Organizing a Podcast

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bernadette on February 15, 2011 at 8:56pm

Hi Colby

I create podcasts for my students usind Audacity. I haven't got them to create any on their own yet, but they all have access to this on their laptop and it would work OK.. Audacity is easy to use. It is then just a matter of exporting it as an MP3 file and we then put it on our Learning Management system, Studywiz in the Gallery section.

Hope this helps

Permalink Reply by Colby Holland on February 15, 2011 at 9:13pm

Thanks Bernadette, I'll check that out.

Colby

Permalink Reply by Janine on February 15, 2011 at 9:36pm

My students needed a purpose and a plan - and they were off!!!  A few kids would script it  while others only needed a detailed list. We used the free movie maker that comes with Windows. We started out with just the sound recorder, but found MovieMaker to record more seamlessly. 
Kids like to talk and share their ideas, so we used it in our creative problem solving lessons. Each kid then had a different use for the same technology. Some did all the talking while others used interview techniques so they wouldn't be on the spot. Some even wrote a script or designed characters and then 'hired' classmates to do the voices. There is plenty of learning in producing and planning a podcast without having to star in it. What curriculum are you trying to connect it to?

Permalink Reply by Colby Holland on February 17, 2011 at 6:35pm

Thanks Janie for replying back to me. I am wanting to try podcasting with my 12th grade economics class. How do you use the podcasts once you make them?

Colby

 

Permalink Reply by Louis Odendaal on February 20, 2011 at 11:05pm

Hi Colby. I am also an Econ teacher who is interested in using podcasts with my students. Let me know how it goes at your end. I'm thinking of having my students do a reflective podcast on what they have learned during a set period or reflecting on what is happening in the world economy. What do you think? Any ideas?

Permalink Reply by Colby Holland on February 22, 2011 at 8:30pm

Hi Louis,

From what I am hearing, the pod casts need to be kept fairly short so that might be a problem but you never know till you try it. Right now in my class, we are studying demand and I am trying to incorporate few different pieces of technology to see what I can do to help my students learn better. One tool that I am using is Vokis. Check this site out as it's pretty cool. It is another form of a pod cast.

http://www.voki.com/

Colby

Permalink Reply by Janine on February 15, 2011 at 9:37pm

My students needed a purpose and a plan - and they were off!!!  A few kids would script it  while others only needed a detailed list. We used the free movie maker that comes with Windows. We started out with just the sound recorder, but found MovieMaker to record more seamlessly. 
Kids like to talk and share their ideas, so we used it in our creative problem solving lessons. Each kid then had a different use for the same technology. Some did all the talking while others used interview techniques so they wouldn't be on the spot. Some even wrote a script or designed characters and then 'hired' classmates to do the voices. There is plenty of learning in producing and planning a podcast without having to star in it. What curriculum are you trying to connect it to?

Permalink Reply by Janine on February 15, 2011 at 9:39pm

My students needed a purpose and a plan - and they were off!!!  A few kids would script it  while others only needed a detailed list. We used the free movie maker that comes with Windows. We started out with just the sound recorder, but found MovieMaker to record more seamlessly. Kids like to talk and share their ideas, so we used it in our creative problem solving lessons. Each kid then had a different use for the same technology. Some did all the talking while others used interview techniques so they wouldn't be on the spot. Some even wrote a script or designed characters and then 'hired' classmates to do the voices. There is plenty of learning in producing and planning a podcast without having to star in it. What curriculum are you trying to connect it to?

Permalink Reply by Artie O'Connor on February 16, 2011 at 4:26am

I've used Audacity on my own as well. In class I use Garageband. I terach ninth graders.

 

I have the students write an opinion paper (four - five paragraphs) on a topic they are interested in that we are covering.

 

We then play around with the software,

They MUST record, listen and edit their voice - important -  everyone is not used to hearing themselves and they need to get over it!

 

I then play a few podcasts from iTunes from my content area (environmental science), Exemplars

 

They are instructed that their podcast is to be a minute long - minimum (of voice time)

Mood setting use of music Intro and Outro (not allowed to use pop tunes - protect copyrights, another short discussion and a lesson within the lesson)

 

We discuss - ducking (sound / music playing in the background)

 

Uses of sound effect and Zingers (attention getting noises and their use and possible distraction form your message.

 

Only after hearing a couple of practice recordings are they sent to a quiet (unoccupied nearby classroom) to record a final copy I can upload to my Moodle.

 

Be ready, it is noisy! A fun noise, but noisy! This process takes about three class periods (I have 90 minute blocks).

Permalink Reply by Colby Holland on February 17, 2011 at 6:37pm

Cool! Thanks Artie. I have used garage band. Question for you, how to you use the podcasts once they are made?

Colby

Permalink Reply by J. Molnar on February 16, 2011 at 6:20am

Hi Colby,

I have created science podcasts with high school journalism classes.  Proper planning and content quality certainly impacted the quality of the finished podcast.  We also used Audacity to record and edit and emphasized utilizing copyright friendly music. 



 

I found this podcasting resources site, created by Eva La Mar, an Instructional Technology specialist, to be helpful. It has planning guides as well as a "status of the class" resource.

 

And probably the most helpful recording tip for students was to position the microphone so that it is not directly in front of their mouth, but rather off to the side.  It reduces the "air puffs" often heard with p's and other sounds, which tend to be a distraction to the overall message of the podcast.

 

Good luck!

 

Permalink Reply by Colby Holland on February 17, 2011 at 6:38pm

Thanks J. 

I'll check out that site.

Colby