Introduction to Podcasting
What is Podcasting?
Method to distribute audio and video materials via the Internet for playback on portable devices and/or personal computers. The files are typically automatically downloaded using software such as iTunes or iPodder that can read RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds.
The word podcasting combines two words -- iPod and broadcasting. However, a podcast actually requires neither one.
Educational Podcasts
Useful for
- recording short explanations
- clarification of a concept
- suggestions / tips about the course and content
- instructor experiences / reflections about the content
- interviewing an expert
- student presentations / reflections / record of events
- improving students' communication skills (vocabulary, writing, speaking, presentation)
- peer review for students
- oral histories
- oral guides for museums, art galleries, historical tourist areas, etc.
Note: don't record entire lectures, material with dense details, facts, and figures, etc. -- remember students will be listening to these as they ride a bus, wait in line, etc, where there may be distractions that prevent them from concentrating on complexities.
Examples:
University of Wisconsin: http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/podcasting/examples/# Duke -- Description of courses that contain digital audio activities: http://cit.duke.edu/about/ipod_faculty_projects_fall05.do Stanford on iTunes: http://itunes.stanford.edu/ Elliot Masie's Podcast: "How to Podcast" http://www.learning2005.com/university/rss.xml Rio Salado College: Educational Wellness http://riosalado.edu/riocast/riopod1.xml
Basic Process
- Record the podcast
- Create an RSS "wrapper", add your podcasts to it they are created, and publish
- Have your students subscribe to the feed for your podcasts
Subscribing to Podcasts Using iTunes:
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Pull down on Advanced, choose "Subscribe to Podcast"  |
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Enter the URL of the podcast that you want to subscribe to -- url usually ends in .xml.  |
Anytime a new podcast is "posted", it will appear in your iTunes list under your Podcasts area -- click on the GET to download it.  |
Advantages / Disadvantages of Podcasting
Advantages Disadvantages
- available anytime/anywhere for students
- easy to create, distribute, and download -- no professional equipment is required
- new podcasts are auto-downloaded
- can restrict podcasts to students enrolled in the course
- power of audio over text -- students can listen and learn while walking, riding, waiting in line, etc.
- entire file is downloaded to students' computer/device
- need sufficient bandwidth to download the podcasts in a timely fashion
- limited usefulness for hearing impaired people
- no interactivity -- audience cannot participate, etc.
- intellectual property issues
