Podcasting in Education

Podcasting: An Overview
A quick run-through of this exciting medium

Overview
This seminar will cover:
the fundamentals of podcasting
how it can enhance teaching and learning in and out of the
classroom
Software used:
GarageBand for Mac OS X

What is podcasting?
Podcast defined
Media files distributed over Internet using syndication (RSS)
Why “podcast”?
It’s a portmanteau: ‘iPod’ + ‘broadcast’
Distribution of podcasts
RSS, iTunes, Juice = all ‘podcatchers’

30m
People are
25m
20m
listening.
Weekly listeners
15m
Podcasting use has greatly 10m
increased since its mainstream
introduction in 2004, and will 5m
continue to grow. 0m 2012
2009 2010 2011
2005 2006 2007 2008
2004
Chart Data: Bridge Ratings

About RSS
Really Simple Syndication
For publishing blogs, news,
podcasts
“Readers” aggregate RSS
“feeds”
Almost all browsers are
aware of RSS

Know your formats
MP3
Compressed audio
AAC
Compressed audio
Enhanced content
Bookmark-able

The workflow
Create
Using audio editing software
GarageBand (OS X)
Audacity (Multi-platform)
Final Cut Studio (OS X)
SoundForge (Win)

The workflow
Distribute
Publish to the web
.Mac
iTunes Podcast Directory
RSS / Blog
Blackboard (TBA)

The workflow
Access
With podcast clients or MP3 player
iTunes
iPod / iPhone
Windows Media Player
other MP3 player

Podcasting for
Teaching & Learning
A new and exciting format:
Integration into classroom assignments
Publish it online
Every group member can take part in projects
Look beyond ‘course-casting’

Lectures
Record lectures, publish them as podcasts
Use as lecture format for tele-courses, online classes
Teachers can publish podcasts to prepare students for
upcoming material
Teachers can use podcasts for delivering lectures to free up
class time for active learning and interactive exercises

Assignments
Students record & publish assignments
Group projects can be developed and published via podcasts
Incorporate multi-discipline approach
Teachers can subscribe to students’ feeds, download
submissions automatically

Other uses
Discuss curriculum to faculty & administration
Information delivery tool
Create debate assignments
Record and publish interviews
Link to supplemental materials

Some examples
Univ. of Connecticut: students participate with teachers,
answer students’ questions
http://icube.uconn.edu/iCube.html
Stanford, Duke, others on iTunes U
http://itunes.duke.com/, http://itunes.stanford.com/

GarageBand ‘08
A crash course in Apple’s consumer-level audio editing
software (part of the iLife suite)

The interface

Tracks
The interface

Tracks Timeline
The interface

Tracks Timeline
Controls
The interface

Tracks Timeline
Controls Timer
The interface

Tracks Timeline
Controls Timer Master volume
The interface

Tracks Timeline
Controls Timer Master volume
Podcast chapters
The interface

The information sidebar
Displays current section
artwork
Set title / artist / other
metadata
Set overall podcast
description

The media browser sidebar
Audio
From iTunes or GarageBand files

The media browser sidebar
Audio
From iTunes or GarageBand files
Photos
From iPhoto or Aperture

The media browser sidebar
Audio
From iTunes or GarageBand files
Photos
From iPhoto or Aperture
Video
From iMovie, iPhoto, or iTunes

The podcast chapter list
Displays specified chapters with custom artwork for each
Allows chapter images to link to web sites when clicked
Sets main podcast artwork on left-hand side

Fine track controls
Podcast track
Images & chapters
Voice tracks
Engineered for best sound quality
Jingle track
For playing music behind podcast

Podcast Demos

Available Software
Various clients that are available to make podcasts and
share them with others

Podcasting software
For Windows:
Camtasia Studio ($300, TechSmith, screen capture, 30-day trial)
http://techsmith.com/camtasia
Mixcraft ($65, Acoustica, audio-editing suite, trial available)
http://acoustica.com/mixcraft
Audacity (free, open source, audio-only, multi-platform)
http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Podcasting software
For Mac OS X:
GarageBand ($79, part of iLife, included with new Macs)
http://apple.com/ilife
ProfCast ($60, convert PowerPoint/Keynote to podcasts)
http://profcast.com/

Where to find / publish
iTunes Podcast Directory
Podcast.net
PodcastingNews.com
Various internet blogs
iTunes U