Podcasting in the Classroom

1. Podcasting in the Classroom Jo Belyea-Doerrman Jo_E_Belyea-Doerrman@mcpsmd.org January 31, 2012

2. Objective Students will be able to: • Describe ways they can integrate podcasting into their classroom; • Create an audio file using Audacity; • Import music into an Audacity file, and; • Save an Audacity project and export it to MP3 format.

3. Agenda • What is podcasting? • Why use podcasting in your classroom? • How do I create a podcast? • Four Easy Steps • Record • Using Audacity • Edit • Upload • Where do I store my files? • Download • How can I use the files? • Resources

4. What is a podcast? • Name comes from an iPod and Broadcast – merged together and you have podcast. • Typically the definition is a Internet-based program much like shows on traditional radio or television. But they are DIFFERENT • They are flexible • Stored as digital files on the Internet or a MP3 player • Can be played again and again • The listener controls when they want to hear the program (think On-Demand for audio files)

5. What is a podcast? • A collection of individual audio episodes typically recorded and edited on a computer and then uploaded onto a web server

6. Why Podcast in my classroom? • Students are digital natives • Digital Natives - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

7. Create Authentic Learning Experiences

8. Podcasting in Four Easy Steps Record Edit Download and listen Upload onto Server

9. The power of podcasting is the use of podcatcher software that allows users to download episodes from the web server to their computer to listen to the podcast either on their computers or transfer them to their media player (such as MP3 or iPod)

10. Good News! • You don’t have to have an iPod or MP3 player

11. You can listen directly from your computer

12. Student Examples • http://jobdoer.podomatic.com/

13. So how can you use the podcasting in your K – 8 classroom? You could use podcasting to have students: • Work on fluency through recording text and immediately listening to themselves; • Practice vocabulary; • Perform a poetry, plays or Reader’s Theater; • Record oral reports instead of presenting in front of the class; • Listen to student created work; • or • Interview each other for a classroom podcast.

14. So how can you use the podcasting in your 6 – 12 classroom? You could use podcasting to have students: • Conduct interviews for History class or a research project; • Weekly newscasts or Classroom newscasts; • Career Casts; • Point/Counterpoint; • This Day in History; • Spelling bees; • Audio tour guides; • Practice foreign language vocabulary; • Perform a play; or • Create study guides for other students.

15. So how can you use the podcasting with my ELL or Special Needs students? You could use podcasting to have students: • Practice fluency; • Record vocabulary; • Record oral reports; • Study guides • Listen to student created work.

16. What do I need to get started? • A basic microphone (even headsets work) • A software program that allows you to create a recording such as: • Audacity (www.audacity.sourceforge.net) or • Garage Band (http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/) or • Create online directly with podOmatic (http://www.podomatic.com/)

17. Step 1 Record Edit Download and listen Upload onto Server

18. Audacity • Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to: • Record live audio. • Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. • Edit OggVorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files. • Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together. • Change the speed or pitch of a recording. • Need LAME encoder () • Available at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3

19. Audacity – the Basics With Audacity you can: • Record your voice; • Import music; • Edit podcasts to include both voice and music; • Convert file formats for audio files.

20. Audacity Opening Screen

21. Edit Preferences • This allows you to set up the microphone and output devices. • From the menu bar select • Edit • Preferences

22. Set up Preferences Edit>>Preferences

23. Audacity Recording Toolbar Pause Forward Play Back Record Stop

24. Click on Record Button and begin recording! Make sure to talk directly into the microphone!

25. When you are done, click on the Stop button

26. To listen click on the Play Button

27. If you want to try again, you can delete the recording Just click on the X to delete the track.

28. If you forget to do this, you will get multiple tracks Or you can use this option to have both music and voice at the same time.

29. Step 2 Record Edit Download and listen Upload onto Server

30. You can delete specific portions of the recording by simply highlighting the area and hitting your delete key Highlight with your mouse, and hit delete key will delete the unwanted portion of the recording

31. Or you can split your recording to use portions in other portions of the podcast Select the section you want to split. From the Menu bar – Select Edit>>Split

32. You can move portions of the recording around by selecting and editing

33. Importing Music From the menu bar, select Project>>Import Audio Select the music you want to import You can import five types of audio files: .wav .aif .au .mp3 .ogg

34. You can also fade out music Highlight the area you want to fade From the menu bar, select Effect>>Fade Out

35. You can also fade in music Highlight the area you want to fade From the menu bar, select Effect>>Fade Out

36. Trimming This allows you to delete all but a selected selection. You can select the area you want to trim around and use the toolbar shortcut key or make your selection, use the menu bar Edit>>Trim

37. Muting • While you are recording you may want to mute certain tracks to listen to one / or more tracks at a time. • You select the mute button on each track to turn on or off.

38. Solo • While you are recording you may want to listen to only one track. • You select the solo button on the track you want to listen to. This is a toggle off/on button.

39. Saving • There are two ways to save. • Saving your project • Saving your MP3

40. Saving your Project • This allows you to work on a project in Audacity. However, these files are only useable in Audacity. They can not be heard on a media device or a computer that does not have Audacity. • It does however allow you to continue to edit the files. • From the menu bar, select File>>Save Project • The extension to these type of files is .aup

41. Saving your MP3 file • This DOES NOT allow you to easily edit a file. This is done when the project is completed and you are ready to publish it to a server. • NOTE: Before you can do this you need to locate the LAME driver.

42. Where to get LAME http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3

43. From the menu bar, select File>>Export MP3 • The extension to these type of files is .MP3

44. Step 3 Record Edit Download and listen Upload onto Server

45. MCPS Policy • All of your podcasts must have approval by you… • so • You can not upload student work to NON-MCPS sites. • You may upload Podcasts to your school / classroom websites.

46. Upload Podcasts to Odeo.com

47. Upload Podcasts to podOmatic.com

48. Step 4 Record Edit Download and listen Upload onto Server

49. MP3 Players

50. Where to get MP3 Players • Office Depot • Target • Staples • Surf the Web - Overstock.com, E-bay