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Podcasting

An internet technology that provides audio files to be downloaded
automatically to a computer or mobile MP3 device for listening at anytime.

Samples

Sydney's People Podcast

Let's Talk is a space for a group of ESOL students, mostly new arrivals (AMEP), to broadcast short audio files recorded by them to practise their English.

Source Sydney's People Podcast
URL http://rosao.podomatic.com
Use Let's Talk is a space for a group of ESOL students, mostly new arrivals (AMEP), to broadcast short audio files recorded by them to practise their English.
Delivery Used to broaden the range of language examples available to students.
Customisation Easy to update site once basic recording and uploading skills are developed.
Availability Direct from web browser

LearnOutLoud.com

LearnOutLoud.com a directory for podcasts with an emphasis on learning.

Source LearnOutLoud.com a directory for podcasts with an emphasis on learning.
URL http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory
Use Commercial directory of podcasts to support learners and trainers.
Delivery Standard web browser. Web page has embedded media player to enable listening from site.
Customisation Not available. These podcasts have been developed across a range of disciplines.
Availability Direct from web browser

The uses of Podcasting

LearnOutLoud.com a directory for podcasts with an emphasis on learning.

Source The uses of Podcasting
URL http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/podcastpd1/2.mp3
Use Casual conversation exploring the uses of podcasts and audio files in training.
Delivery Will open in default mp3 player.
Customisation Not available. These audio files were recorded at the VET Teaching and Learning workshop held at WestOne Services in 2006. Steve McVey and Sandra Robinson give an overview of podcasting and its uses in the learning environment of today.
Availability Direct from web browser

Student Pilot Training

For people interested in obtaining their private pilot certificate as well as current pilots who wish to revise their knowledge.

Source Student Pilot Training
URL http://www.studentpilottraining.com
Use For people interested in obtaining their private pilot certificate as well as current pilots who wish to revise their knowledge.
Delivery Will open in default mp3 player.
Customisation This podcast is for people interested in obtaining their private pilot certificate. It starts at Ab-Initio (for absolute beginners).
Availability Online, downloadable or subscription
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Why include Podcasting?

The use of audio files by trainers can provide a wide range of applications in the training environment and augment existing content delivery strategies. Audio files can be downloaded and played by learners from their computer, on portable mp3 player.

Podcasts enable learners to engage with content in a familiar format at times for which access to other online learning content is difficult (for example, during lunch breaks, travelling to work, while undertaking domestic duties).

Features

Podcasting is an internet technology that provides audio files to be downloaded
automatically to a computer or mobile MP3 device. Without podcasting, users to go to a web site where the audio files are available and save these to their computer or listened to them as they streamed (downloaded)  into their computer’s audio player, such as Windows Media Player, Real Media or Quicktime.

With podcasting users subscribe (generally free of charge) to a podcast, and then as new audio files become available (episodes), they are automatically downloaded to their computer. These podcasts can then be listened to either on a computer (without going to the internet) and/or loaded onto our mobile media, mobile phone/Personal Digital Assistant(PDA)  or MP3 player (for example Ipod), and listen to the podcast anywhere and anytime.

Podcasting extends the use of audio files by enabling the learner to subscribe to learning content provided in audio form through the use of RSS feeds. Audio files can be uploaded to free sites such Odeo and Podomatic for ease of distribution to users who can then either subscribe to the RSS feed or listen directly from the site from an embedded media player.

These feeds can be subscribed to either in internet browsers (such as Internet Explorer or Firefox) or podcatching software. RSS feeds can also be used to subscribe to blogs, wikis, websites with a news delivery function and social bookmarking sites. Trainers can selectively release podcasts and blog materials to learners by encouraging learners to use RSS feeds.

Audio Files can easily be recorded using sound recording software that enable mixing in of multiple voices, sound effects and music.

Teaching and learning opportunities

Audio Files and Podcasts can be used to provide learning content in training:

  • to record face to face sessions or specific summaries of sessions for absent learners and for learners to review later
  • to accompany presentations (e.g. PowerPoint slides) which can be made available on a blog, along with other support material such as web links
  • to provide extra material for self-paced learning
  • to share recordings of guest speakers from remote locations
  • to provide interviews with subject experts or industry figures
  • to provide accessible audio lessons for vision impaired students
  • to support learners with literacy and/or other learning difficulties
  • to provide content in a variety of languages
  • Multi-lingual education
  • Foreign language lessons
  • To enhance language learning in, for example ESOL (pronunciation guides), Foreign Language Lessons, or Indigenous languages storytelling and oral culture
  • can be used to show pronunciation of difficult words
  • As an instructional training material for trades
  • As an assessment tool through Learner created audio files uploaded to a shared class blog or wiki
  • To provide third party content on relevant subject areas (for example Radio National Podcasts)
As a support to walking tours of workplaces for training induction or specific instruction.

