Podcasting Made Easy
Andy Williams - Edmonds Community
College
andy.williams@edcc.edu
http://faculty.edcc.edu/andy.williams/
Communication with Students
• “Why don’t they get it?”
• “If they would just follow the instructions….”
• “Can’t they read?”
• “Why are they taking an online class, anyway?”
Who are our students?
71% intend to transfer to university.
58% are employed.
26% of accounting students have
children or other dependents.
18% do not have a High School
Diploma.
14% International Students.
Who are our students?
 They have other responsibilities and
interests.
 My class is not their top priority.
 They don’t have enough time.
 They are ‘underprepared.’
 They need flexible learning
opportunities.
They use technology
• 75% of online teens use Instant
Messenger.
• 57% of online teens download
music. (2005)
• 91% of all adults online use
email.
• 73% of all adults online use
internet to get news.
Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project Surveys
Why are they enrolled in online classes?
•
Flexibility of online delivery format.
•
Schedule didn’t allow me to attend on-campus.
•
Can’t get to campus.
Source: EdCC & BCC survey of online course non-completers
Reasons for Withdrawing
•
I could not handle the combined study plus work or
family responsibilities.
•
I had personal problems.
•
The online course was too unstructured for me.
Source: EdCC & BCC survey of online course non-completers
What has the lowest student
satisfaction level for those who
withdrew from online classes?
Interaction with faculty
Source: EdCC & BCC survey of online course non-completers
A Solution - Use Technology to Talk to Students
What’s a Podcast?
• “Podcasting is the method of
distributing multimedia files, such as
audio programs or music videos,
over the Internet for playback on
mobile devices and personal
computers. “
• “Podcasting's essence is about
creating content (audio or video) for
an audience that wants to listen or
watch when they want, where they
want, and how they want.”
Wikipedia
Podcast Strategy
• Low (no) cost
• Do-it-yourself
technology
• Quick and easy for
me and for students
What You Need to Podcast
• Software
– Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
– Garage Band (Mac OSX)
– iTunes or web space
• Equipment
– Microphone/Speakers on your computer
• Script or notes
• iPod is NOT necessary!
Audacity
Play
Record Pause Stop
Mic Level
Playback
Level
Recording Level
Garage Band
Media
Files
Tracks
Controls
Timer
Save Audio File with Garage Band
Podcasting to the World
• Save completed audio file to computer
• Load into iTunes or web server
• Link to Blackboard classroom & web page
• Get students to listen, learn and respond
EdCC iTunes U - http://www.edcc.edu/trc/itunesu/
EdCC iTunes U - Home Page
Click Here
EdCC iTunes U - My Page
Click Here
Uploading Podcast Files
Click Here
Find Your File to Upload
Use Browse
to find file
Acceptable file formats.
Select and Upload Your File
Select File
Click Here
To Upload
Finished!
File is now uploaded and available!
Downloading the File
Click Here
Or, Click Here
Copy URL into Web Page
Select Podcast,
Right Click, Copy URL,
Paste into Document
Ways to Use Podcasts
• Introductions and overviews
• Instructions for exercises, homework, exams
• Explanations of graphics, charts, PPT shows
• Keep it short!
Why add Podcasts to Course Materials?
•Audio connection with students
•Easier heard than read?
•Time shifting - Convenient and flexible
•Technology comfort level
Student Comments
• “It was a pleasant surprise to be greeted with a
podcast welcoming me to the class at the
beginning of the course.”
• “Now with the podcast I feel that I have even
more of an opportunity to be successful in this
course.”
• “I like having your lecture notes and the
podcast, it makes it seem like it's more class
room like.”
Podcasting Resources
Apple iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
EdCC iTunes U
http://www.edcc.edu/trc/itunesu/
Apple Education Resources – Podcasting in Education
http://www.apple.com/education/solutions/podcasting/
Beginner’s Guide to Podcast Creation
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/beginners-guide-topodcast-creation/
e-Learning Centre
http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/Resources/podcasting.htm
Educause Resource Center
http://www.educause.edu/