Podcasting Basics (1 of 8) What is a Podcast? •A podcast is a collection of audio or audio and video files residing at a unique web feed address. •A podcast is downloaded from the Internet for playback on portable media players (e.g., MP3 players) and personal computers. •There is no live broadcast of content (i.e., no streaming). The material is pre-recorded and users can download the material and access it offline, at their leisure. (From WIkipedia - paraphrased) Podcasting Basics Terms(2 of 8) (OPTIONAL) •Web Feed: A data format used for serving users frequently updated content (news/blog, audio, video, etc.) RSS – ATOM •RSS: <rss version="2.0“></rss> (Really Simple Syndication, Rich Site Summary or…) Often used interchangeably with web feed XML-based format for content distribution (About.com: Radio – paraphrased) A content delivery vehicle (Pressfeed - paraphrased) •ATOM: <feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"> </feed> (Atom Publishing Protocol) The main motivation for the development of Atom was dissatisfaction with RSS Another XML-based format for content distribution •Syndication: Makes content available to… individual subscribers. (A web feed is the most usual kind of web syndication.) •Aggregator: (e.g., RRS/XML, i-Tunes, My Yahoo, My MSN, Juice) An aggregator (AKA, feed aggregator, feed reader, RSS reader, news reader, search aggregator, etc.), checks for new content at user-determined intervals and retrieves the update. (Unless otherwise stated, from WIkipedia - paraphrased) Podcasting Basics (3 of 8) (Some of the) Hardware used to Listen to a Podcast •Computer (Windows Media Player, i-Tunes, Real Player, etc.) or •MP3 Player (iPod, or iRiver, Zune, etc.) Required Hardware (with exceptions) to Create a Podcast • Microphone • Computer • Hosting site –eCampus, Yahoo, etc. Required Software (with exceptions) to Create a Podcast • Sound Editing Software (We are going to use Audacity, a free software) • Software to convert audio file to MP3 format (We are going to use LAME MP3 encoder, a free software.) One can also record a podcast by simply using •a Telephone – (e.g., http://www.gabcast.com ) or • Voice over Internet Protocol - VOIP (http://www.pamela-systems.com ) Podcasting Basics (4 of 8) Audacity and LAME software download sites • for Windows Audacity 1.2.6 installer (You may have to permit the download) LAME MP3 encoder (download and installation instructions) • for MAC OS9/X download/mac Podcasting Basics (5 of 8) Some items to think about BEFORE creating your Podcast •Purpose of Podcast •Type of Podcast (e.g., Lecture Notes) •Format of Podcast (e.g., Intro Music, Overview, Rambling, etc.) •Length of Podcast (e.g., One Minute) •Frequency of Podcast (e.g., Weekly) Podcasting Basics (6 of 8) Some more items to think about BEFORE creating your Podcast •Location, location, location (Quiet, Free From Interruptions) •Equipment (Notes, Microphone, Software, Computer) •Time (Always more than you expect) Podcasting Basics (7 of 8) (Just a few of the many) Educational Types of Podtcasts • Coursecasting (Recorded lectures) •Lecture Notes •Basic Subject Matter Information (Complex Information Discussed in Class) •Step by Step Instructions •Course/Instructor Preview • Foreign Languages (immersion) •Music •Guest Speakers •Alternative Assignments •Blended Podcasts •(Podcast and PPT/PDF/DOC, etc.) •Interviews (Instructors and Students) •One Minute Podcasts (Quick Tips, Reminders, etc.) Podcasting Basics (8 of 8) GREAT IDEA! + + + editing software + GREAT hosting site = PODCAST the end.