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Integrating Podcasts

Podcasts can be used for a variety of purposes including sharing content and an alternative approach to the submission of assessment material.

Podcasts can be easily updated and new audio files can be shared with learners if used in conjunction with a blog that has an RSS feed.

Design steps

Podcasts need to be prepared in accordance with your training objectives.

Planning

While you may not need a script, it is helpful to have an outline of what you'll be saying.

  • 10 – 20 minutes maximum.
  • More than one voice better
  • Plan material/topic you are going to record (consider what would make an interesting podcast)
  • Consider mixing up the audio presentation through the use of narrative, question and answer, interviews and guest speakers

Production

A variety of sound editing software is available. Audacity is a free, open source, cross-platform audio recording and editing software is easy to use and is versatile enough for most situations.  Audacity requires you to download the LAME mp3 encoder so you export your audio files in .mp3 format.

Recording audio

  • Choose a quiet location where you won't be interrupted.
  • While soundcards on desktop computers  allow you to record voice at a good level, laptops often record at lower levels. You may need to amplify or normalise the recording
  • The built–in microphones of many computers, desktop and laptop, generally do not give good results. Get an external microphone.
  • For podcasts with spoken voice only, the quality does not need to be that high for effective podcasts.

Publishing

Once you've created your first podcast, you need to prepare it for publishing and post it to the internet.
You can publish yourself either to a web host or learning management system.

  • Save the file in MP3 format.
  • Upload the MP3 file to a web host
  • Create a link to the MP3 file in a blog post.
  • Creating a special podcast RSS feed either a) by hand, b) by using a third party service (e.g. FeedBurner) or c) by using blogging software that creates podcast feeds automatically (for example WordPress)

You can also publish to Web-based Podcast Service and Host

  1. Save the file in MP3 format.
  2. Select an online podcast service (for example Odeo and Podomatic)
  3. Upload the MP3 file and create a blog there
  4. Share the podcast through an RSS feed or blog post
  5. Copy and paste the html code for your podcast to embed it into a media player on any website

Assessment

If you aim to use Podcasts in assessment:

  • Keep the required length of podcast submitted to under 3 minutes
  • Be clear on the competencies, generic skills, and performance criteria that need to be demonstrated.
  • Provide clear guidance on the type of content required in the podcast.
  • Give tips on making the podcast engaging through using a variety of voices, narrative, question and answers and interviews.
  • Consider opening a class-based account at a podcast service so learners can easily upload and share their podcasts together. This will enable learners and the trainer to provide direct feedback.
  • Remind learners that podcasts on podcast services are publicly accessible although some sites enable private shared areas. Learners do not need logins to view the material so discretion should be exercised when publishing personal materials (for example digital stories, workplace case studies etc).
Encourage the group to subscribe to the group podcast through an RSS feed

Generic skills

Podcasts can be used to share a variety of information and learning materials with a learning group.

With support, podcasts can be used as an assessment tool given direction on the form and content of audio file required. Learners will be developing their written and oral communication skills and capacity to order their thoughts for a listening audience through the scripting and production of a podcast.

Technical notes

An advantage of podcasts is that the recording and hosting software is free. While you will need to install sound editing software (for example Audacity) good recording results can be obtained with very basic knowledge.

You may need to source and acknowledge the requirements of copyright for any music or sound effects used in your podcast.

Files can be exported to pod hosting services such as Odeo or Podomatic. These have similar functionality to blogs but enable you to upload your audio file for hosting and subscription through RSS.

Skills

  • A basic knowledge and understanding of podcasting will involve the following:
  • File management skills including moving files from a hard drive to a digital audio player.
  • A basic understanding of mixing and editing audio.
  • An understanding of audio file formats including the correct format for a variety of uses. (WAV and mp3)
  • Ability to use headphones/microphones or headsets.
  • If you decide to have learners develop podcasts for assessment you will need to provide a high level of support in developing skills in recording, exporting and uploading.
  • Digital audio player or other digital audio playing device (eg, MP3 player, mobile
    phone, certain car/home stereos, computer, PDA)
  • Podcast fetching skills. (either through the use of internet browsers or pod-catching software)
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See also

From the Framework

More resources from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

Tools and resources

Social bookmark for this strategy

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Last modified: 15/9/08