see http://www.danieldrezner.com/mt/KeYaHaMlAs.cgi?entry_id=2793

Educational uses of podcasting There are also ton of great podcasts for students and teachers out there already that can add excitement to just about any class. Try some of these: Grammar Girl: http://grammar.qdnow.com/ JustVocabulary: http://www.justvocabulary.com/ Poem of the Day: http://www.sonibyte.com/rssfeed Evansville iCATS Pod Academy: http://www.evscicats.com/podacademy/ Education Podcast Network: http://www.epnweb.org

There are also ton of great podcasts for students and teachers out there already that can add excitement to just about any class. Try some of these:

Grammar Girl: http://grammar.qdnow.com/

JustVocabulary: http://www.justvocabulary.com/

Poem of the Day: http://www.sonibyte.com/rssfeed

Evansville iCATS Pod Academy: http://www.evscicats.com/podacademy/

Education Podcast Network: http://www.epnweb.org

OK, I want to get involved! How do I get started? Putting together your own podcast is easy! All you need is a computer with a microphone (cheap is fine) and a quiet place to record Whether you are running Mac, Windows, or Linux, many tools are available to create podcasts

Putting together your own podcast is easy!

All you need is a computer with a microphone (cheap is fine) and a quiet place to record

Whether you are running Mac, Windows, or Linux, many tools are available to create podcasts

Audio and Video File formats It helps to understand a little about the common podcast file formats MP3 - the most common audio format; provides good quality and relatively good compression so that files are not too big MP4 - common video format that provides reasonable quality and compression WAV- native Windows audio type; quality is not bad but produces large files sizes

It helps to understand a little about the common podcast file formats

MP3 - the most common audio format; provides good quality and relatively good compression so that files are not too big

MP4 - common video format that provides reasonable quality and compression

WAV- native Windows audio type; quality is not bad but produces large files sizes

Audio and Video File Formats OGG - open source audio or video file format often found on Linux-based computers WMV - Windows Media format, supports audio and video, often produces lower quality but higher compression MOV - QuickTime format, supports audio or video and is capable or very high quality if needed (but, you’ll have a bigger file size)

OGG - open source audio or video file format often found on Linux-based computers

WMV - Windows Media format, supports audio and video, often produces lower quality but higher compression

MOV - QuickTime format, supports audio or video and is capable or very high quality if needed (but, you’ll have a bigger file size)

Audio and Video File Formats The format you choose depends a lot on your recording program and how worried you are about file sizes In many cases, MP3/MP4 is the best choice because almost every computer and player program will work with them However, you have more control over file size with QuickTime or Windows Media Higher file sizes = higher quality and vice-versa; if quality is not so much of a problem then opt for more compression

The format you choose depends a lot on your recording program and how worried you are about file sizes

In many cases, MP3/MP4 is the best choice because almost every computer and player program will work with them

However, you have more control over file size with QuickTime or Windows Media

Higher file sizes = higher quality and vice-versa; if quality is not so much of a problem then opt for more compression

Audio Podcasting with Audacity The free audio recording tool for all platforms (Mac, Linux, and Windows) Available for download: http://audacity.sourceforge.net Allows you to record multitrack projects and export as WAV or MP3 You can also import audio files to edit or add them to your project

The free audio recording tool for all platforms (Mac, Linux, and Windows)

Available for download: http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Allows you to record multitrack projects and export as WAV or MP3

You can also import audio files to edit or add them to your project

Starting with Audacity You begin with a player bar with play, stop, record, pause features As soon as you start recording, a new track will appear Each time you stop and start recording again, a new track will start To avoid this, press PAUSE instead of STOP while recording

You begin with a player bar with play, stop, record, pause features

As soon as you start recording, a new track will appear

Each time you stop and start recording again, a new track will start

To avoid this, press PAUSE instead of STOP while recording

Player Bar RWD, Play, Record, Pause, Stop, FFWD Tools Left and right audio input and output meters Cut, copy trim, and zoom tools Tracks appear here Project info bar

Recording and Editing Once you have something recorded, you can see the waveforms and move, splice, delete, copy, paste, and transform Click and drag over waveforms to select them before choosing a function to perform

Once you have something recorded, you can see the waveforms and move, splice, delete, copy, paste, and transform

Click and drag over waveforms to select them before choosing a function to perform

Use the I-Beam to drag over and select and part of the track Upper Left-Hand Corner - Control Tools The envelope lets you select the entire content of a track The pencil (Draw) lets you edit a track level (zoom in first) The zoom tool lets you zoom in (Click) or out (shift+Click) on a place in your track Time shift lets you drag and move waveforms Multimode tool - lets you access any of the other tools at once with different shortcuts

Editing Toolbar Cut Copy Paste Trim away the audio outside the selection Silence the selected audio Undo Redo Zoom In Zoom Out Fit selection in window - zooms until the selection just fits inside the window. Fit project in window - zooms until all of the audio just fits inside the window.

