Podcasting

PODCASTING FOR TEACHING & LEARNING

Handouts & Resources

PDF - Podcasting for Teachers & Students by Tony Vincent
This booklet explores the possibilities of podcasting
in schools.

Learning In Hand - FREE Podcasting Resource

Education Podcast Network - A wide range of programming for education.

Learn Out Loud - a directory of educational podcasts.

Getting Started

What's a podcast?

Internet Broadcasting
Audio/Video Distribution
RSS Feed

How do I listen to a podcast?

Websites/Blogs (see resources listed above)
iTunes
ipod not required!

Podcasting in Education

How can you use podcasting in education?

Consumer (iTunes U, education lessons, various topics, etc.)
Creator (Announcements, Communication, Radio Show, Concerts, etc.)

What are some examples of podcasting in education?

Why should I use podcasting in my classroom?

Podcasts provide an intimate venue.
Podcasting offers a medium rich with emotion. Students learn with feeling.
Podcasts are everywhere and reach a world-wide audience.
Podcasts expand the classroom and shift time.

How to Make a Podcast

What equipment do you need?

Computer with internet access.
A way to record audio (computer, microphone, camera, iPod, cell phone, other?)
A website - I recommend creating an account with http://posterous.com

How do I create a website for my podcast using Posterous?

Use your web browser to go to http://posterous.com
Enter your email address, select a user name and password.
Select "Create Site" from the pop-up window.
YOUR FINISHED! OPTIONAL STEPS LISTED BELOW.
Update your personal information using the "Your Settings" link on the Manage page.
Update the look and feel of your page using the "Settings" button on the top right of the page.
Update the social network components of your page using the Autopost button.

How do I record my podcast with a computer (PC or Mac)?

Plug in a microphone to your computer and check the settings in the audio control panel (depending upon the model of your computer, it may have a built-in microphone).
Use your web browser to navigate to the Myna, the free online Audio Editor by Aviary.
Click the "Record". An Adobe Flash Player window may open and ask for permission to access your camera and/or microphone. Select "Allow" and then click the "Close" button.
Click the "Start Recording" button to begin recording.
When you finish click the "Stop Recording" button.
To preview your recording, click the play button under the "Playback" window.
When you're satisfied with your recording, click the "Import to Project" button, then click the "Save" button. Myna will upload your recording to the project window.
On the project window, drag your new recording listed under "Imported Files" to Track 1.
After you you put your recording in the project window, you can edit your recording to your liking.
When you're finished editing, click the "Save as..." button on the top right of the screen.
Register for a free account with Aviary and log-in.
Enter a title under "Creation title" and click the "Save as a new creation" button.
Click the "Mixdown" button that pops up or select it from the file menu.
Download your recording to your computer by clicking the "mp3" link on the "Your Creation" page.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE FINISHED RECORDING YOUR PODCAST EPISODE!

Are there other ways to record a podcast?

Use a camera that can record audio or video and download the file to your computer.
Use your cell phone to record audio or video and upload it directly to Posterous via email. Or you can Text your recording directly to Posterous. Follow these instructions for more information.
On an Apple/Mac computer I highly recommend using GarageBand for audio recording and editing.
On PC computers I recommend using Audacity, a free audio editor and recorder program.

How do I post my podcast?

Email your mp3 file or other recording to post@posterous.com using the email address that you registered with Posterous.com.
Or... you can log-in to your Posterous account and post your podcasts via the web interface.

Are there other websites that can host my podcast?

In my opinion, Posterous is the easiest and most economical way to host a podcast. However several other web hosting companies provide more flexibility with their services and may offer a variety of additional options to customize the look and feel of your podcast website.
Podbean is another popular website for free podcast hosting. Podbean makes it easy to record your podcast directly on the website, but they have more strict limits on the file sizes of your recordings and overall amount of data you can store on their site is also more restricted. You can register for a paid site through Podbean to remove some of these restrictions.
You can also build your own custom website using free services like Google Sites or Weebly, but hosting a podcast on these sites take a bit more work.

Next Steps

I've made a podcast, now what?

Create an RSS feed with feedburner
Submit your podcast to the iTunes Store. Follow these instructions provided by Apple.
Promote your podcast! (links on school site, send email, facebook, twitter, etc.)
Record and post new episodes on a regular schedule. You will develop a more committed audience this way.

Classroom Podcasting Tips

How can I involve an entire class of students in a podcast?

Assign leadership roles (see below).
Divide the students into groups and assign each group a topic.
Require students to develop a "script" before recording.
Practice the script before recording.

How can I give my students ownership of the podcast?

Interview students and assign leadership roles (Manager, Producer, Editor, etc.)
Assign a student "Tech Crew". Train a few students on how to record, produce, and publish podcasts.
When developing content for your podcast, do your best to appeal to students interests. What do they enjoy talking about? How can you get your students excited about podcasting?
Have the students do ongoing self-evaluations of the quality of their product.

Advanced Podcasting Techniques

How can I record multiple people at the same time?

Use a high quality microphone such as the Yeti by Blue Microphones
Use a digital audio mixer or interface with multiple microphones. I like the using the Alesis MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 Digital Audio Mixer with high quality microphones.
Use Skype to chat with people in other locations.

How can I add video or photos to my podcast?

If you're using Posterous to host your podcast, simply email your video to post@posterous.com and your done! If you're video is to large to send via email, you can use a Gmail account to send files up to 20MB or you can re-encode your video with lower resolution settings.
Edit your audio with a program like GarageBand on a Mac and add pictures to your audio. Save the audio file as an AAC file to embed the pictures in your audio. Upload the AAC file to your website.

How do I get a custom domain name for my podcast and website?

Use the service offered by Posterous.
Or... use a 3rd party domain registrar. I recommend Hover.com for easy domain name registration.
Select a name that is easy to remember and relevant to the podcast topic.