Podcasting

The Environmental Protection Agency defined a podcast as “A music or talk program made available in digital format for automatic download over the Internet to a personal mp3 or digital device.” When I think of podcasting, three things come to mind: facilitating podcasting in a classroom, including podcasts as a resource for students, and the podcasts I could create for my library.

As a resource for teachers I could recommend taping important lectures and creating podcasts of them for students to access. I know I have heard teachers complain about absent students the day they give important lectures. Although handouts are available, the handout does not always have all the information given in class. Now the lecture could be available for those who were missing. Also, these lectures are useful as a review tool for students. Podcasts are available as teaching tools. Various sites have free podcasts available. One site, iTunes has some free podcasts. Another free site is http://epnweb.org/index.php In addition, students can create podcasts for class assignments.

The following directions for podcasting were taken from a class assignment I was given for ED 675 from Valley City State University.

CREATING A PODCAST
Podcasting requires two steps: 1) Create an audio file or a video file, using some 3rd party software, like iTunes (Mac) , 2) Publish the file on a host site like PodOmatic. Once a file is loaded it automatically is ready for anyone on the web to view or subscribe to your podcast feed.
First Step: Create an audio or video file.
Most podcast hosting sites require files to be of a certain type. PodOmatic, for example, requires MP3 audio format for audio.
Creating audio files on a Macintosh computer is relatively easy to do if you use iTunes or GarageBand. Record your podcast in GarageBand and save it. Next, choose Send Song to iTunes from the Share menu.
1. Open the file in iTunes.
2. Click on the Advanced Tab and select Convert to MP3
3. Label the file by right clicking file (or control click) an select the info tab
4. Lable it (your file>MP3) so you know its an MP3.
5. Then simply drag it to your desktop from iTunes so you know where it is when you are ready to upload to a host application like PodOmatic.
UPLOADING TO PODOMATIC
1. Go to PodOmatic.com http://www.podomatic.com
2. Click on Create a Podcast
3. Select the BASIC (free) Account.
4. Enter your information to create an account.
5. Select a photo (optional)
6. Point to the My Podcast tab, then click on Post an Episode.
7. Enter a Title and Short Description of your episode, then click Save and Continue.
8. You should now be in the Audio/Video tab. (If not, point to the Audio/Video tab and select Upload a file)
9. Select some files. Browse to locate your MP3 audio file and then click Open. (You will see the file loading.)
10. If you would like to load an Image to be associated with your file (optional), click on the Photo tab and look for your picture on your computer by selecting Browse. Find your picture, select it and double-click it. Select Next once you are done.
11. If you want to add Tags (1 word descriptions that make your episode more easily searchable), click on the Tags tab and enter up to 12 terms.
Click on the Review/Publish tab.
Review the information for accuracy.
The Publication Date/Time should read Publish Now
Click Save and Continue.
To send invitations you can click the Promote tab and select whom you want to send an invitation to hear your podcast.
Now just sit back and relax: Point to the My Podcast tab and then click on Manage Podcasts and then My Podcast Page and wait to see your file. Any previously loaded files will also be there on this screen. To test your podcast, click on the Play button.

I have not taught students to use podcasts are resources for research. I opened up my iTunes and searched two research topics popular with high school students. I found a large number of podcasts on teen pregnancy and cell phones. Sometimes I do not have books on current topics, such as cell phone use, and students struggle with finding quality information on such a broad topic. The podcasts could help fill in information that students are having trouble finding.

Podcasts are also available for students to listen to book reviews. These would facilitate students when they are choosing a book. The following link has a number of one-minute podcasts of books, many of which are in my library http://nancykeane.com/rss.html

Also, the following link is my podcast of great book beginnings: http://katescheeler.podOmatic.com/entry/2010-07-05T09_30_38-07_00

References
Evironmental Protection Agency. (2010). Stylebook for EPA Communication Product Standards. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/productreview/stylebook/appb.html
Keane, N. (2009). Booktalks quick and simple. Retrieved from http://nancykeane.com/rss.html