Cut

Copy

Paste

Trim away the audio outside the selection

Silence the selected audio

Undo

Redo

Zoom In

Zoom Out

Fit selection in window - zooms until the selection just fits inside the window.

Fit project in window - zooms until all of the audio just fits inside the window.

Project Editing Menus The Project Menu imports audio, adds and removes tracks, and adds labels so you can keep “track” of your tracks The Generate menu produces like tones and white noise The Effect menu is where all the filters, like fades, compression, pitch and speed changes, happen

The Project Menu imports audio, adds and removes tracks, and adds labels so you can keep “track” of your tracks

The Generate menu produces like tones and white noise

The Effect menu is where all the filters, like fades, compression, pitch and speed changes, happen

Analyze Menu Performs silence, beat, spectrum analysis to see where your peak and low frequencies are Helps to determine where quiet spots or very loud spots are

Performs silence, beat, spectrum analysis to see where your peak and low frequencies are

Helps to determine where quiet spots or very loud spots are

Track Info All tracks have their own info bar, where you can raise or lower the gain to make it louder or softer, or mute the track or make it the only track playing for the time you specify

All tracks have their own info bar, where you can raise or lower the gain to make it louder or softer, or mute the track or make it the only track playing for the time you specify

Tips for Great Podcasts… With editing tools, recording a great-sounding podcast is easy! Adjust gain and use fade-in and fade-out effects to adjust imported music/sound effects Raise gain on soft voices; lower it on louder ones Use the trimming options to remove pauses and “um’s” to sound more professional

With editing tools, recording a great-sounding podcast is easy!

Adjust gain and use fade-in and fade-out effects to adjust imported music/sound effects

Raise gain on soft voices; lower it on louder ones

Use the trimming options to remove pauses and “um’s” to sound more professional

More Tips… Try to be in a quiet room when you record; the mic will pick up ambient noise and put it into your track You can use the Pencil (Draw tool) to get some of the sound “spikes” out of your audio, but it can be time-consuming Find royalty-free soundtracks and effects to add spice to your podcasts (see Resources section for some starters)

Try to be in a quiet room when you record; the mic will pick up ambient noise and put it into your track

You can use the Pencil (Draw tool) to get some of the sound “spikes” out of your audio, but it can be time-consuming

Find royalty-free soundtracks and effects to add spice to your podcasts (see Resources section for some starters)

Exporting and Publishing Click the File menu to export as WAV or MP3 MP3 is more common and best for sharing with iPod users MP3 also allows for smaller files and better quality than WAV Many people publish by posting podcasts on websites with RSS (Realing Simple Syndication) files to allow subscriptions through programs like iTunes

Click the File menu to export as WAV or MP3

MP3 is more common and best for sharing with iPod users

MP3 also allows for smaller files and better quality than WAV

Many people publish by posting podcasts on websites with RSS (Realing Simple Syndication) files to allow subscriptions through programs like iTunes

Subscriptions: RSS Code Decoded RSS is simple to use once you have a shell document to start with Use a service like RSS Feeds Generator http://www.rssfeedssubmit.com/rss-generator/ , then post on your server with your MP3 files Blog sites and many other social sites automatically create feeds

RSS is simple to use once you have a shell document to start with

Use a service like RSS Feeds Generator http://www.rssfeedssubmit.com/rss-generator/ , then post on your server with your MP3 files

Blog sites and many other social sites automatically create feeds

Video Podcasting Audacity works with audio only There are other tools that can use Audacity’s exported files to integrate it with video Kino (Linux) iMovie, GarageBand, iVideo (Mac OS X) Vivia (Linux and Windows) LiVES (Linux and Mac OS X)

Audacity works with audio only

There are other tools that can use Audacity’s exported files to integrate it with video

Kino (Linux)

iMovie, GarageBand, iVideo (Mac OS X)

Vivia (Linux and Windows)

LiVES (Linux and Mac OS X)

Camera Importing Most video editing programs only support Firewire input for camcorder sources Some, like Windows MovieMaker, also support USB devices like “webcams” USB is a slower connection and therefore you will get lower quality video Apple iMovie supports direct capture through the iSight camera built into many Macs

Most video editing programs only support Firewire input for camcorder sources

Some, like Windows MovieMaker, also support USB devices like “webcams”

