Podcasting Made Easy Andy Williams — Edmonds Community

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: Ed. CC & 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: Ed. CC & 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: Ed. CC & 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) – i. Tunes or web space • Equipment – Microphone/Speakers on your computer • Script or notes • i. Pod is NOT necessary!

Audacity Play Record Pause Stop Mic Level Playback Level Recording Level

Garage Band Media Files Tracks Controls Timer

Save Audio File with Garage Band

Podcasting to the World • Save completed audio file to computer • Load into i. Tunes or web server • Link to Blackboard classroom & web page • Get students to listen, learn and respond

Ed. CC i. Tunes U - http: //www. edcc. edu/trc/itunesu/

Ed. CC i. Tunes U - Home Page Click Here

Ed. CC i. Tunes U - My Page Click Here

Uploading Podcast Files Click Here

Find Your File to Upload Use Browse to find file Acceptable file formats.

Select and Upload Your File Select File Click Here To Upload

Finished! File is now uploaded and available!

Downloading the File Click Here Or, 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 i. Tunes http: //www. apple. com/itunes/ Ed. CC i. Tunes U http: //www. edcc. edu/trc/itunesu/ Apple Education Resources – Podcasting in Education http: //www. apple. com/education/solutions/podcasting/ Beginner’s Guide to Podcast Creation http: //www. ilounge. com/index. php/articles/comments/beginners-guide-topodcast-creation/ e-Learning Centre http: //www. e-learningcentre. co. uk/eclipse/Resources/podcasting. htm Educause Resource Center http: //www. educause. edu/