Podcasts

Podcasting

A podcast is the distribution of an audio file using Really Simple Syndication (RSS) to the computers of subscribed users.  You may upload the files to digital music or multimedia players.  You can easily create a podcast from a digital audio file and are making a digital broadcast available on the internet.  Podcasts allow you not only to listen, but allow you to share your voice as well.  The three podcasting tools I explored were: SoundCloud, Audioboo, and Podomatic.  I was able to create an account for each of these podcasting sites and download the app on my Iphone as well. 

I used SoundCloud to record the podcast Daniel made about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series.  I decided to go with SoundCloud because I have used it before.  It is easy to record when you are on your computer.  I did try recording from the app on my phone and it would not allow me to. To record with my phone, I would have to record with my voice memo or download an app that uploads directly to SoundCloud, so I used my laptop instead.  Some more positive features of SoundCloud is that you can also upload a file that you have already recorded, you can share your music or podcasts privately with friends, or publicly on social media.  One of the negative features on SoundCloud is that if you want more features you have to pay a fee.  You are also not able to edit or add effects to it.   Here is my podcast:

I did like that on Audioboo you are able to record using the phone.  That is very convenient and it was easy to manipulate through.  It gives you the option to trim and edit your podcast. A con with Audioboo is that once you trim it, you are not able to go back to the original. The noise around you gets picked up very easily as well.   Another good feature is that you are able to add pictures to the context.   In Podomatic, I could not figure out how to record using my phone.  I felt it was more difficult than the others to navigate through.  To be honest, since I could not figure out how to record, I stopped going through it. 

You can incorporate podcasts in the classroom by assigning collaborative student projects by incorporating a podcast, you can engage your parents by recording students and sharing with parents, leave instructions for your substitute, create school announcements, and keep absent students up-to-date on lessons.  You can also have students create a reading radio that summarizes a book they have read, have them do podcasts on current events, and have them be podcast pen pals with other students within the school or out of the school.  There are so many more ways students can interact with podcasts.  I think students would have a blast creating podcasts and sharing them with their classmates and parents.