Podcasting

What is Podcasting?

Podcasting is simply a digital audio recording placed online for people to hear. Anybody who goes to the site can listen to your recording, regardless of what type of computer they have. It may sound tricky, but podcasting is actually easy and pretty fun to do!

In addition, students can listen to Podcasts created by others. This is where podcasting becomes and educational resource as well as a tool!

A Vodcast is a Video Podcast. We did not do Video Podcasts during the In-Service, however, a Video Podcast is basically has video or pictures accompanying a narration. You could use something like PhotoStory to do this, let me know if you need help getting it onto Podbean.

Tools You Will Need


 * A device to transmit audio (digital voice recorder, microphone)
 * A program to record audio. Here are two options:
 * We used [|Audacity] (click to go to the download site), have your tech put this on your computer, **NOTE** they will also have to download the [|LAME MP3 encoder](show them this site)
 * You can also use [|Magix Music Maker], which allows you to do the same thing as Audacity. This is also a free program! Have your Tech download it and see which one you like better :).
 * A website to broadcast your podcast. Here are your options:
 * You can simply same the MP3 to your District website
 * You can create a podcast website that is linked from your District website
 * We used [|Podbean] to host our Podcasts!
 * To listen to others podcasts, you may want to download iTunes (free) for your computer. You'll need it for the samples from Apple.
 * **NEW** You can CREATE (record) and PUBLISH using a website called Podomatic, although you lose the ability to edit, you don't need the audacity software! Try it out :)

 How to Create a Podcast


 * The most important part of creating any podcast, whether you're creating it or student's are creating it, is to know what you're going to say before you start recording. You can of course go back and delete what you have done, but it makes things much easier if you're prepared before you start!
 * If you're using a microphone, plug it in
 * Open your program of choice (Audacity or MusicMaker)
 * Press the record button (usually a dot, or a red dot)
 * Start speaking
 * Press the stop recording button
 * Make any necessary changes or adjustments
 * Save your file
 * IF using audacity you must convert to an MP3[[image:Picture_3.png width="116" height="143" align="right"]]
 * Go to the File Menu
 * Click "Export as MP3"
 * Label your file
 * Remember WHERE you are saving it/save to someplace you'll remember and WHAT you named it!
 * Press OK
 * Go to Podbean
 * Login
 * Click "Publish a Podcast"
 * [[image:Slide1.jpg width="140" height="112" align="right"]]
 * Make sure to add a title as well as a description of your podcast, but, most importantly, DON'T FORGET to upload your podcast!! (Click "Browse" at the bottom of your screen)
 * Voila!
 * Make sure you add a link on your homepage so parents and students can visit your podcasts!

Ideas for Using Podcasts ~*~ Means see the Apple-Education-iPod link
 * Great Idea (not mine!) If you are publishing stories or research using a Podcast, you can use the "Chipmunk" (speed) setting to speed up slower readers reading, that way they sound like they are reading at the same pace.
 * Record readers at the beginning of the year, through the year, and at the end to show progress in reading.
 * Have yourself, or students, assume a character and record podcasts on certain topics you're learning about in school. Students can use these for review later on. You can also use this for differentiating (on ability) by giving more advanced students or lower students content they wouldn't regularly receive. ([|Ex. of Aesop's Fables])
 * Have students create a song on a topic you're learning about*
 * Do Oral Histories with students and their families*~*
 * Have students create a radio broadcast that may have accompanied an historical event*~*
 * Book talks
 * Do "This I Believe" Podcasts

Great Podcasting Websites 
 * [|Apple - Education - iPods in the Classroom] **(**~*~Lesson Plans for some of the ideas above)
 * [|LearningInHand Lesson Plans] (Lesson Plans on using Palm Pilot's, however many can be translated to using Podcasts)
 * [|Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom] (although there are only a few ideas, they are described in great lesson plan detail and include ideas in LA, SS, and Science)
 * [|Apple Learning Exchange's Podcasting Site] (examples and lesson plans from other teachers!!)
 * [|Who's Using Podcasts and How]

Sample Podcasts
 * [|Radio Willow Web] (GREAT GREAT GREAT for ideas and samples across grades and content areas)
 * [|PodKids Australia](elementary school podcasts on a variety of topics, from Australia)
 * [|Mill Murfee] (School in Texas, elementary podcasts, first one doesn't come through well, but following ones do)

 Learning Podcasts Creating Rubrics to Grade Digital Storytelling Projects Although I have little experience creating rubrics for Podcasting, check out the following websites which do have them! If you have one, please, please share it!
 * [|OurCity Podcats] (Podcasts from elementary and Middle Level students from across the US pinpointed on Google Maps. Podcasts are about the City in with the students live. You can listen, post, or do both!)
 * [|GrammarGirl] (great HS Language Arts website with Podcasts on various grammar topics)
 * [|NASA Podcasts] (need I say more?)
 * [|StoryNory] (Elementary level stories that are podcasts/videopodcasts)
 * In iTunes (must download) click Podcasts, then education, then K-12...search on!
 * [|A+ Podcast Rubric (]that's their name)
 * [|iRubric] (build your own, or, visit the rubric gallery)