Introduction

Apple has made podcasts what they are today.  Digital Natives want to watch a video or listen to a radio program at their convenience—anywhere, anytime.  If you're busy Saturday mornings and can’t listen to CarTalk or Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me? Go to ITunes or NPR and download the program.  Listen to an interview with the author of of a book you're reading.  Have students listen to a current issues podcast instead of the print ‘current event’ article.  Record a class for an absent student. 

Vocabulary

Audacity—editing  and recording software for audio files, a free, opensource program

Podcast—iPod + Broadcasting = podcasting.  Digital media files (most often .mp3) that can be listened to on computers or portable media players like ipods or .mp3 players

Podcatcher—a place to syndicate or publish your podcast

Vodcast—a video podcast, like aYouTube video ‘published to the web’

Quick Start Guide

Audacity Instructions by Sue Connelly and Steph McMahon at Barre City Elementary School

 Technical Tips for podcasting

Multimedia Resources (Presentation, Podcast, or Video)

Video: Podcasting in Plain English (Commoncraft)

Classroom Audio Podcasting by Wesley Fryer (website))

In the Classroom

There are lots of lesson plans on the web—try Googling the keywords ‘podcasting’ ‘lesson plans’

Podcasting also works well for oral histories, interviews, or book reviews.  Students write scripts, select questions to ask, practice speaking.  Podcasting will meet all kinds of VT Framework Language Arts standards as well as technology integration GEs.

Example Assignment

1. In small groups, create a short podcast (less than 5 minutes).  
2. Write a script or try unscripted if you dare. (Try Google Docs to collaborate as a group on the script).
3. Edit using Audacity software.
4. Add copyright-free music clips at the beginning and the end.  Click here for Copyright Friendly Images and Sounds.
5. Save your podcast as an .mp3 file.
6. Upload it to a wiki, webpage, or blog to make it accessible.

Example Rubrics

Here are links to 3  podcasting rubrics listed on Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators.

• Podcast Rubric 1
• Podcast Rubric 2
• Podcast Rubric 3

 Uploading Podcast Book Reviews to TideCat

1. Ask for your library barcode number at the Circulation Desk.
2. On the Destiny home page, in the top right corner, click 'create account.'
3. Search for the book you would like to review and click on the record.
4. Click on the 'Reviews' tab. 
5. Where is says, 'Upload File BROWSE,' click browse and upload your podcast file from the shared drive.
6. Where is says 'Display Name,' enter SHS Student Podcast Review.'
7. Your podcast will be held in a 'for approval' file.  Check back in a couple days to be able to hear it.  These podcasts are open to the public, so please do not use your name in your recording.