Podcasting and Religious Education

A brief overview What is a podcast? Podcasting

a portmanteau term originally from i pod and broad cast

a podcast is a digital media file, or series of files distributed over the Internet

a collection files - either audio or video which reside at a unique web feed address

people can subscribe to this feed by submitting the feed address to an aggregator

e.g. iTunes , which will allow the person to upload and listen the podcast

podcasts are distributed over the Internet using RSS feeds

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication”

the symbol for an RSS is

people can subscribe to an RSS feed by submitting the feed address to an aggregator

e.g. iTunes which will allow the person to upload and listen the podcast

A brief overview How do you access a podcast? Podcasting

You will need:

some software - e.g. Podium , Audacity , (PC), Garageband (Mac)

a digital recorder - e.g. a USB microphone or handheld digital recorder

speakers to listen to your recording

an RSS feed i.e. the means by which to upload your podcast and making it available for

others to access e.g. Podium , use a blog , or FeedforAll

A brief overview How do you create a podcast? Podcasting

Podcasting Why? Podcasting can motivate pupils and enable them to have the satisfaction of broadcasting to a real audience . It also facilitates authentic collaborative opportunities , develops planning and organisational skills .

Podcasting and RE Why? It can be used to: ► Personalise learning ► Improve and enhance speaking and listening skills ► Motivate pupils to achieve high standards ► Increase pupil confidence ► Make links with other schools

Why? It can be used to: ► Enhance school and community links ► Promote RE and raise its status ► Provide audio notes, as a new approach to homework ► To support pupils with long term illness ► Interact - with an audience being invited to comment or give feedback ► Enable pupils to express their views to a wider audience Podcasting and RE

What? This is can be as wide as your or your pupils’ imagination: ► story e.g. based on the theme of forgiveness ► poetry reading e.g. reciting poetry created as response to poverty ► magazine programmes e.g. response of different faiths to environmental issues ► interviews e.g. with visitors, or an imaginary meeting with a figure from a faith ► plays e.g. recounting an event from a sacred text ► debates and discussions ► outside broadcasts on school visits Podcasting and RE

How? Podcasting and RE If you want to know more, or receive training, please contact me by clicking on the link below to visit my blogsite. smartleydoesIT http:// www.smartleydoesit.co.uk