Introduction to Podcasting and Vodcasting using Wordpress

Stephan Ridgway, TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute http://sridgway.wikispaces.com/IntroductionToPodcasting

What is Podcasting & Vblogging

Subscription & distribution using RSS

How to subscribe to a podcast/vblog

iTunes example

Podcasts/Vblogs in education

Using Wordpress as a platform

Introduction to Podcasting & Vblogging in Education Using Wordpress

Who has heard of Podcasting/Vblogging?

Yes

No

Do you subscribe to a Podcasts/Vblogs?

Yes

No

Do you publish a Podcast/Vlblog?

Yes

No

Podcasting is a method of delivering regularly updated audio content (typically mp3 format).

Emerging in 2004, podcasting grew out of the successful subscription & distribution model pioneered by the blogging movement based upon RSS. In this sense a podcast began as a form of audio blogging.

The term "podcast" is a mash up between "IPod", Apple computers portable player and "broadcasting". While an iPod is not necessary for either producing or subscribing to podcasts the term has sort of stuck.

Vblogging uses the same RSS based subscription/distribution model to deliver video content. Hence the mash up name Video-Blog or Vblog.

RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary. RSS was originally developed as a method for distributing and syndicating content from blogs, online journals, websites and news sources.

Around 2004 enclosures were added to RSS which highlight links to mp3 files so they are filtered out and harvested in aggregators.

Simply placing a link to an mp3 file or embedding a video in a blog does not constitute a podcast or vblog, it’s all about syndication using RSS

A feed reader is a tool for subscribing to and aggregating RSS

feeds from multiple sources and displaying them in one place.

Types of feed readers (RSS Aggregators)

Stand-alone Desktop Programs - e.g. awasu or SharpReader

Web Browsers- e.g. Firefox, IE, Safari

Email clients e.g. Thunderbird, Outlook.

Web-based - e.g. Bloglines or Google Reader

Start page aggregators - e.g. protopage or pageflakes

RSS is the connecting fabric of web2.0 services, providing the conduit for information flows between distributed networks.

The tweaking of the RSS standard in 2004 so that mp3 files would be highlighted saw the emergence of dedicated podcasting aggregators or podcatching software as they became known.

Podcatching software or aggregators allow subscription to podcasts/Vblogs using RSS. Aggregator software runs in background and automatically retrieves the new audio files when they become available and saves them to your hard drive or MP3 player.

Some examples are:-

Apple's iTunes - Apple's aggregator for the iPod/iphone

Juice Podcast Receiver

MyPodder - a podcatching client you can load onto an MP3 player

Typically there will be 2 RSS feeds from a podcast/vblog.

One for the all the episode content posted

One which highlights the audio/video content to allow it to be downloaded

Sometimes there may only be the one podcast/vblog feed.

Introduction to Podcasting & Vblogging in Education Using Wordpress Podcast Feeds Blog Feeds

Introduction to Podcasting & Vblogging in Education Using Wordpress Manual subscription Find the podcast feed - look for the orange RSS, XML or Feed icons Copy and paste the URL into “podcatching” software Scan the feed for available and new podcasts

One click subscription

M ost of the popular podcast aggregators such as iTunes have streamlined the process so that one only needs to click the icon denoting their aggregator and they will be automatically be subscribed to the podcast.

Introduction to Podcasting & Vblogging in Education Using Wordpress Note: A podcast needs to be registered and approved by the iTunes library for this technique to function

Home-grown radio shows - news & current affairs, talk shows, music, passions

Distribution of creative works - bands, musicians, comedians, novels etc

Storytelling, radio plays & audio books speeches, debates or conference sessions

Podcasts/Vblogs of mainstream media broadcasts i.e. ABC radio

Allows you to listen to access content at a time and place of your choosing (commuting, jogging, gym, cleaning, beach) – “Time Shifting”

Many devices play mp3 format, dedicated players, pc’s, mobile phones, PDA’s etc.

Anyone can create a podcast/vblog with minimal equipment and at low cost

Empowers students by allowing them create and distribute their own content

Recording lectures

Audio based training materials

Digital stories

POV cameras for instructional video

Interviews with experts or industry figures

Learning languages - ESOL

Music education

Student created radio programs

Library resources

Record the audio/video,

Edit if necessary with software i.e. audacity/audition

Convert to suitable format, name file and add Mp3Tags etc.

Upload to a server

Post an episode entry

Test feed

Promote

Free podcasting/Vblogging services

Podcasting

Podomatic.com

Blip.tv

Moodle forum

Blog/feedburner

Vblogging

Blip.tv

Viddler.com

Blog/feedburner

Open Source blogging platform

Install on your own server or use hosted service i.e. edublogs, wordpress.com

Podcasting/Vblogging plug-ins available i.e. podpress, blubury

Content is uploaded & stored on your own server

Wordpress MU install allows multiple blogs for an organisation i.e. RTO

Setup in WP MU 2007 as a strategy to provide teachers with blogging & podcasting/vblogging

Branded skins for consistent look @ feel

Installed @ tested a range of widgets, including podpress

Complements our wikis & Moodle platforms

Using the WP library is an effective way to store large audio/video files

Introduction to Podcasting & Vblogging in Education Using Wordpress See the presentation wiki .... http://sridgway.wikispaces.com/IntroductionToPodcasting