According to Wikipedia, "A podcast is a series of audio or video digital media files which are distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers." (I will leave the links to Wikipedia for the identified terms as the definition of the podcast is directly from their website.) The term podcast has stuck to the video or audio produced and distributed by many people even though they may not be distributed through Apple. The difference between a true podcast and any media file is simply the distribution method. Any media file distributed through the Apple iTunes website becomes a podcast. The same media file if not distributed through the Apple website is not truly a podcast. It has become the norm however to refer to any media file distributed electronically to be called a podcast much to the happiness of Apple I'm sure.
In many conversations I've had with educators there is an interest in making a "podcast". Usually I find that people get ahead of themselves and think the big picture rather than looking at it from a step by step process. The first step is to identify what media is desired to be created either audio or video. Next the initial media has to be recorded and saved as an electronic file. This then may be edited or modified in a way to optimize what the creator wants to share. Once the file is complete with any changes saved, using for example Windows Movie Maker for video, Audacity for audio or other software, the media now must be published or placed where the intended audience has access to it. (This is the step where the media either remains a media file of streaming video, audio or actually becomes a true podcast.) In many cases the author has a select audience locally and can publish the media by placing it in a location that the intended audience has access to such as a school or business server where it can be shared through a website. If the intended audience is a group of students in a specific school and or community members in that area it may not be necessary to go beyond the local website to achieve the intended purpose. If world wide publishing is the intention then the next step may be to publish the media file to the iTunes website of Apple. The creator needs to determine their intentions and desired goal.
Another consideration one should make before spending any amount of time creating any media file for distribution is whether or not there is already available media that covers the intentions of the person. If it is already created and shared there may be no need to reinvent the wheel so to speak. There are some great websites out on the Internet that offer media files and or podcasts for free download. The Education Podcast Network is one of these. If you click on the Title of this post you can navigate to the podcast network mentioned.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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8 comments:
I guess the easiest way to get video onto the internet right now would probably to film on a digital camcorder or even a digital camera, edit in Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, and post onto YouTube.
For many of my projects, I offer multimedia choices for presenting. Students could act out scenes from MacBeth or Romeo and Juliet, edit them and add music they created on Cakewalk Media, sound effects, and visual effects, then upload to YouTube. I know we do not block YouTube, so it is easy for teachers to project that for the whole class to see.
If I were to create a class website, the videos could be posted here through the embeded link you get when you upload to YouTube.
David M. has identified one of the easiest methods to get the video to the internet however he may want to consider posting to TeacherTube rather than YouTube so the video isn't blocked by many schools.
Just a consideration.
I like using Jing. I have used it in my other graduate school course to take a screen shot of a problem and then use the microphone on my computer to record an explanation of the problem. I could post something similar to this on my blog.
Podcasting, youtubing, whatever is the easiest for students to access could be benefical. Particularly for those students who have miss school on a regular basis. Have this available who assist in getting them caught up at their own leisure.
From a computer apps stand point the students shoudl be at least introduced to some of these tools.
Podcasting, youtubing, whatever is the easiest for students to access could be benefical. Particularly for those students who have miss school on a regular basis. Have this available who assist in getting them caught up at their own leisure.
From a computer apps stand point the students shoudl be at least introduced to some of these tools.
I think this would be great to use in project base classes. When you would like to show your classes how to do something. This way you would not have to do it for every class you could just show the podcast. Even in classes like computer and sciences you could podcast how to do a lab or the program and then show it to the class. I think this would also be great for kids that missed days of school. They could watch podcast of classes that they missed.
I appreciate Mr E's step by step break down of things to considering before posting, all good points that most think they know but when it comes to doing it they get stuck. Having said that, for most non-tech savvy folks it may seem intimidating and probably not a good return on time if they have to spend more than 10 to 15 minutes getting a video from the class room to the web for 2 or 3 students that missed class. I'd imagine a drop-box folder which updates its content to a website daily might do the trick and the edit step would have to be skipped so the teacher can just upload from cam to desktop to folder. A nightly update process can pick up the files in the drop box folder and upload to a site.
As far as having teachers in science class replay demos. Great idea to save money on materials but I 100% disagree otherwise... back in my day... there was nothing like walking into Mr. A's 2nd hour Chem class and smelling something burnt from 1st hour... it meant good things. Kids are exposed to anything and everything on video but nothing beats the emotional impact of seeing something light on fire or change color right in front of your eyes. Emotion = learning.
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