Podcasts

=__**Podcasting / Podcasts**__= Researchers at the Center for Journalism and Communication Research at the University of Texas at Austin in the USA are proposing a four-part definition of a podcast: A podcast is a digital audio or video file that is episodic; downloadable; program-driven, mainly with a host and/or theme; and convenient, usually via an automated feed with computer software. It can also be downloaded manually. The term "pod" is derived from Apple's iPod media devices. iPods (and other various mobile media devices) have the ability to play these files while "on the go".

Audio Podcasts
Audio podcasts usually include “album art” embedded into a file which consists of a show name, company logo, or photo of the host. Also frequently included in the file itself are [|ID3] tags, which contain information (”[|metadata]”) such as the episode title, host, topic, show number, and any other relevant information about the file. Audio podcasts can run for any duration at any compression rate. However, most podcasters keep the show under a half-hour, encoded at 128[|kbps] or lower to keep the file size down and the content digestible. Audio podcasts are often targeted to commuters who want to listen to their specific interests during the drive to and from the workplace.

Click [|here] for an example of an audio podcast

Video Podcasts
Also known as ‘vidcasts’ or ‘vodcasts’, video podcasts are very similar to their audio-only cousins. Using mainly the same delivery mechanism as the audio podcast, the video podcast is delivered on demand to the media consumer’s personal computer or portable media player. As wireless network capabilities expand, vidcasts are finding a new audience on mobile networks. Critical mass for the vidcast is expected to hit as next-generation handsets better capable of video download/playback become more common.

Click [|here] for an example of an video podcast //Definitions modified from content on Wikipedia//

__**Podcasting Software or Creation Services**__
PC only || photo by text, audio or video. Embed into any webpage. ||
 * == [|Audacity] == || || Records, edits sound. Free :) ||
 * == [|Wavosaur] == ||  || A free sound, audio and wav editor for editing, processing and recording sounds, wav and mp3 files.
 * == [|Chirbit] == || || A free online tool for audio sharing. Enables users to record, upload, listen to and share sound bites easily. ||
 * == [|Reaper] == || || A fully featured multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering environment. Windows only. ||
 * == [|Vocaroo] == || || Simple audio recorder, no uploading required. Can embed into any webpage. ||
 * == [|AudioPal] == || || Record and use your own voice, playback options, embed into any webpage. ||
 * == [|Audio Recorder] == ||  || A very handy voice recorder, simple to use. Saves as m4a, can convert to mp3 in itunes. Great for classroom conferencing. Mac only. ||
 * == [|Entertonement] == || || Upload Your Sounds. Listen to Thousands of other Sound Bites. Share Your Audio Clips with Your Friends. Embed Sounds and Audio on Your Website. Download Your Ringtones ||
 * == [|Yodio] == || || Add your voice to your photos or presentations, and share these narrated photos with your friends and colleagues. Create from your phone or computer and embed into any website ||
 * == [|Voicethread] == || || Create a slideshow of images or video and you and others can comment on each
 * == [|MyBrainShark] == || || Upload your presentation, document or video. Narrate it, share it, track it. Create voice-over presentations. Make talking photo albums. Upload a video or screencast. Narrate documents. Produce podcasts. Share your content. ||
 * == [|Qlipboard] == || || Make a message using just your voice and browser with QlipBoard Online. ||
 * == [|Photoface] == || || Use your own photo or an avatar. Upload your audio, record directly or use text to speech for your personal message. Great for giving feedback to students. ||
 * == [|Levelator] == || || The Levelator (download) adjusts the audio levels within your podcast or other audio file for variations from one speaker to the next, for example. It's not a compressor, normalizer or limiter although it contains all three. It's much more than those tools, and it's much simpler to use. The UI is dirt-simple: Drag-and-drop any WAV or AIFF file onto The Leveler's application window, and a few moments later you'll find a new version which just sounds better. ||

**__Podcasting Hosting Services__**
Subscribe to podcasts in iTunes. || free membership. Be aware - Listeners can earn you money, and ads are placed. || //Resource lists retrieved from: http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com//
 * == [|Podomatic] == ||  || Upload podcasts and embed them into any webpage. Free hosting and design.
 * == [|Gcast] == ||  || Create your own audio broadcast, where you can easily record voice messages, mix in your favorite music, and share it all for the world to hear. Embed your podcast. ||
 * == [|Gabcast] == ||  || A podcasting and audioblogging platform that offers an easy way to create and distribute audio content. Use a touch-tone telephone to make their recordings or access the service through VoIP. Once you have made a recording and have published it, a newsfeed is immediately and automatically updated to alert subscribers to your channel. ||
 * == [|MyPodcast] == ||  || Unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, Ffee podcast templates, help and documentation,
 * == [|Podbean] == ||  || Easy and powerful way to start podcasting. Easy to publish your podcast in 3 steps. No tech to learn. ||
 * == [|ClickCaster] == ||  || Publish any file as a podcast. Make it public or make it private. Create multiple channels (RSS feeds) and manage them from a single account. Embed video from your account into a blog or social networking profile. Powerful statistic and analytics engine. ||

__**Additional Web Resources**__
__//**Apple - Education**//__ This section explores the many current uses of podcasting in education. A great summary and resource site. http://www.apple.com/education/podcasting/

__//**EPN**//__ The Education Podcast Network is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century. http://epnweb.org/

__//**The Cochrane Collaboration**//__ This guide gives an introduction to and then shows how to record audio and put it online as a podcast, using free tools available on the internet. http://www.cochrane.org/resources/podcasting_guide.htm

__**Weekly Assignment - Podcasting**__
Create a podcast (audio or video) giving an explanation of how you or your school could use podcasts. The podcast should be less than 60 seconds in length.

1. Get a web link to the podcast and post it on the ELC discussion board. 2. Upload the file (mp3, wav, mov, m4u,mpg,mpeg) to the discussion board.