Podcasting, according to Wikipedia, is “the practice
of making audio files available online in a way that allows
software to automatically detect new files and download
them.” Technically this is accomplished
using RSS feeds to provide information about a collection
of audio files in MP3 format. The term podcasting is often
used to refer to one off audio broadcasts that can be downloaded
from the Internet although this is not, strictly speaking,
a true podcast which should be a ‘series’ of
broadcasts.
Podcasting lets anybody with a microphone; a computer
and an Internet connection publish audio broadcasts that
can be listened to by people anywhere in the world. Because
the barriers to entry are very low, podcasting is rapidly
becoming a popular way for people to share audio broadcasts.
Podcasts are free and can be automatically downloaded to
portable media players, so they can be listened to whenever
it’s convenient.
In an educational context...
...podcasting
can be used by both teachers and pupils and is attracting
significant interest from all educational sectors.
It is a fast, convenient, and low cost
way to extend lessons both within and
beyond the classroom. From simply recording
existing lessons to developing new
and extended course material, teachers
and pupils alike can take advantage
of the many benefits of downloadable
content contained in educational podcasts.
Using podcasting as part of a child’s
daily educational routine has many
potential advantages, including:
In the classroom
Can be tailored to any curriculum area.
Can provide bespoke materials to support any learning
situation with audio material for learning "on demand",
at anytime and anywhere.
Potential to support or extend the work of any pupil
with special needs.
Useful for children who miss sessions, e.g. due to
illness.
At home and in the community
Great community/school link potential.
Could provide schools with an effective way to communicate
with parents on a regular basis, e.g. regularly broadcast
instead of / as well as a school newsletter
Useful for those with a reading difficulty or for English
as a second or third language.
Could bring a whole new approach to homework, e.g.
audio notes to reinforce learning.
For personalised learning – children benefit
enormously from making a podcast
It gives them a potential audience of thousands for
their work and they can think about tailoring their podcasts
for different audiences.
Pupils must concentrate on their speaking and listening
skills which will have consequential effects on their
writing skills (writing scripts, setting up interviews
etc).
Publishing their own podcast is hugely motivating for
pupils; also gives them a sense of ownership.
In learning how to create a podcast, pupils are extending
their ICT skills and capabilities to embrace new technologies.
Podcasting can be tailored to a number of curriculum
areas and is also great for developing teamwork skills.
Podcasts can be interactive; the audience can be invited
to send their comments, giving valuable feedback to the
children about their work.
To listen to a podcast you use a piece of software
called an aggregator, e.g. iTunes. This software regularly
checks to see if new content (i.e. a new episode) has been
added, and when it has found some it automatically downloads
it for you.
You will also need to host your podcast somewhere so that
others can download it. Find
out more about hosting.
Podcasting, according to Wikipedia, is “the practice
of making audio files available online in a way that allows
software to automatically detect new files and download
them.” Technically this is accomplished
using RSS feeds to provide information about a collection
of audio files in MP3 format. The term podcasting is often
used to refer to one off audio broadcasts that can be downloaded
from the Internet although this is not, strictly speaking,
a true podcast which should be a ‘series’ of
broadcasts.
