Web101Podcasts

back to Staff Development 2.0
=Podcasts:=

Begin by viewing //Podcasting in Plain English//, a CommonCraft Video from YouTube.
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**1.** Definition of Podcasting
Podcasting can be a powerful tool to enhance both communication and digital literacy skills. Often podcsts are mistaken for audio or video files uploaded to the Internet, but they are more than that. While they usually include an audio element and sometimes a video element, podcasts differ in that they have RSS feeds that pull the files into an aggregator and allow listeners/viewers to subscribe to the updated information.

The first part of your assignment will ask you to create your own working definition of 'podcast' in your blog, using information from the supplemental materials listed below.

2. Reasons to Create/Use Podcasts
Among many reasons to create and use podcasts in education, consider the following list created by Round Rock ISD ITS:

Professional Development for Teachers and Staf

 * ITS create content for teachers to learn technology skills
 * Principals create content for school procedures and planning
 * Instructional coaches create content for teachers in high-stakes learning areas

Professional Development for Teachers and Staff 

 * ITSs create content for teachers to learn technology
 * Principals create content for school procedures and planning
 * Instructional coaches create content for teachers in content areas

Teachers Create Content for Students

 * Mini-Lessons-to-Go
 * Vocabulary Practice
 * Video Demonstrations and How-Tos
 * Lectures and Class Discusssions
 * Virtual Field Trips

Students Create Content for Real-World Audiences
//**You might consider adding to this list in your blog reflection.**//
 * Publish Essays and Journals
 * Share Content Knowledge
 * Video Demonstrations and How-Tos
 * School and Community Events/News

3. Examples of Podcasts in Education
> [|NASA Science Podcasts-]-General Education > **Other Podcasts**
 * [|Connect Learning with David Warlick-]-Professional Development
 * [|New Teacher Hotline]--Professional Development
 * [|Coley Cast-]-Student Podcasting
 * [|KidCast]--About Podcasting in the Classroom (scroll down)
 * [|Ridgeview Pawcasts-]-Local Student Podcasts from Ridgeview MS
 * [|Texas History Audio Museum-]-Local Student Podcasts from Caldwell Heights Elem.
 * [|Learn Out Loud]--Podcast Directory
 * [|Education Podcast Network]
 * [|NPR Podcast Directory-]-General Interest
 * [|Podcast Directory Links]

4. Assignment
> Use the resources (tutorials listed below) to guide you in all phases--software installation, planning, recording, and uploading your podcast to your blog page. The blog site will automatically create an RSS feed for your podcast. **//Note://** Blogspot/Blogger does not have a direct upload for audio files such as podcasts, so if your blog is on Blogspot, there are several more steps involved. These podcasts will be uploaded to another source and then linked to Blogspot. See the instructions in the Resources section for assistance.
 * 1) **Learn about podcasts.** First, read the supplemental materials, looking for definitions of podcasting in these and other resources. Create a personal definition of 'podcast' with particular attention to what it is, its purpose, and how it is created or is different from other audio/video formats. Write your definition as the introduction to your blog this week.
 * 2) **Find and listen to podcasts.** You may want to begin with the short list in #3 above, and expand from there. Subscribe to the ones you like through your RSS reader and/or iTunes.
 * 3) **Create a short podcast and post it on your blog.** This podcast may be on a topic of choice. You may want to consider creating something that you'll be able to use next year as school begins (e.g., introduce yourself to your students, explain some class routines, tell about something exciting that happened to you this summer, or explain how to create a podcast). There are more ideas in the resource //Choosing a Topic for Your Podcast.//
 * 1) **Listen to the podcasts** of at least 3 other participants, commenting on them on their blogs.
 * 2) **Complete reflections on your own learning in your blog.** First, please share any really great outside podcasts that you find with your colleagues in class. Then consider these questions: "What qualities/features do you find common among the best podcasts? Does my podcast share any of these features? How might podcasts be useful in your classroom or your practice in education? Remember that a reflection is a place to think out loud about your learning. A question worth investigating later: Can podcasts be uploaded to TeacherWeb in addition to your blog space?
 * 3) **Complete comments on 3 other blogs** - see rotation assignment.

5. Resources You Will Need to Complete Assignments
> >
 * Hardware required: Internet-connected computer, Microphone for use with computer
 * Software: [|Audacity], [|Podcast (Client) Software]
 * Guides and Tutorials: [|How to Download and Install Audacity], [|Audacity Tutorial for Podcasters], [|Audacity Step-by-Step Tutorial], [|Tech-Ease Video Tutorials] (require Quicktime Player), [|Podcasting Legal Guide]
 * Planning your Podcast: [|How to Plan Your Podcast], [|Choosing a Topic for Your Podcast,] [|Choosing a Format for your Podcast]
 * Uploading your podcast to Edublogs: [[file:Uploading Your Podcast to Edublogs.pdf]]
 * Uploading your podcast to Blogspot/Blogger: [[file:Podcasting1.pdf]]

6. Supplemental Reading

 * [|What Has Podcasting Done for You?]
 * [Edutopia] [|Readers' Survey 2007: Best Educational Podcast]
 * [|Podcasting in the Classroom]
 * [|Podcasting 101 for K-12 Librarians]
 * [|Strategies for Using Podcasting to Support Student Learning]
 * [|Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Schools]
 * [|The New Face of Learning: The Internet Breaks School Walls Down]
 * [|Geek's Guide to Teaching]