Podcasting tools and resources for teachers

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Podcasting & vodcasting

Participants in this workshop will consider the question, “How can I utilize MP3 files and other digital media as an aid in teaching and learning?

MP3 players are ubiquitous. Whether it be an Apple iPod video or a Creative media player these devices are everywhere. It is time to utilize their power as a teaching and learning tool. Students can review a lecture, listen to spoken field reports, or digest a problem set out by their teacher wherever and whenever they like.

Description

In this workshop the participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of planning, creating and managing digital media files so that they can be published either as a podcast or vodcast. The acquired skills will allow the participants to create and publish:

Recorded lectures and tutorials
Supplementary teaching notes and commentaries
Field reports recorded in situ
Interviews with subject matter experts
Answers to frequently asked questions
Examples of relevant technical and engineering noises, etc

The participants will be shown the functions and applications of MP3 players such as the Apple iPod and the Creative Zen or MuVo players .
Participants will be given instruction and hands-on practice with the following software applications:

Propaganda and/or Podcast Maker. Each of these is a simple tool that allows the user to rapidly publish their media online
Software tools that allow for the creation and editing of MP3 files will be shared with the participants. These tools include Audacity, for example.
MP3 management tools such as iTunes and Musicmatch.

Podcasting links, articles and software

An extenive list of annotated links are available at this dedicated page.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the workshop participants shall be able to:

Prepare, manage and publish MP3 resources for their face to face and online courses
Develop scripts and supporting materials for MP3 communications
Choose an appropriate curriculum objective (knowledge, skill and/or attitude) that is best taught and supported using the MP3 medium

Audio Experiment

I tested four different methods for obtaining digital audio for podcasting this afternoon and I thought it would be worthwhile to simply publish the results here. I used the following devices to record audio on my MacBook Pro.

	Logitech Headset The audio signal is mono. the sound was clear yet it is important to keep the input volume low so that the sound does not distort.

	AIWA stereo microphone The audio signal was low in volume yet quite clear and precise. I had to increase the volume with the final recording. This introduced background noise.

	Lapel microphone This gave a very nice mono signal with no background noise. I had to increase the volume with the final recording. This introduced background noise

	MacBook Pro built in mic There was a great deal of hum and background sound using the built-in microphone.

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Photographs from the Podcasting and Vodcasting Workshops at Hougang Primary School, Singapore, Monday 25th February 2008.

Educause recently published a short paper on podcasts and wikis in their latest review.