Am I finally ready for podcasting?
November 17, 2007
In recent years (if I must pinpoint a date it would be the summer of 2005) I became aware of the growing trends of podcasts in education. I explored podcast creation briefly, even making a couple of podcasts for my former school, using kids for all the talking, to post episodes that could be subscribed to through iTunes. I was a pod-fader however, because after making a couple of episodes, I lost interest. I cannot even find them on the Internet site I hosted them on, Podomatic. Honestly though, they were not riveting enough to refer back to. (Sue Waters told me recently that Podomatic suffered a glitch some time back, and lost all of her hosted episodes, so maybe that is why I can’t find the ones I had made previously.) But admittedly I am a pod-fader.
I remember being inundated with ideas for podcasts and video projects–never thinking to combine my two interests into a video-podcast. At NECC 2005 I went to every session that would cover podcasting or video editing. Back at school, after successfully recording and uploading the few podcasts I had students create, I let my interest sway, and began focusing more on video editing. I had some good success–I even went out and bought a firewire card for my computer so I could drop raw video from cameras into my computer for editing, and (shock and horror) opened up my computer and installed it myself. (I never asked my IT for help b/c I was so afraid they would say no. I just did it. I’m such a rebel.) Needless to say once I had mastered dropping video I began exploring video editing, and the rest is history. I mastered the freebie Windows Movie Maker, and progressed to Pinnacle (though I’m no expert at it) and even decided to move over to a MAC for better editing possibilities, and have dabbled with the industry standard program, Final Cut Pro.
Recently I was asked to give a podcasting workshop, so I needed to refresh my memory on it. Of course, now having a mac, I found the process simpler and cleaner in Garageband. But my workshop attendees as well as the teachers at my school were all using pcs, so I needed to brush up on my podcasting pc skills. I inquired around to find out who was the nearest district expert in podcasting, and made an appointment to meet with him. I just needed to clear up my fuzzy memory about all the steps to making a podcast. I found that the “expert” knew no more than me, and wound up picking my brain more than I picked his. I will even go so far as saying his podcasts are not podcasts, but rather audio files hosted on a static website. OMG! The part I was fuzzy on was getting them so that they have a feed and could be subscribed to through iTunes! He did not have a clue. Back to the drawing board. (NOTE: It was not a total loss, as I was introduced to a program he uses called Acid Music that really brings out the creative juices if they are there. Also, in his defense as well as many others, many educators feel it’s okay to call an audiofile hosted on a static website a podcast. It’s just me and my own personal refusal to believe an audio file is a podcast if doesn’t have a feed. So I will not slight him or any other educator who does this. I even take back my initial impression that his podcast program is a “poser,” a “wannabe.” It’s more than I had at the time.
I knew that a podcast simply needed an rss feed. So I do began scouring my networks for tips, tricks, ideas, and more to clear up what I fuzzily remembered from before. Thanks to MANY, but mostly John Woodring of Bluffton School District, who literally over the phone walked me through the step that allowed me to give my podcast a feed.
My friend Mr. Granito from school also created his first, and really all I can say that I did was encourage him. He is using feedburner for his feed, while I am using my edublogs site. I did have to delve into the forums to get an extension for my rss address, which translates to adding to the end of the blog’s url “/wp-rss2.php” so that iTunes could pick it up. Speaking of iTunes, John pointed out to me that all I needed to do was go to the iTunes store, point to podcasts, then scroll to the bottom to the section “Learn More” and use the information there. I used the “Submit a podcast” link there, and the rest is history. So I am now once again a podcaster. Will I be a pod-fader again? Only time will tell. I’ve added a podcast feature to the “@ the CMS Library” blog and to a new blog for school called “CMS Tiger Talk.” All are recorded by me, but hopefully I’ll be able to get others on board to help or better, create their own.
I must thank Mr. G for motivating me–his excitement is infectious. I also can thank Dean Shareski who shared the iTunes image and showed me where he hosts his podcast. Now the natural step is to progress to a video podcast. I have the podcast skills and I have the video skills, so now I just need to figure out how to make a video-podcast, right? Let’s just hope the next best thing doesn’t make me lose interest or I will once again be a podfader. I think I will ask for a digital recorder for Christmas. Anyone have recommendations?
