Podcasting

What IS a podcast?
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There is a wide variety of content, such as:


 * National Public Radio programming
 * university lectures
 * international news updates
 * new band music
 * individuals' views of a political issue.

Podcasts range in length from a few minutes to several hours.

Can I See (or Hear) An Example of a Podcast?

 * Educational Podcasts**
 * [|Speaking of History]
 * [|Teach42 Podcasts]
 * [|NPR Podcasts]
 * [|ABC News Podcasts and Vodcasts]
 * [|Mr. Mayo's Audio Page]

By Elementary Students
[|Our City Podcast] [|Radio Gateway] [|Radio WillowWeb] [|ColeyCast] ** MUST SEE! **

By Middle School Students
Coulee Kids Podcast ** MUST SEE! **

By High School Students
[|Book Reviews from Hopkinton High] [|Apple Distinquished Award Winners] [] [|Bookwinks] ** MUST SEE! ** [|Eye Level]

English
[|Grammar Girls Quick Tips] [|English Idioms and Slang] [|Storynory: Free Audio Stories for Kids] [|Children's Storytime] [|Webster's Word of the Day] [|Houghton Mifflin Poetry Podcast]

Math
[|The Math Factor] MathGrad Podcast ** MUST SEE! **

Social Studies
[|CNN Student News - Video] [|History Podcast] [|The Best of National Geographic Magazine] [|The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd] [|PRI's The World - Geo Quiz]

**Science**
[|Mr. Wizard's Fun Science Facts] ** MUST SEE! ** [|Earthwatch Radio] [|National Geographic: Wild Chronicles] [|Why? Science for Kids] [|Dr. Carlson's Science Facts] ** MUST SEE! ** [|Nova Science Now] [|60 Second Science] [|Space.com's Space Podcast] [|Science Made Fun (from the UK)]

Educational Technology
[|Karen's Educational Mashups] [|Educational Technology] [|Moving at the Speed of Creativity] [|The Tech Teachers] [|Teachers Teaching Teachers]** MUST SEE! ** [|Podcasts for Educators]

Let's Learn How to Podcast

 * Audacity**

[|Audacity.pdf]

Here is the lame file (for the PC)! Put it on your desktop so you can navigate to it easily! [|lame_enc.dll]
 * [|Downloading Audacity] ||
 * [|Get to know Audicity] ||
 * [|Creating tracks] ||
 * [|Editing tracks] ||
 * [|Exporting and posting to your wiki] ||

Here is the lame file (for the MAC)! Put it on your desktop, then double click on it and expand it onto your desktop so you can navigate to it easily! [|Lame_Library_v3.98.2_for_Audacity_on_OSX.dmg] //If you are using Audacity 1.3.3 or later on Mac OS X (Intel or PPC) or Audacity 1.2.5 on Mac OS X (Intel)//

[|LameLib-Carbon-3.91.sit] //If you are using Audacity 1.2.6 on Mac OS X (PPC)//

So it seems to me that if you were going to do this with your students, that this might be a lot of work and could, in fact, discourage you from doing a podcasting project. So, I'm offering you Vocaroo or Chirbit. Both of these online, easy to use, voice recording applications that will give you a hyperlink and embedded code to your finished product. The only downside of this is that you cannot edit (therefore, you cannot add music, etc.). But sometimes that's OK!!!!
 * Chirbit/Vocaroo**

http://www.chirbit.com/ []


 * So now it's your turn!**


 * Would you like to avoid frustration?**


 * Follow these steps to an easy podcast!**

At a MINIMUM, visit the "MUST SEE" links in the SEE ME examples.

THEN:

1. Write your script series (bear in mind the audience). Start with an introduction of the show (the name, the date and the episode number). Then give a brief overview (or purpose) of the show. Record the content. Recap the show and invite the audience to listen to the upcoming show.

2. Find a 5-10 second piece of music:

[|http://www.freeplaymusic.com]

3. SAVE the piece of music on your desktop (you will use it twice, once in the beginning and once in the end).

4. Open Audacity.

5. IMPORT your opening music.

6. Open a new track and record your podcast.

//** CHECK THE VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE RECORDING!! **//

7. Open a new track and Import your music (again).

8. Adjust the tracks (so that they play in the right order)

9. Fade in and out the music.

10. Export the file as an MP3 onto your computer.

11. Upload the file (just as you would a picture file).

12. Put a brief title and annotation under the podcast.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT
1. Create a **series of THREE** podcasts. Only one of your podcasts MUST be connected with your unit (and be a part of a lesson plan). The other podcasts CAN also be part of your unit, but you could choose to have those other two podcasts be geared at your students, your parents, or both! Once you have created the podcasts, upload them to your wiki with a brief annotation.

2. Create a lesson where the students can create a Vocaroo or Chirbit recording as their product for the lesson. Create one sample and embed it in your wiki in the lesson where it belongs so students know your expectations (this is an EXAMPLAR recording).