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Learning Gains from Classroom Podcasting

A study (PDF) done by The University of Washington in 2005-06 on podcasting in large enrollment classes found that students used the podcast (in whole or in part) as a tool to review class materials, to enhance notes, to study for tests, and to make up material when they had been absent. The study also found that issues with audio recording (such as during question/answer sessions) reduced the utility of the podcast. WSU did a less formal study of a single class that used podcasting Spring 2006 and found similar results.

About this technology

What is Podcasting? The definition of Podcasting at Wikipedia involves both the audio recording and the use of RSS or Atom to distribute the recordings over the Internet. Poscasts are generally assumed to be accessible to a general public.

Podcasts (be a listener)

Listening to a podcast requires two things, the URL of the podcast and a piece of software. iTunes (version 6) can be used as the software. In the Advance menu look for Subscribe to Podcast...

  • (2005). Podcasting News Podcast Software. Retrieved September 27, 2005. Client software.

Podcasting (be a broadcaster)

Three steps toward becoming a podcaster are identified below. In addition, this page will point you to other resources that can be mixed and matched together.

At this writing, podcasting academic class sessions requires resourcefulness on the part of the broadcaster. It is hoped that University resources will, over time, make the process simpler.

First decide: Maybe you don't want to "Podcast"

Podcasts are generally assumed to be accessible by the general public. The audio files are sent out to anyone who subscribes to the podcast. It may be that you do not want such wide and general distribution of your audio files. In this case, you might want to upload your audio files to a system where users log in. In such a case, you would not refer to your activity as "podcasting." Instead, you could refer to it as something like "making audio available online." Whether you are podcasting or making audio available online, the first two steps below apply to you.

Step One: Record audio into .mp3

  • Audacity is a free, cross-platform recording tool for your computer. It will encode audio as mp3 with an additional (free) plug in. Instructions for acquiring the free plug in are included with Audacity. As you record your audio, you will want to experiment with your audio settings to ensure the files are not unreasonably large.
  • An iPod can use a 3rd party microphone and become a digital recorder (applies to some models only). Once you have made a recording, the iPod will export to iTunes next time you dock. An example microphone is Belkin's TuneTalk for Video iPods.
  • There are a variety of digital audio recorders on the market. Be sure to select one that can export its files to your computer, and either can save into .mp3 format or that you have another tool, like Audacity, to convert the files it exports. (These issues apply to the less expensive models).

Step Two: Store the audio file on a server

The file needs to be uploaded to a server where it will have a publicly-accessible URL.

  • WSU Unix accounts where you can make a website are one possibility.
This subject has a public tutorial on Cougar Technology Orientation
  • SharePoint can serve as an audio file server.
This subject has a public tutorial on Cougar Technology Orientation
  • Note: eLearning (formerly WebCT) and Blackboard might be appropriate online spaces to store your audio files. They will allow uploads of audio files. Note, though, these courses spaces are not public and there is no RSS of the files URLs. For both these reasons, you could store the audio files, but not "podcast" them. If you do decide to make your audio files available through eLearning or Blackboard, you should check with the operators of those systems before uploading large files.(Peg Collins for eLearning,Sicco Rood for Blackboard).
  • At the time of this writing, (August 07) Washington State University is working with Apple's iTunes U to establish its own area. (As of March 08, no status update with iTunes U, most likely contact is Jerry Gordon.) Once established, instructors will be able to contact a designated system administrator here at WSU, who will be able to set up course pages for them. Instructors will control the content of their course pages and will be able to podcast audio files from them.

Create an RSS file with the URL as an enclosure

Blogs are a great way to make RSS.

  • Some blog tools (WordPress) will take the URL you mention as a link and turn it into an enclosure.
  • If your blog tool of choice does not make the RSS, Feedburner will take your RSS and give you a new RSS that is right for podcasting.

See Also

References

Educause Learning Initiative Seven things you should know about podcasting PDF brochure. accessed July 26, 2006 [1]

Podcasting @ University of Wisconsin - Madison accessed July 26, 2006 [2] contains Elliot Masie’s Podcast on How to Podcast. Masie, an international expert on e-learning, has created a podcast about how to podcast which includes how to incorporate phone interviews.

The WSU Libraries have purchased a number of books on podcasting. These include an online copy of Podcasting for Dummies.

Pages in WSU Wiki

WSU Official Sources

University Courses

WSU-Pullman is establishing its procedures to support faculty podcast of lectures. While the procedure becomes routinized, interested faculty should post their interest as a [help request].

A strategy being explored by some universities is Apple Computer's offering to universities to facilitate podcasting of courses, "iTunes U"

  • JEFFREY R. YOUNG (2006). "Apple Releases Free 'iTunes U' Software to Colleges for Coursecasting". Chronicle of Higher Education ':. Read Online

Daily Evergreen and Recognized Student Organizations

The Libraries

RSS Feed for Library Podcasts


  • Bookmarking Library Indexes from Off-Campus:. This tutorial will walk you through bookmarking a library index from off-campus, so that you can go to the index in such a way that the company that supplies it knows that WSU has paid for your access. Bring up your web browser before starting the podcast. 1. Streaming audio file 2. Download (right click) to ipod
  • Help Searching: Narrowing your search using the AND command. This audio file explains how to use the search command AND to combine several research elements into one search, for more effective searching of library catalogs, indexes, and the internet. 1. Streaming audio file 2. Download (right click) to ipod
  • Help Searching: Expanding your search using the OR command. This audio file explains how to use the OR command and the * command to include different ways your author may have talked about your subject, for more effective searching of library catalogs, indexes, and the internet. 1. Streaming audio file 2. Download (right click) to ipod
  • Help Searching: Combining AND OR * commands to focus your search. This audio file explains how combine the OR AND * to focus your search to exactly the elements you want in the documents you retrieve. 1. Streaming audio file 2. Download (right click) to ipod
  • Help Searching: AND OR * - The Podcast Examples in print format. This word file shows the search examples used in the podcasts about the search commands AND OR *. [ ]
  • Using Search It!@WSU -- Databases by Subject. This tutorial will walk you through finding an article index or database appropriate for your subject. Bring up your web browser before starting the podcast. 1. Streaming audio file 2. Download (right click) to ipod
  • Using Search It!@WSU -- Cross Search. This tutorial will walk you through searching multiple article indexes at the same time using Cross Search. Bring up your web browser before starting the podcast. 1. Streaming audio file 2. Download (right click) to ipod

Northwest Public Radio and friends

Faculty/Staff voices

Student voices

Pullman-Moscow regional voices

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