November 17th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Hi Cathy - good to hear you have started podcasting again. Actually I did not lose any podcast episodes but a couple of my friends did. One friend said that the media files were still on the podomatic site she just needed to go through and relink her podcasts.
I host both my video and audio podcasts on podomatic so there is no need for me to create podcast feeds. Digital recorder - well I use my PDA (change input to 44,100 hz) or my video ipod with a recorder accessory (recording on high quality). I like the idea of an ipod cause you can use it for a range of purposes.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
If you’re really looking to make video-podcasts, in the newer versions of Garageband you can just drag images in on the appropriate spots on the audio timeline. Garageband calls it an “enhanced podcast” but it’s basically a video-podcast.
I also like Screencast-o-Matic.com. No RSS feed on this one but it’s very easy to share what you create.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Sue–ooops–sorry I misquoted you but I still cannot find the older files I had on podomatic. In trying to retrieve my password, I am sure I used that old email address that no longer exists. They were not that important anyway.
David! I am going to have to take a second look at GarageBand! Thanks for that tip. Acid Music looks a lot like GB but it comes prepackaged w/ many musical sequences and loops, ready to be mixed and mashed. GB probably does too, but I just don’t have enough experience to use it yet.
You both are helping me be motivated. THX!
November 18th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Digital Recorder? Are you talking video or audio? For audio, if I’m not recording through my computer (I have a PC, so I use audacity), I’m recording directly onto my iPod. My favorite mic is XtremeMac MicroMemo. Just make sure that you get the one that is compatible with your particular iPod. It makes a BIG difference!
Good luck and post your results!
Video recorder - hmm..not too sure on that one. If you have a Mac, you could probably record from your webcam, right? I have a nice recorder, but I don’t think it’s digital - it’s pretty old.
For the record, GB is easy to use and can do about everything you want it to besides create the content itself!
November 18th, 2007 at 12:34 am
You are so ready for podcasting!
I agree- it annoys me when people say they have a podcast. To me- no RSS then no podcast. It would just be an audio file that is on the internet somewhere.
You can podcast anything pretty much!
It is so simple and eight year old could do it.
Have fun.
November 18th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Cathy, Thanks for getting me worried about my external hard drive. I checked and it has a 7200 spin rate!!
The next plan on my agenda is to get recognized by technorati. How do I do that?
November 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I have to disagree about the RSS making it a podcast.
“According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, a podcast is “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player,” but the generally accepted definition has expanded to include video as well as audio. Originally derived from a combination of “broadcasting” and “iPod ™,” the word was declared “word of the year” when it was added to the dictionary at the end of 2005. ” http://www.bbn.com/glossary/P
In this definition and many others I read there was no mention of RSS feeds making a podcast a podcast. Audioblogging as it was first called was digital audio files on the internet. What made them podcasts was the fact they could be downloaded from the internet and then uploaded to a mobile mp3 player.
Of course with the creation of RSS; finding, downloading, and listening podcasts is easier than ever. Not to mention, the wide audience you have with RSS. BUT just because someone has a site with download-able audio files that does not have an RSS feed does not mean its not a podcast. As long as that audio can be mobile it is a podcast.
The fact that you were speaking to a teacher who does create the audio and posts it … is great. He is trying to integrate which is more than I can say for a lot of the teachers I know. Maybe he’s not doing it with Web 2.0 tools but he is creating podcasts and trying… give him some credit for that!
November 20th, 2007 at 11:22 am
MaryAnn–my thinking that it has to have a feed to be a podcast admittedly is just me, as I have found MANY other teachers who do the same thing….It’s just my own mindset, and one I will hold myself accountable for. The teacher I visited has GREAT content and should be loudly applauded for his accomplishments, and I hope I didn’t come across as ridiculing him. He is an awesome teacher who has definitely raised the bar for his school. I am just happy that I was able to help him make the next step, which he asked me to do, which is getting his podcasts to have an RSS feed. I also think that many educators don’t bother with this b/c they don’t understand the rss (even though it is not absolutely necessary.) I am hoping to share his rss feed when he is ready, as he is from a more affluent area in Horry county, and has many parents who would subscribe through podcast catchers (like iTunes.) I am not in an area where that is likely. He wants to take advantage of the tools, and in my opinion is a trailblazer for our area. So please know I am complimenting him, but also measuring his accomplishment against my own personal standard (which may or may not be fair.)