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Week 3: Podcasts

1. Definition of Podcasting

Podcasting can be a powerful tool to enhance both communication and digital literacy skills. Often podcasts are mistaken for audio or video files uploaded to the Internet, but they are more than that. While they always 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 Reading listed below.  You may want to begin by viewing the Common Craft Show below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MSL42NV3c[/youtube]


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 Staff

  • 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

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

  • Publish Essays and Journals
  • Share Content Knowledge
  • Video Demonstrations and How-Tos
  • School and Community Events/News

You might consider adding to this list in your blog reflection.

3. Examples of Podcasts in Education

Other Podcasts

4. Assignment

(Please begin early. Podcasting takes time.)

  • 1)  Learn about podcasts. 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 the examples above, and expand from there. Subscribe to the ones you like through your RSS reader and/or iTunes. Note:  Podcasts may be heard like a radio show from your computer–no need to purchse an mp3 player for any part of this assignment.
  • 3)  Create a short (1-3 minute) podcast and post it on your blog.
    • A)  This podcast may be on a topic of choice, and it does not need to be elaborate. 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 offer advice to new teachers). There are more ideas in the resource Choosing a Topic for Your Podcast.
    • B)  Use the resources (tutorials listed below) to guide you in all phases–software installation, planning, recording, and uploading your podcast to your blog page.  
    • C)  Download Audacity to your computer, using the guides listed among the resources.  Pay particular attention to the lame.dll file instructions, because without that file Audacity will not be able to convert your recording to the necessary mp3 file.  Be sure to plug your microphone into the correct input on your computer–it usually has a little microphone picture next to it.  Practice recording before you do the real thing, and listen to the volume and quality.  Some microphones pick up more noise (like outside noise, or even your breath hitting the mic), so a quiet room without interruptions will be helpful.
    • D)  Read the guides to learn how to edit.  They’ll also tell you how to add a music track if you feel really adventurous, but remember not to use copyrighted music, and music is not required for a good podcast.
    • E)  Instructions in the tutorials tell you how to save the file to your machine and how to convert it to an mp3 that you can upload.
    • F)  There are separate uploading instructions for Edublogs users and Blogspot users.  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.
    • G)  Once uploaded, your blog site will automatically create a feed for your podcast.
  • 4)  Listen to the podcasts of at least 3 other participants, providing comments when you visit their blogs.  Remember to be positive in your comments.  Creating an original podcast is a very ambitious task!
  • 5)  Complete reflections on your own learning in your blog.  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?
  • 6)  Complete comments on 3 other blogs – see rotation assignment.

5. Resources You Will Need to Complete Assignments

6. Supplemental Reading

Remember to post any questions you have in the forum.

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By Debby Acevedo – June 25, 2008

Week 2: RSS and RSS Readers

June 18 – 24

1. Definition of RSS:

RSS IconNow that you have a blog and have begun to read other blogs, you need an easy way to keep up with all the new information.  RSS feeds allow you to do so without having to continually visit each site to see if anything new is there.  RSS stands for “real simple syndication” or “rich site summary” depending on who you ask.  Basically what RSS does is allow you to subscribe to a website so you can be notified each time the site is updated.    

Wikipedia defines RSS as ”a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, and podcasts. An RSS document (which is called a “feed” or “web feed” or “channel”) contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with web sites in an automated manner that can be piped into special programs or filtered displays.
RSS content can be read using software called an “RSS reader”, “feed reader” or an “aggregator”, which can be web-based or desktop-based. The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed’s link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The RSS reader checks the user’s subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds and provides a user interface to monitor and read the feeds.”

