PODCASTING

Meegan Lillis
 What is podcasting?
 The term “podcast” is a blend of the words “iPod”
and “broadcast”

Podcast. (2009, June 18). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved June 18, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting
Podcasts
 Podcasts are a series of digital media files, either
audio or video, which are made available for
download via web syndication
 Syndication is what sets podcasts apart from other
means of accessing files
 RSS (really simple syndication) feeds
are read using an aggregator which
can automatically identify and retrieve
new files in a series when they are
made available
Podcatchers
 A podcatcher is an aggregator that automatically
downloads podcasts and can transfer the audio files
to a portable media player.
 Example:
 iTunes
 Doppler
 Juice
 Podspider
Podcasting In Plain English
 Here is a video which will explain podcasting in
simpler terms:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=y-MSL42N
V3c
iTunes
 Now lets open iTunes and begin exploring:
 The Podcast Directory
 Subscribing to podcasts
 Subscription Settings
 Downloading individual podcasts
 Manually subscribing to podcasts
 Syncing to iPod
The Podcast Directory
 iTunes has a “Podcast Directory” in the iTunes Music Store which
allows you to search for and subscribe to podcasts.
 To access the Podcast Directory, click on Podcast from the left hand menu of
iTunes.

 Then click on Podcast Directory in the bottom right hand corner.

 Note: Not all podcasts are listed in the iTunes Podcast Directory.
Subscribing to Podcasts
 To subscribe to a podcast, just click on the subscribe
button for any podcast you find in the iTunes
podcast directory.
Subscribing to Podcasts (cont’d)
 iTunes will display this alert anytime you click on a subscribe button asking if
you are sure you want to subscribe.

 Remember, subscribing to a podcast means that you want iTunes to automatically

check for and download new episodes in a series.
 If you only want a specific episode and are not interested in an on-going
subscription, you can just download an individual episode.
Subscription Settings
 On the podcast page of iTunes, click on the Settings button at the bottom.

 Here, you can specify your default settings for all podcasts or specify
different settings for individual podcasts.
Downloading Individual Podcasts
 From any Podcast’s Page in the iTunes directory,
you can view a listing of all episodes, and
download individual episodes by clicking on Get
Episode.
Manually Subscribing to a Podcast
 Click on Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast…

 Type in the URL of the podcast feed you want to subscribe to and press ok. Note:
most podcast URLs end in .xml or begin with feed:
Syncing Podcasts to your iPod
1. Connect your iPod to your computer and start iTunes
2. In iTunes, click on your iPod in the menu on the left.
3. Click on the Podcasts tab.
4. Check the box next to sync and click on the drop
down menu to select what episodes to sync, e.g. all
new, all unplayed.
5. Then select either all podcasts, or select just some of
your podcasts.
6. Then click apply.
Activity: iTunes

Find and subscribe to three different

examples of “educational” podcasts.
Educational Uses of Podcasts
 Explanation of homework/test answers
 Review difficult material
 Exam prep – tell students what to review
 Pre-lecture comments to prep students before coming to class
 Study tips
 Topics to help alleviate stress & anxiety of students
 Interviews (experts in the field, previous students)
 Student created podcasts
 Announcements
 Provide enrichment material
Best Practices for Podcasting
 Length
 Choice of topics
 Be aware of your learners
 Include options for different learning styles
 Use informal tone and high energy
 Flexible Delivery Options
Resources
 For more resources:
http://wiki.ferris.edu/elearning/index.php/Podcasting