Vodcasts and Podcasts
What is Classroom Podcasting/Vodcasting? Podcasting is online audio content made available through the Internet using a subscription "feed". Vodcasting (video-on-demand casting) is the same principle as Podcasting with the addition of video. Using a subscription "feed" simply means that you can subscribe and set your computer to automatically download new content as it becomes available. One format of subscription "feed" is RSS (Really Simple Syndication). This feed can be downloaded and played directly on your computer using free software such as Windows Media Player or iTunes. Podcasts can be transferred and played on any portable media player such as an iPod or MP3 player. Vodcasts can be transferred and played on any MP3 video player.
Why should I use Podcasting/Vodcasting in my classroom? In education podcasting and vodcasting opens many doors for students and teachers. Podcasting/Vodcasting allows educators to reach students using a medium they are accustomed to. Student today are digital natives. Even very young students have spent time online reading email, playing games, looking up information, or communicating with friends. It can be used to interact with students and parents beyond the four walls of a classroom and can be a great facilitator to increase student engagement. Podcasting/Vodcasting is an inexpensive way to create digital content for your classroom. It is not just for high school or higher education but can also be used by elementary and middle school students. To be marketable in the 21st century, students need to have opportunities to foster their creativity and learn to think outside of the box. They also need the technology skills to compete in the job market post K-12 education. Podcasting/Vodcasting can help foster student creativity and prepare them for a global market. Teachers may feel they don't have time during the instructional day to use technology such as Podcasting/Vodcasting because of individual state testing and No Child Left Behind. Podcasting/Vodcasting can be used as a way to allow students to have a creative outlet during the school day. Teachers can also use podcasting to create "testing review" sessions for students. Student created podcasts/vodcasts give students the opportunity to enhance their organization, communication and technology skills. Podcasting/Vodcasting will also benefit students who have an IEP by giving them the opportunity to listen and or watch classroom content multiple times. Students who are absent on a given day can download the classroom podcast/vodcast and not miss out on valuable classroom instruction. Homebound students can also benefit by allowing them to download the classroom content which will provide more instruction than they may get through homebound services. By using Podcasting/Vodcasting when a student who has been on homebound returns, they have actually missed out on very little classroom instruction.
How can I use Podcasting/Vodcasting in my classroom?
Teacher created Podcasts/Vodcasts:
Why should I use Podcasting/Vodcasting in my classroom? In education podcasting and vodcasting opens many doors for students and teachers. Podcasting/Vodcasting allows educators to reach students using a medium they are accustomed to. Student today are digital natives. Even very young students have spent time online reading email, playing games, looking up information, or communicating with friends. It can be used to interact with students and parents beyond the four walls of a classroom and can be a great facilitator to increase student engagement. Podcasting/Vodcasting is an inexpensive way to create digital content for your classroom. It is not just for high school or higher education but can also be used by elementary and middle school students. To be marketable in the 21st century, students need to have opportunities to foster their creativity and learn to think outside of the box. They also need the technology skills to compete in the job market post K-12 education. Podcasting/Vodcasting can help foster student creativity and prepare them for a global market. Teachers may feel they don't have time during the instructional day to use technology such as Podcasting/Vodcasting because of individual state testing and No Child Left Behind. Podcasting/Vodcasting can be used as a way to allow students to have a creative outlet during the school day. Teachers can also use podcasting to create "testing review" sessions for students. Student created podcasts/vodcasts give students the opportunity to enhance their organization, communication and technology skills. Podcasting/Vodcasting will also benefit students who have an IEP by giving them the opportunity to listen and or watch classroom content multiple times. Students who are absent on a given day can download the classroom podcast/vodcast and not miss out on valuable classroom instruction. Homebound students can also benefit by allowing them to download the classroom content which will provide more instruction than they may get through homebound services. By using Podcasting/Vodcasting when a student who has been on homebound returns, they have actually missed out on very little classroom instruction.
How can I use Podcasting/Vodcasting in my classroom?
Teacher created Podcasts/Vodcasts:
- Record classroom expectations at the beginning of the year
- Classroom lectures
- Supplemental information - information beyond what is covered in the classroom
- State testing review sessions
- Record classroom discussions
- Get information from an expert in a given field
- Supplemental information
- iTunes U (a fairly new portion of iTunes, free podcasts and vodcasts from Universities, Colleges, Departments of Education, and other educational sources)
- Student projects
- Student radio style broadcasts
- Digital storybooks
- Student created content overviews or reviews
- Conduct interviews with individuals in the community or school
- Step 1: Determine the content, what do you want to say or what do your students want to say.
- Step 2: Gather the necessary equipment. You will need a microphone. I suggest using headphones with a mic attached. You will also need a computer with Audacity and MP3 encoding software or other audio recording/editing software loaded to record and edit your podcast.
- Step 3: Plug the microphone into the computer and check your computer to make sure your microphone is not set to mute.
- Step 4: Open Audacity and check to make sure it is setup properly. (Follow the instructions on the LAME MP3 Encoder page for setup)
- Step 5: Click the red record button and record your content
- Step 6: Edit your audio file using Audacity (delete the awws and umms or any other information you do not want included in your podcast)
- Step 7: Convert to MP3. In Audacity go to file-->Export as MP3
- Step 8: Save the file in a location where you can find it. Examples might be a folder in your My Documents called Podcasts or a folder on your desktop called Podcasts.
- Step 9: Upload the file to a website such as the ones listed below.
- Step 1: Determine the content, what do you want to say or what do your students want to say.
- Step 2: Gather the necessary equipment. You will need a digital video recorder such as the Flip Mino.
- Step 3: Make sure your recorder is charged and ready to go.
- Step 4: Record your content. Don't worry if you mess up, keep going, you can edit that out later.
- Step 5: Once you are finished, plug the digital video recorder into your computer and download the video into either Windows Movie Maker or iMovie.
- Step 6: Edit your video file
- Step 7: Save the edited video to a location you can find later such as a folder in your My Documents folder or on your desktop called "Vodcasts". In Windows Movie Maker you will need to "Publish Movie" for it to be saved in a Windows Media Player format.
- Step 8: Upload the file to a website such as the ones listed below.
- Windows Movie Maker (pre-loaded on most PC's)
- iMovie (pre-loaded on most Macs)
Where can I find Websites to download/upload Educational Vodcasts? - TeacherTube
- School Tube