USB is a slower connection and therefore you will get lower quality video

Apple iMovie supports direct capture through the iSight camera built into many Macs

Video Podcast Techniques Many podcasters just use still digital images in a slideshow form to show with their audio Others create entire TV-quality broadcasts with imported video from a digital camcorder Kino, Movie Maker, and other programs make both of these things fairly easy to do

Many podcasters just use still digital images in a slideshow form to show with their audio

Others create entire TV-quality broadcasts with imported video from a digital camcorder

Kino, Movie Maker, and other programs make both of these things fairly easy to do

Getting Started with Video Most Windows computers come with Windows Movie Maker, a simple yet useful program Macs come with iMovie, another simple and powerful video capture and editing program Linux users have several choices, but many recommend KinoDV, a free application

Most Windows computers come with Windows Movie Maker, a simple yet useful program

Macs come with iMovie, another simple and powerful video capture and editing program

Linux users have several choices, but many recommend KinoDV, a free application

Getting Started with Video We will have time to explore options and create our own movies with free media and anything else you can bring in Printed for you are tutorials for Windows Movie Maker, others are available online (see next slide) Bring in your Audacity audio and by the end of the day you will have created your own videocast!

We will have time to explore options and create our own movies with free media and anything else you can bring in

Printed for you are tutorials for Windows Movie Maker, others are available online (see next slide)

Bring in your Audacity audio and by the end of the day you will have created your own videocast!

Video Tutorial Resources Windows Movie Maker video tutorials: http://www.atomiclearning.com/moviemaker2 Movie Maker Tutorials from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/getstarted/default.mspx Linux: Kino Manuals and More: http://www.kinodv.org Mac: GarageBand podcast creation tutorials: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/garageband/

Windows Movie Maker video tutorials: http://www.atomiclearning.com/moviemaker2

Movie Maker Tutorials from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/getstarted/default.mspx

Linux: Kino Manuals and More: http://www.kinodv.org

Mac: GarageBand podcast creation tutorials: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/garageband/

Recommended Media Resources Flashkit: http://www.flashkit.com Pics4Learning: http://www.pics4learning.com Wikimedia: http://www.wikimedia.org

Flashkit: http://www.flashkit.com

Pics4Learning: http://www.pics4learning.com

Wikimedia: http://www.wikimedia.org

More Resources and Free Stuff Recommended free podcast and blog publishing sites http://www.wordpress.com http ://www.edublogs.com http://www.podbean.com/ This article has advice on choosing a good service: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/15/choosing-a-blog-platform/ Also look at http://www.okaytoplay.com/wiki/Podcast_Hosting

Recommended free podcast and blog publishing sites

http://www.wordpress.com

http ://www.edublogs.com

http://www.podbean.com/

This article has advice on choosing a good service: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/15/choosing-a-blog-platform/

Also look at http://www.okaytoplay.com/wiki/Podcast_Hosting

More Audacity Help User’s guides for Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/documentation Audacity team wiki with lots of tips, tricks, and technical advice: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page Transom.org article and tutorial on Audacity: http://www.transom.org/tools/editing_mixing/200404.audacity.html

User’s guides for Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/documentation

Audacity team wiki with lots of tips, tricks, and technical advice: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Transom.org article and tutorial on Audacity: http://www.transom.org/tools/editing_mixing/200404.audacity.html

Resources for iTunes/iPod Users Tips for finding and using podcasts: http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststips.html Apple iLife tutorials for podcasts and more: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/ iWeb blog/podcast publisher tutorials: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/iweb Tech specs for creating podcasts that can be caught through iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststechspecs.html

Tips for finding and using podcasts: http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststips.html

Apple iLife tutorials for podcasts and more: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/

iWeb blog/podcast publisher tutorials: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/iweb

Tech specs for creating podcasts that can be caught through iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststechspecs.html

Even More Great Resources Also, Staci has a feed at http://stacitrekles.wordpres.com where even more useful info on a variety of topics will be posted Stop on in and share your own resources or experiences, and download these slides as well as lots of other good stuff!

Also, Staci has a feed at http://stacitrekles.wordpres.com where even more useful info on a variety of topics will be posted

Stop on in and share your own resources or experiences, and download these slides as well as lots of other good stuff!

Thank you! Thanks for the opportunity to explore podcasts with you today! Feel free to contact us anytime with questions, feedback, comments, etc. Staci Trekles Milligan [email_address] http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/Faculty/trekles

Thanks for the opportunity to explore podcasts with you today!

Feel free to contact us anytime with questions, feedback, comments, etc.

Staci Trekles Milligan

[email_address]

http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/Faculty/trekles