Podcast Presentation

3/18/2009

Today’s Goals

Podcasts: Understanding, 1. What is a podcast? Creating, and Deploying them 2. How do I get podcasts? 3. How do I play podcasts? 4. Why should I care about podcasts for Dr. Rick Jerz ediducation? 5. How do I produce my own audio podcasts? [email protected] 6. How do I deliver (deploy) my own podcasts? www.rjerz.com

Demos 1) What is a Podcast?

• It must be nothing, since the “podcast” is not in my dictionary. • It is something only children do. • It has something to do with fishing. • It is a radio talk show. • It a music file. • It is a TV program. • It is a lecture.

Podcast Definition1 Rick’s Podcast Definition

• Podcasting is a new format for distributing A method of obtaining (subscribing) audio and video content via the Internet. Actually, podcasting is just multimedia computer files (episodes), usually content enclosed into an RSS file. audio (mp3) or video (m4v), from a • RSS means Really Simple Syndication. RSS is a catalog (RSS feed, XML) on the special format based on XML. In fact, RSS Internet (website), and having them feeds are XML files containing data according to the RSS specification, and usually located automatically delivered to your on a website. computer and then to your iPod (or • XML: an HTML‐like file for handling data. other multimedia player) • HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language

1 ‐ http://www.rss‐specification.com/sitemap.htm

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2) How do I get podcasts? iTunes: An Aggregator Manages the Podcast • Computer (Mac or PC) • Reads the RSS feed file (i.e., the catalog) • Knowledge as to where to get the podcast • Displays the catalog of episodes to you • Podcast software (aggregator) • Downloads the episodes • (Not) Browsers (IE, Firefox, Safari, + others) • Tracks which episodes have been viewed • ()(Not) Blackboard and other LMS’s • Removes episodes/podcasts • Best Method: Apple’s iTunes (free from Apple) • Periodically (automatically) re‐reads the RSS • Winamp (at SAU) file and updates the catalog • Not Windows Media Player • Coordinates the podcast with your portable • “Subscribing” ‐ Adding the podcast URL to multimedia player (iPod) your aggregator

3) Playing Podcasts 4) Why should I care about podcasts for education? • On your computer (free players) • Captures and shares knowledge and ideas • iTunes • Understood by students (Fad? Cool?) • QuickTime Player • Mobile/Portable format (computer‐less) • Other multimedia software players (RealPlayer, Adobe Flash Player, Nero) • Allows students to learn when they want • Key is .mp3 (audio), and .m4v or .mp4 (video) (asynchronous). Effic ient edi!ducation! • On your portable device • Automatic delivery. One‐step, done! • iPod (my recommendation) (subscription) • Zune • Tolerates slow computer network • Other devices? • Can support “classroomless” education (i.e., • Cell phones? “online”)

Benefits Summary Benefits Summary

• For the student • For the University • Able to learn when most ready • ? • Able to use time more effectively • Able to repeat • ? • Able to slow down, speed up • ?

• For the instructor • Able to help students learn more efficiently • Better use of time • Class during inclement weather and other natural disasters • Added flexibility • Conferences • Ecuador

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5) Producing Podcasts Producing Audio Podcasts

• What can be delivered2? • Two production requirements: • Audio • Stereo & mono 1. Content files (audio and/or video) • mp3 2. RSS feed file (only one) • Video • m4v, mp4 • 640x480 & 320x240 (iPod) • PDF files • “Zip” files • (Anything) 2 –Refer to Apple’s Specifications

Producing Content Recording Tips

• Digital recorder • Plan and practice (educational podcasts) • Microphone • Use a good quality dynamic microphone • Digital recording software that can produce • Put microphone on a stand, not in your hand mp3 files • Face the microphone away from the noise • Recor d 44.1 kHz stereo, down samp le from • Audacity (free) there. • Adobe Audition or Soundbooth • Avoid recording outside • Avoid recording near fans or fluorescent lights • Demonstration • Avoid crowded rooms • Turn off the phone and window air conditioner • Close the door • Record at 3 a.m.

Producing the RSS Feed File 6) How do I deploy podcasts? (the Catalog) • What doe it look like? • Move your RSS feed file, and your content to • Creating the RSS Feed the Internet, usually with FTP software. • Notepad or MS Word (text file) • Website • Blackboard • SAU • WbitWebsite (GDddGoDaddy) • Mediacom • Software approach (my preference) • Personal website (goDaddy, and others) • Feed Editor (PC) • Inform your students (world) • iTunes Demonstration • Website –post URL • Blackboard and other LMS’s

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Review: Steps for Deploying Podcasts on Blackboard • Advantages 1. Create the content files • Cost: free to you • Creates RSS feed file –no worries 2. Create the RSS feed (catalog) file • Relatively easy to upload files 3. Put the content and feed files on the • Good security “Internet” • Disadvantages 4. Test the fdfeed • Does not synchronize with your multimedia 5. Inform the public where to find the catalog’s player location (URL) • Maintaining files more difficult

Demonstration

My Methodology Disadvantage of Podcasts

• I produce primarily videos • Time (i.e., your time) • I use Audition (sound) and Premiere (video) • Quality • Website files are on my laptop • I manage my website using Dreamweaver • (Old method was Frontpage) • Create and edit feeds with Feed Editor software • Provide podcasts via iTunes, my website (goDaddy), and Moodle (LMS) • Encourage students to use an iPod

Apple’s iTunes Store

• A commercial distributor • A cataloging service, not a container End • Free podcast service • Big and easy audience • Wants location of your RSS feed file, nothing else • Audited by Apple • No experimentation • After posting, make note of the information Apple sends to you

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Learning More Email to David Pogue3

• Many online resources

3 –New York Times Technology Columnist, CBS news correspondent

Response from David Pogue