Thing17_PODCAST

=Thing 17 (Week 8): Explore Podcasting=


 * NOTE: ** For the sake of simplicity, this "Thing," will focus on **audio podcasts**, but the concepts apply to **video podcasts** as well.

Introduction
A **podcast** is sort of like an **online radio show**, except the listeners get to decide **when and where** they want to listen.

The term "podcast" //stands for Portable On-Demand Broadcast.// And you **[|DON"T NEED an iPod]** to listen to or create a podcast! Having an iPod (or similar portable device) simply makes listening to podcasts (and other media, such as music, audiobooks and videos) really convenient. (Of course, there are tons of ways to use [|iPods in education]).

An audio file published to the web does **__not__** qualify as a **podcast**. A podcast consists of an audio file (typically MP3 format) published to the web **PLUS** an **RSS feed** (XML file). The RSS feed **allows listeners to subscribe** to the podcast and to **automatically receive** new episodes in a special type of RSS reader called a **podcatcher**. In addition to managing your podcast subscriptions and playing the media files, podcatchers can also help you **transfer your podcasts** to your media player. The most popular podcatcher is [|iTunes], a free program designed to work with iPods, but which also serves as a **general media player** and **organizer**, and a huge, searchable **podcast directory**.

**Good to know:** You can subscribe to and play podcasts in your [|Google Reader], but it can't help you transfer your media files onto your portable player. If you just want to **listen to podcasts on your computer**, Google Reader is actually a great option, because it just "points to" the podcast files so that you can play them in the reader, whereas a "true podcatcher" such as iTunes actually DOWNLOADS the media files to your hard drive.

**Lucky for us**, our friends at CommonCraft have created a "Podcasting in Plain English" video...

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(If you are blocked from YouTube, here's a crunky version on TeacherTube: []

Here is another excellent introduction to Podcasting video, from PodGrunt. Click the image to view the video on its originating page.


 * Link:** []

Discovery Exercise
The best way to learn about podcasts is to listen to a few of them.

As you **explore these podcasts and search for a few of your own** (**Part 2**), begin thinking about **ways you could** **use existing podcasts** to **supplement your classroom or professional teaching/learning**.
 * PART 1: Sample a few** (by __no means__ representative of all that's out there!) **educational podcasts**.

In Thing 18, you will be asked to create a podcast (I promise, it's EASY) and share some **potential ideas** you have for **producing podcasts** to support classroom learning (and/or your professional role).


 * ===[|The Education Podcast Network]===
 * ===[|Podcasting for Education] ===
 * ===[|Connected Learning with David Warlick]===
 * ===[|Podcasts from Schools: Ages 11+]===
 * ===[|Podcasts for English, literature, literacy and drama]===
 * ===[|Math and Science] ===
 * ===[|History, Geography and Archeaology]===
 * ===[|Arts and Music]===

(Pick either **Light** or **Stretch**, or both if you feel ambitious)
 * PART 2: Find and subscribe to a podcast. **

**Light**
Find a podcast (or two) that interests you (see "**Where do I find podcasts?**" below) -- ideally, related to your teaching/professional role -- and subscribe to it using your [|Google Reader]. (Locate the **RSS** or **Subscribe** icon and click it, then select your **Google Reader**, or **copy and paste the feed URL** into the **Subscribe field** in your **Google Reader**). Listen to a bit of your subscription(s).

**Stretch**

 * Download and install iTunes.** Find and subscribe to one or more podcasts of professional interest using iTunes. You can add **any podcast feed** to iTunes (even if it's not listed in the iTunes Store -- see "**Where do I find podcasts?**" below) by copying the podcast feed URL, then opening iTunes and selecting **Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast** and pasting the URL). Listen to a bit of your subscription(s).

**Help Resources for iTunes:**

 * [|Get iTunes 8] - You do not need to provide your email address -- just UNcheck the email alert boxes!
 * Apple iTunes Tutorial: [|Get Free Podcasts] (~2 min)

**Where do I find podcasts?**

 * [|iTunes Store] (requires download and installation of iTunes -- you are NOT required to install iTunes to complete this "Thing!) - Like it or not, the iTunes Store is the "mother of all" of podcasting directories, offering a catalog of gazillions (estimated) of FREE podcast titles, including over 10,000 titles specific to education.
 * [|Education Podcast Network] - A directory of about 2,000 education-themed podcasts, organized by subject area.
 * [|Learn Out Loud] - A directory of about 1500 free "podcasts you can learn from."
 * [|NPR Podcast Directory] - A directory of 619 high-quality podcasts from National Public Radio and affiliates.
 * [|Skip the Tuition: 100 Free Podcasts from the Best Colleges in the World]
 * [|PBS Podcasts] - About thirty quality video podcasts from PBS.

**Additional Resources**

 * Learning in Hand - [|Podcasting in the classroom] (This is Tony Vincent's FANTASTIC site!)
 * Apple - [|Podcasting in Education]
 * Get started podcasting with Audacity and other free tools.
 * OEDb - [|100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better]

Task
Write a brief blog post sharing your initial thoughts about podcasting in education. **Points to consider:** Which podcasts did you preview? What did you think? Which directories did you search and were you able to find podcasts of value? Do you have any ideas about incorporating existing podcasts into your classroom or professional learning? (If you already use iTunes (or other podcatcher) and/or have an iPod or other MP3 player that you use for podcast listening, please share a bit about your experiences. If you are a podcaster, or have used podcasting with students, please share a bit about that as well). Please include "Thing 17" in your post title.