Podcasts

What are Podcasts?

Podcasts are audio files posted on the internet in conjunction with an xml file providing the necessary instructions to allow users to "subscribe" to the Podcast via rss. Similar to a magazine subscription, this allows users to automatically receive the most recent issues via a client such as iTunes without having to check manually to see if the site has been updated. In addition, if the user has an mp3 player, podcasts can be automatically synced to the player allowing the user to listen to the latest editions anytime, anywhere.

• example 1: audio podcast -- Disney's Last Minute Book Reports
• example 2: enhanced podcast -- Grand Canyon Adventures
• example 3: video podcast (or "vodcast") -- Despair, Inc. The Art of Demotivation

 

Educational Uses of Podcasts

(most of these examples and hundreds more are available via the iTunes Podcasts directory under Education)

• incorporating authentic audio for listening comprehension practice in language learning (e.g. Carte Postale de... )
• delivering audio language lessons (e.g. Mandarin Chinese Survival Guide )
• providing extended access to instructor lectures outside of class (e.g. Physics 416, Purdue )
• giving music theory assignments in conjunction with an instructor blog (e.g. Oakland University Music Listening Blog )
• sharing telephone interviews with experts around the world (e.g. Radio Economics and now VideoEconomics )
• student summarizing what he's learning (e.g. Life of a Law Student )
• weekly 5-minute thought provoking summaries/extensions of class lectures (e.g. current plans of two plant pathology professors on our campus for Fall semester)
• audioblog introductions, interactions and reactions (e.g. Teaching with Podcasts )

 

Possible Implications for Support

• helping faculty understand exactly what podcasts are and how they might be used instructionally
• assisting and/or training faculty in creating audio/enhanced audio/video podcasts (establishing a workflow they can manage? production work? dialcasting?)
• directing faculty to an appropriate place to host files -- ICS Podcast server? (iTunes U? NetFiles? Departmental or College Server? external service?)
• assisting in creating/updating the rss feed

 

How can CITES help?

• Educational Technologies (EdTech) offers workshops and consulting on creating podcasts on Windows or Macintosh platforms
• EdTech is publishing a series of articles on podcasting including Getting Started with Podcasts, Dialcasting, Creating a Podcast on a Mac and (soon) Creating a Podcast on a PC
• Instructional Computing Sites (ICS) is hosting a podcasting server/service; EdTech is assisting with the training/support portion of the service. This service is still being developed but we believe will be in place for summertime preparation for Fall semester piloting.
• EdTech is working with Apple for a Fall pilot of iTunes U service
• EdTech is running a (currently very quiet) listserv "Teaching with Podcasts @ UIUC" (email to listserv@listserv.uiuc.edu with "subscribe twpuiuc-l" in the body).

 

EdTech is very interested in the successful creative use of podcasting for educational purposes and willing and able to consult, train, support as needed, especially supporting pilots and helping launch subsequent self-sustaining initiatives

 

CITES Educational Technologies
edtech@uiuc.edu
333-1078