Podcasts

What is it?

Podcasts are audio and/or video files that can be listened to live from the internet or downloaded to a personal computer, Netbook or hand-held devices such as iPods. Podcasts are distinguished from most other digital media formats by their ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added. Podcasts that include video are sometimes called vodcasts. Video podcast, vodcast or vidcast is a term used for the online delivery of video on demand video clip content via Atom or RSS enclosures.

What does it look like?

What's happening in Victorian schools?

• Our citizens, our community, our businesses (Bairnsdale Secondary College, 2008) - Students conducted interviews with local residents, created the podcasts and vodcasts and shared them amongst the Year 7 cohort via an educational wikispace that was accessed both in and out of school. Discussion boards were used by students to explore and discuss issues arising from the interviews, including the students’ attitudes and opinions, as well as the students’ experience in using emerging technologies.
• Podcasting at Wanganui Park - An innovative use of podcasting to assist student learning. This podcast is recorded by Andrew Douch, a biology teacher, and is used as an online resource for download from a subscribed podcast client, such as iTunes. You will need to log into ePotential using your eight digit pin/TO number. See: Podcasting at Wanganui Park
• My alpine story (Bogong Outdoor Education Centre, 2008) - Students created a series of vodcasts and developed a variety of ‘digital reflections’ to express their connection and understanding of the Alpine Environment and to share their learnings with peers and parents. The Centre’s ‘VodCast’ encouraged students to prepare a communication piece about aspects of the Centre for perspective students and parents. A reflective tool using Google Earth or Google Maps enabled students to create a form of ‘Digital Diary’ that geotags images and comments to specific locations.
• Highvale mlearning program (Highvale Secondary College, 2008) - The mlearning program of Highvale Secondary College used existing handheld technology (HP pocket) PCs to deliver curriculum. Teachers produced vodcasts,1 to 3 minutes in duration using a simple DVD camera and the video content converted to windows media files and either posted on the school's intranet and/or were available on PDAs.
• Vodcasting for personalised learning (Wondonga Secondary College, 2008) - Through the use of a Learning management system and recording equipment, quality vodcasts in a number of subjects were produced and made available to students. These were particularly helpful to students who did not retain initial understandings, to students who had missed classes and to students who were working through individualised, self-paced learning programs.
• ePotential - There are many excellent examples and resources to assist teachers in the creation of podcasts in ePotential. You can find them by logging in using your eight digit pin/TO number and then searching for 'podcasts'. 

How to guide

How can I create a podcast?

There are three main steps in creating podcasts.

1. Planning

It is important to be clear about the purpose of the podcast. Ensure a script is written, revised and practised a number of times before attempting to record.

2. Recording

A microphone and software such as Audacity (cross-platform) or Garage Band (Apple) are necessary to record a sound file. A headset with a microphone is a good choice as external noise is minimised. It is necessary to download free LAME (LAME Ain't a MP3 Encoder) software to use Audacity. Apple provides further support for using GarageBand.

3. Sharing

Podcasts can be stored online at sites such as Podomatic and Gcast (run by the creators of GarageBand). A Podomatic or Gcast widget can then be embedded in a wiki or blog. Listeners click on the icon to go to your account to listen to your podcasts. To share podcasts more widely, sites such as Feedburner can be used to create a feed for podcasts. They can then be promoted on sites such as Podcast Alley, Education Podcast Network, Podcast Directory for schools or iTunes.

How can I listen to podcasts?

An iPod is just one device that can play podcasts. Podcasts can be listened to on a personal computer, or copied to a blank CD or DVD or to a range of portable devices including Creative, iRiver, and Samsung. Many mobile phones can play podcasts, as can Sony's PSP games console.

What software do I need?

If listening to a podcast from a personal computer, it is possible to use Windows Media Player and Real Player or other existing programs on the computer.

To subscribe to a podcast, it may be necessary to download additional software. Aside from Apple's iTunes, Juice or Doppler may be used. When downloading podcasts to an mp3 player, it is often best to use dedicated software designed for the device.

Apple's iTunes software is particularly popular. Other alternatives include Zencast Organiser (Creative) and PSP Media Manager (Sony). The latest version of Windows Media Player can also transfer podcasts to many MP3 players.

Working online

Audacity

How it works: Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. It is also possible to use Audacity to convert tapes and records to digital recordings or CDs, edit files, cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together or change the speed or pitch of a recording.

Safety information: Copyright issues can occur if users use existing music samples without appropriate permissions.