Podcasting

Podcasting

Podcasting comes from the words "broadcast" and iPod, thus creating the idea of broadcasting radio shows and recordings of interest. In a school environment, children and adolescents can digitally record interviews, critiques, recitals and so on. Students may add music and sound effects to better create a certain ambiance or mood to accompany the text. The results can sound astonishingly good. Teachers may use free software for the creation of these podcasts. We recommend [|Audacity] which has many useful features. Students can thus work on podcasts at home with the purchase of an inexpensive microphone and headset.

Pupils often present their work to their colleagues and as such, many are not satisfied with the audio track. They also want visual clues or stimulus. Students thus wish to add imagery to accompany their sound track. We suggest the use of Windows Movie Maker, which comes on all XP machines and later. Students are not creating a video per se, but will use the flexibility of Moviemaker to time the photos and/or music.



//**Pros and Cons**// __The Pros of Podcasting__ -Audacity is free and easy to use -Podcasting is great for learning a second language -students are able to hear and correct their accent and intonation -this type of work encourages creativity -students are not shy as they get to record instead of speaking in front of the class __The Cons of Podcasting__ -Audacity needs the installation of a lame_encoder if you desire to export the track in mp3 format -all files need to be maintained in the same folder, and not spread all over -some students get caught up in the music and sound effects and forget the importance of the message

__Using Podcasting in Elementary Schools__ -very successful, even at the Grade 5/6 level. Please check out [] where Nathan Toft and Jane Smith have been podcasting for several years. -integrates well with Balanaced Literacy -PowerPoint on podcasting at the Elementary School level (thanks Barbara McLaughlin): [|ElementaryPres.ppt] -Nathan and Jane also have a couple of books out on podcasting (Scholastic Pub)
 * //Pedagogy//**

__Using Podcasting in Secondary Schools__ -excellent tool for FSL and other second language learning, including English -much of the work can be done at home if not finished in the lab -highly motivational for students -a good percentage of students have experience with sound editing software

-Great [|lecture on podcasting] -Using Audacity [|AudacityWrittenInstruct.doc] -Podcasting and second language acquisition [|PostcastPAC.ppt] -Reasons for podcasting: [] -Podcast planning worksheet: thanks to Kim Rycroft in B&LT, OCDSB: [|Podcasting Planning Worksheet.pdf] -Podcasting with Audacity, once again thanks to Kim Rycroft: [|Podcasting with Audacity REVISED.doc] -[|Media Strand], great resource for English teachers in the OCDSB -You can get the lame encoder here for exporting your mp3 [|lame_enc.dll] -Backgrond music from [|FreePlayMusic.com] -free [|sound effects]
 * //Resources for using Podcasting in your classroom//**

Examples of podcasts: Please visit these OCDSB schools to see and hear podcasts: [|2009 Multimedia Festival Winners] [|Merivale High School] [|Bell High School] [|Jack Donahue Public School] [|WE Johnston Public School] [|Woodroffe Avenue Public Shool] [|Rideau High School] [|Canterbury High School]

**Our workshop for Podcasting**: led by Bruce & Richard Objectives -define and explore the medium -brainstorm on different uses for podcasting -understand the basics of the technology -develop a purely auditory podcast -extend the podcast to visual and auditory media -draw up a list of uses at different levels Steps 1. learn some of the pedaogical advantages of this medium 2. learn hardware and software basics of podcasting 3. develop a short podcast to share with colleagues 4. brainstorm for uses at different levels Resources [|AudacityWrittenInstruct.doc] [|PostcastPAC.ppt] [|Podcasting with Audacity REVISED.doc] [|Visual User Guide]