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!

AudacityPlay Record Pause Stop

Mic Level

Recording Level

PlaybackLevel

Garage Band

Controls

Tracks

MediaFiles

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

Acceptable file formats.

Use Browse to find file

Select and Upload Your File

Click HereTo Upload

Select File

Finished!

File is now uploaded and available!

Downloading the File

Or, Click Here

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 iTuneshttp://www.apple.com/itunes/

EdCC iTunes Uhttp://www.edcc.edu/trc/itunesu/

Apple Education Resources – Podcasting in Educationhttp://www.apple.com/education/solutions/podcasting/

Beginner’s Guide to Podcast Creationhttp://www.ilounge.com/index.

php/articles/comments/beginners-guide-to-podcast-creation/

e-Learning Centrehttp://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/Resources/podcasting.htm

Educause Resource Centerhttp://www.educause.edu/