Module+4+-+Podcasts

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**Lead Instructor: Craig Magtutu (magtutu@yahoo.com) **

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**INTRODUCTION** //The New Oxford American Dictionary// defines podcast as “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.” In other words, it’s a digital audio file that’s created, shared, and heard. But what makes it a podcast (and not just a audio post) is that is is a SERIES of audio files.
 * What is a podcast?**

Although many podcasts contain only music or only speaking, others are a creative mix of voice, music, and sounds. Some now include video or photos (these are called "vodcasts"). There is a wide variety of content, such as National Public Radio programming, university lectures, international news updates, new band music, or individuals' views of a political issue. Podcasts range in length from a few minutes to several hours.

A short movie to help explain podcasting, from the good folks at Common Craft: media type="custom" key="6299217"
 * Podcasting in Plain English**


 * Did you know...**
 * You do not need an iPod to create or view podcasts. There has been a small movement to change the name to Netcasting to clear this confusion.
 * Podcasts can be either audio, audio with still images (enhanced podcast), video (vodcast) or .pdf document formats. As the technology evolves, other formats may be added.
 * Podcasting works like a magazine subscription. You subscribe to a podcast and the latest episode is sent directly to iTunes or your podcast program of choice. Instead of having to go out and seek updated content, your podcast aggregator (e.g. iTunes) checks for you and you can automatically receive the latest episode of the podcast as it is published.
 * Many times you can 'Get' past episodes of podcasts through programs like iTunes or Democracy.
 * If you choose to use an iPod to view podcasts, your iPod will automatically sync to the latest episodes of the podcasts you subscribe when you connect the iPod to your computer (if you use iTunes, you can actually change this so that you only sync what you want to sync).

**EXAMPLES** If you looking for a podcast in a particular area, there are variety of good search engines to locate podcasts. Try one or more of these:
 * [|Education Podcast Network] Podcasts for teachers by teachers. Search by content, hear student projects by grade level.
 * [|Find Podcast] A directory where you can search in categories much like the site above, but a nice addition is "kids and teens." Check out new podcasts, rated podcasts, or popular podcasts, too.
 * [|FireAnt] Discover, watch and subscribe to podcasts and vodcasts (video podcasts).
 * [|Podcast Alley] Pick a podcast genre, and you'll receive a list of podcasts to take a listen to. Genres include, but aren't limited to: business, cultural/political, environment, movies/films, sports, technology, comedy, travel.
 * [|Podcast Pickle] Search by tag, topic, category or see and hear the top-rated podcasts
 * [|Podcasting News (K-12 Education)] Both a directory and a news source for information about podcasting.
 * [|Podscope] An audio and video search engine. The search engine that can find podcasts according to the words spoken during them. A great tool to zero in on content of interest to you.
 * [|Podanza] Search by category, see featured podcasts in each category, or search by content and keyword

If you are looking for some great classroom podcasts, check these out:
 * [|Speaking of History]
 * [|Matt's Today in History]
 * [|Room 208 Podcast]
 * [|Mr. Mayo's Audio Page]
 * [|Coulee Kids Podcast]
 * [|Mrs. D's Producers]
 * Tracy B's 1st Grade wiki and podcast
 * [|Mrs. Berthiume's 1st Grade Podcast]
 * [|Mrs. Wieland's Class podcast] (New Jersey - uses Podomatic)
 * [|Mustang News Radio]: The official radio broadcast created by the students of Monroe Road Elementary School
 * [|Radio WillowWeb] - [|Radio WillowWeb Planning Guide] (pdf)
 * [|Year 6/7 Blog]
 * [|More classroom podcast examples]
 * [|Langwitches] (ESL podcasting)
 * [|TechTime with Mr. S] (Computer lab podcast: Bob Sprankle)
 * [|Mother's Day Podcasts 2009] (from Oklahoma PreK students)
 * [|Mother's Day Podcasts] from Carol Ann [|McGuire]'s students
 * [|Rock Our World] (an international project using podcasting and videoconferencing)
 * [|Sherry Hatcher's 4th Grade Podcasts from Del City, Oklahoma]
 * [|Mr Hardy's French Class podcast] (Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Texas) - [|L’histoire de Bob et de Marie]
 * [|Mr Hardy's French Class podcast] (Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Texas) - [|L’histoire de Bob et de Marie]

== **ASSIGNMENT ** 1. Sign up for an account at [|http://www.vocaroo.com].

2. Using a headset or your computer's microphone, record two podcasts (one instructional and one as an example of what the students should produce).

3. Copy the embedded coding from each podcast and embed it in your wiki with the accompanying lesson plan.

4. Complete your information on the Class Podcast page ( listed immediately below the link for this page )

5. Respond to the topic on the Course Blog

 Reminder: When you finish a module (topic), email the instructor to let them know you are ready for them to check your work. 1. Respond to the Course __**Blog Post**__.
 * REMINDERS: **

2. Record / save your username and password in a location you will remember.

3. Email the Lead Instructor once you have completed a module/topic, so we can review your work.

4. Use the Discussion Tab above if you get stuck or have questions that an instructor or fellow student in this class can help you answer - we are all part of your Personal Learning Community (PLC).

==
 * TUTORIALS**

An easy to follow tutorial for an easy to use tool! media type="custom" key="6299221"

== [] Cross-curricular ideas on using podcasting in the classroom
 * CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS **

== [] John Larkin hosts this fantastic site, rich in resources on most technology tools. As a classroom teacher, John offers many examples of podcasting in the classroom as well as other information including rubrics for evaluating student work as well as your own.
 * OTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES **