Podcasting in the
Classroom
Paul Fuller, Orange Grove Primary School

About Me
• Fairly new to teaching
• Year 4 / 5 class
• Small, semi-rural school
• Limited infrastructure

digitalgeneration.wikispaces.com

Today’s Presentation
What is a podcast?
Why podcasting in education?
How to make a podcast

What is a podcast?
• Internet radio show
• Can be downloaded
automatically (‘subscribing’)
• Play on MP3 player (eg iPod)

Who is podcasting?
• All major media outlets
• A growing number of schools
• President George W. Bush
• At least 100,000 others

Demonstration

Why is this different?
WHAT you want
WHEN you want
WHERE you want
..... for free!!

Why podcasting in education?
• Authentic audience
• Highly engaging
• Global awareness
• Integrates all learning areas

Different models
Teacher Student
Publisher Audience

Different models
Student Teacher
Publisher Audience

Different models
Parents
Student Teacher
Publisher
World
Audience

Podkids Australia
• Monthly show
• 8 - 10 short segments
• Interviews, recounts, mailbag
• Student written, teacher-produced

What do the kids think?

Effect of Audience
• Motivation
• Two-way Conversation
• Critical awareness
• Quality of Writing

This is not a technology project!
Sharing
Editing
Writing
Planning and
Research

Podcasts as Reflection
• Repeated exposure to
concepts
• Students become teachers
• Embeds learning

St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Caboolture

Window on the Classroom
• For parents and carers
• For wider community
• Media interest
• Global connections

This sounds like an awful lot
of work...

How much time does this take?
Not Much Audio only (not edited)
Audio only (with music etc)
Enhanced podcast
Heaps Video podcast

How do you make a podcast?

Super-simple podcast
1. Record an MP3 file
• direct to computer
• Portable recorders from $99
2. Post to a podcast hosting service

RSS feeds
• RSS = Really Simple Syndication
• Common format (blogs, podcasts, news)
• Audience is informed of your updates....
.....without visiting your site

Podcast Hosting
• .Mac
• one click to create a feed
• Podcast hosting services
• Liberated Syndication (libsyn)
• Use a blog

Demonstration

Super-simple podcast
1. Record an MP3 file
2. Post to a podcasting
host site

Editing your podcast
• Add music, sound effects
• Correct mistakes
• Improve sound quality

Sound editing software
• Mac OS
• Garageband (free with new Macs)
• Windows
• Audacity (free, open-source)

Garageband Demo

A word about music
• Royalty-free music in Garageband
• Podsafe Music Network
• Remember: Content is king!

Enhanced Podcasts
• Pictures
• Chapter Markers
• Remember: Content is king!

Summary
• Students become global citizens
• Window on the classroom
• Teaches vital lessons
• Massively engaging!