PowerCasting: Using PowerPoint as a Podcasting Tool

Dr. Steve BroskoskeMisericordia University

What Is a Podcast?

iPod broadcast+ = podcast

What Is a Podcast?• podcast:– An audio (and possibly video) recording that can

be listened to (and viewed) via an iPod, other MP3 player, a computer, or a mobile computing device.

– Many podcasters will offer an RSS feed to alert users of new podcasts available at the site.

Faculty Use of Podcasts

1. Repetition of lecture material covered in class:– A second look at the material.– A different approach to the material.

2. Supplement to class activities:– Remediation for slower learners.– Enrichment for advanced or highly motivated

learners.– Assistance for students with certain disabilities.– Support for English language learners.

Faculty Use of Podcasts

3. Added benefits:– Facilitates self-paced learning.– Frees up class time for other group and

interactive activities.

Popularity of Podcasts

• Study by the Pew Trusts (Rainie & Madden, 2005):– 29% of all iPod users have downloaded a podcast.– Nearly half of all college-age iPod owners have

downloaded a podcast.• iTunes University currently distributes

thousands of free college-level podcasts from over eight hundred universities.

Podcasts Improve Student Learning

• Researchers are beginning to find that podcasting can improve student learning outcomes.– McGarr (2009) suggests that podcasting can

improve student learning by increasing student motivation and engagement.

– McKinney, Dyck, and Luber (2009) found that students watching a lecture podcast significantly outperformed a group of students who only viewed the lecture in person.

Two Ways to ImplementPodcasting in a Traditional Classroom

• Choose a medium for delivery that is appropriate to your technology skill level.– Podcasting: Use free or inexpensive audio

recording software on a computer to record your voice.

– PowerCasting: Easily record a lecture within an existing PowerPoint presentation.

PowerCasting is a term coined by Dr. Steve to describe an easy & creative alternative to traditional podcasting.

PowerPoint and Podcasting

• “True” podcasting:– Audio (possible video).– Syndication capabilities (RSS feed subscription).

• PowerCasting (PowerPoint podcasting):– Easy way to add “podcasting” to your teaching.– Focus on content, not on the tool.– Utilize presentations you already have.

Narrate an Entire Slideshow

• PowerPoint will allow you to record continuous narration (lecture) as you run the slideshow as you usually would in class.

• As you narrate, the time you spend on each slide can also be recorded.

Edit the Narration

• In reality, PowerPoint records a separate narration for each slide. This allows you to:– Preview each slide narration individually.– Edit the sound for each slide individually.– Begin re-recording from a particular slide,

stopping at any point.

Adjusting Recording Settings

Set recording level. Set recording quality.

Right-click the volume icon in the system tray. Select “sound.”

Steps in Recording Narration

• Set microphone level (in Office 2007).

Set up and adjust

microphone if needed.

Steps in Recording Narration

Select this tool to beginrecording the narration.

Steps in Recording Narration

• After you hit “OK,” the presentation will run as usual.– Recording begins immediately. Begin speaking.– Advance slides by clicking as usual.– If you are using custom animation, click during

narration as usual.• Hit ESC to end early, OR record until you hit

the end of the presentation.

Steps in Recording Narration

• PowerPoint will ask if you want to save the slide timings.

After recording in PP 2007.

Before recording in PP 2010.

Maybe

Definitely

Hint When Recording Narration

HINT: On each slide, pause for1 second before and after speaking to ensure all ofyour words are recorded.

When a Student Listens

• When the slideshow is played back:– The presentation automatically advances using

your saved slide timings (if you saved them).– If a student begins playing the slideshow from a

particular slide, the narration begins from that point.

– A student can click to advance the slide early, clipping your sound file.

Learner Control

Editing Narration

1. Navigate to the slide you want to re-record.2. Select slideshow—record narration.– Continue recording on subsequent slides.– Press the ESC key to end recording.

PowerPoint Extras

• You can also add any of these PowerPoint interactive “extras”:– Use animation to build slides and maintain learner

attention.– Navigate to a Website using an action button.– Link to files (documents, spreadsheets).– Embed or link to a video.– Use animation to provide embedded questions

about the lesson, and triggered animation to feedback.

LET’S TRY IT!

• Let’s try recording continuous narration using a PowerPoint presentation to create a PowerCast.

• Remember:– Recording begins immediately.– Advance the slides as usual – your timings are

saved as well.