ipods, Podcasting, and
RSS Feeds
Plan for the Session
• What are ipods. Zunes, and MP3 players
used for?
• What is a podcast?
• How and why do people listen to them?
• How can you find podcasts?
• Ideas for types of HE podcasts
• How can we create podcasts
• How can we collect all the podcasts to
which we subscribe in one convenient
place.
November 13, 2007
Do you currently own ….
An ipod
A MP3 player
A Zune
None of the
above
52%
35%
1. Yes
2. No
73%
13%
27%
e
ab
ov
Zu
th
e
A
of
M
P3
A
n
pl
ay
ip
od
er
ne
0%
N
on
e
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
If you do own an ipod, MP3
player, or Zune, Do you use it
to listen to podcasts?
1
Would you consider
subscribing to any
podcasts?
How familiar with the use
of podcasts are you ?
42%
37%
1. Extremely
2. Moderately
3. Some limited
knowledge
4. Not at all
1. Yes
2. No
83%
16%
5%
ll
at
a
dg
e
ot
N
el
y
ow
le
So
Do you plan on purchasing
an ipod or mp3 player this
holiday season?
o
N
Ye
m
e
s
l im
ite
d
kn
od
er
at
M
Ex
tr
em
el
y
17%
What is a Podcast?
• Asynchronous, editable, audio file
72%
1. True
2. False
• Periodic episodes one can subscribe to
via RSS feed and receive via an
aggregator (e.g., Feed Reader)
ls
e
• Portable: downloadable to MP3
player/iPod, CD-ROM or Flash drive
Fa
Tr
ue
28%
• Can be combined with streaming media/
webcast listening options or transcripts,
with blogs for followup comments, or
wrap-around activities
2
Ways to Listen
• Left click to listen to file via the computer
• http://www.facdev.niu.edu/facdev/resource
s/podcasts.shtml
• Download files to your MP3 player or ipod
Visit podcast source; Find
RSS icon
Ways to Listen
• Right click on file name to download it
to a computer for archiving or listening
later through the computer
• Use a Feed Reader to make this
easier for ones you frequently want:
• If desired, download from computer to
Flash drive, CD-ROM, or iPOD/MP3
player for portable listening
Click RSS icon; Copy URL
3
Find Educational
Podcasts
• Directories such as:
– iTunes (www.apple.com/itunes *)
– Learn Out Loud (www.learnoutloud.com )
– Educational Podcast Network
(http://epnweb.org )
– Podcast Alley (www.podcastalley.com )
– Search Google…more every day!
*Must download iTunes first to search free titles.
How to Create
• Identify compelling content; make an outline or
script; think 10-15 minutes, if possible
• Record the audio
– Internet radio studio
– Headset/microphone plugged to computer
– Skype Internet phone/conference call
• Edit the audio file (Audacity)
• Convert the file to a digital, MP3 format with ID3
info
• Upload file to a server
• Link from blog, Web page, CMS, or ???.
• Add an RSS icon, so it can be subscribable
• Integrate with surrounding activities
Possible Uses of Podcasts
• Greetings and
newsletters to distant
friends and family
• Guest interview/
conversation
• Pronunciation of
medical terminology
• Music commentary/
voice over music
• Group discussion
recording
• Vocabulary & examples in a
sentence for foreign
language
• Self-guided field trips, e.g.,
art museum or virtual visits
• Tutorials, e.g., instructions
for software procedures
• Class lecture
Resources
– http://www.lakeland.cc.il.us/internal/professio
nal_development/PodcastinginEducationaFewGoodReads.htm
– http://www.podcasting-tools.com/
– http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/podcasting/
– http://del.icio.us/smanning/podcasting
– iloveradio.org: Podcasting 101: Illustrated
Tips for Newbie Podcasters
– engadget.com: How-to: Podcasting
– Techsoup.org: How-to articles
• Book: Secrets of Podcasting by Bart
Farkas (PeachPit)
4