Review the following resource:

RSS is Plain English: video created by leelefever on YouTube.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU[/youtube]

2. Reasons for RSS and RSS Readers:

RSS is the scripting that allows people to subscribe to your website.  Most blogs and wiki pages (to be covered in week 4) automatically generate the script that is needed.  Readers or aggregators then use that script to bring in the latest content from the sites you subscribe to in one place for easy access.  So why should you subscribe to web pages or have a web page that others can subscribe to?  Here are a few reasons:

  1. Get information from other resources and network members as they are updated.
  2. Build a Personal Learning Network (PLN) by subscribing to other education blogs.  You’ll find that as you read other blogs and leave comments you’ll become a part of a network of learners from around the world. You will gain a large support team and several new friends as you collaborate back and forth.
  3. Class Blogs – can easily monitor class blogs
  4. Podcasts – subscribe to podcasts that offer professional development, study guides, reviews, etc.
  5. Monitor / Research – news, sports, weather
  6. Professional Development
  7. Collaboration – get notification of changes on wikis
  8. School News – (RRISD has an RSS feed on the headline portion of the web site)
  9. Parents can subscribe to your blog and be notified when new info is posted  (think newsflash on TeacherWeb).

3. Examples of RSS in Education:

  1. http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-and-education.htm - a listing of 15 ways RSS is being used in education.
  2. RSS Ideas in Education - an overview of RSS and links to more info of RSS in education.
  3. Will Richardson’s Guide to RSS - a great resource and walks through RSS feeds including how to set them up, uses for in education and cool RSS feeds to check out.  (This is a pdf file and does require adobe acrobat to open.)
  4. iTunes education http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu_mobilelearning/itunesu.html
  5. http://www.roundrockisd.org/RSS/News.xml - RRISD news is syndicated
  6. http://www.educational-feeds.com/
  7. http://www.loc.gov/rss/cataloging/classlists.xml

4. Assignment:

  1. Read and make comments on classmates’ blogs about last week’s journey on blogging - Check out the Weekly Comment Rotation to see which 3 blogs you are required to comment on.  You are welcome to comment on more than those three.  Links to each classmates blog can be found on the right hand column of this blog.  Refer to the About Comments Page for notes on commenting on blogs.  NOTE:  The rotation schedule has changed since it was originally published.  Please make sure you are using the current one.
  2. To get started taking advantage of site providing RSS feed, you must first create an account with a Reader or Aggregator.  We recommend using one of these 3 readers:
  3. Subscribe to all  of your Classmates’ Blog in Your Reader of Choice.  The blog list is being created on the right hand side of this web page as the students respond to the class blog leaving their newly created blog address. 
  4. Subscribe to at Least 3 newOther Non-Classmates Blogs.   Leave a comment on the blog you are subscribing to, letting the blog writer know you are a reader and what about their blog is making you subscribe.  All bloggers want to know that someone is out there reading what they write.   Here are a few suggestions for places to start:
  5. Post to your own blog about RSS readers and a list of what blogs you subscribed to or Make Your Blog Post
    Answer these questions:
    a. What RSS reader did you chose and why?
    b. What “non-classmate” blogs did you subscribe to?
    c. What made you chose those blogs?
  6. Complete Reflection questions (see question list below)

5. Software/Hardware used in this module:

  • Google Reader http://www.google.com/reader/view/#overview-page  
  • Netvibes http://www.netvibes.com/#General  
  • PageFlakes http://www.pageflakes.com/default.aspx  

    • 6. Resources to Complete Assignments (Guides and Tutorials):

    RSS is Plain English: video created by leelefever on YouTube.
    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU[/youtube]

    Netvibes Tutorial – a little long but good for those wanting details.

    [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=3L4Ix8bBDgs[/youtube]

    Pageflakes Tutorial -

    [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=UAq4tanY0ao[/youtube]

    iGoogle – not as serious or intense, but fun and gives you the basic idea. 

    [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Pbf0dlESX8E[/youtube]

    7. Reflection Questions

    Create a post on your blog titled “Week 2 Reflection” and answer the following:
    1. What did you learn?
    2. How will you use what you have learned?
    3. How did you feel about this tool?
    4. What do you not want to forget about this tool?
    5. How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
    6. Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
    7. What questions do you still have about this tool?

    Remember to check out the forum section of this blog to ask and help answer questions!   Next week – Podcasts!

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    By Greg Smith – June 18, 2008