Enhancing a Course with Audio Podcasts

About

In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to create audio using Audacity. Participants will learn tips for creating the best quality audio, choosing the best optimal equipment (mics, recorders), and converting audio to optimal file size.  Then participants will learn how to turn that mp3 audio file into a podcast.  Participants will learn how to create a podcast using a blog (Wordpress or Blogger), burn the RSS feed for the podcast, and subscribe to podcasts.  Participants will also see a demo on how to create a podcast in iTunes U.          Workshop Wiki: http://drcoop.pbwiki.com/EnhanceAudio

Itinerary

• Introduction - What is Podcasting? (15 min)
• Examples of Courses Enhanced with Audio (30 min)
  • Audio Announcements in Blackboard - Embed Odeo Podcast or Use Wimba Podcaster
  • Audio Announcements in a Course Network - Embed Odeo Podcast or Use Built in Audio Player
  • Audio Updates Posted to a Blog - Gabcast via Phone
  • Module Introductions - Mp3 files embedded in Blackboard
  • Audio Discussion Boards and Class Introductions - Utterli Widget in Course Network or Utterli Groups
  • Audio Tips for Students - Utterli Widget on Course Network
  • FAQ Widget and Talking Avatars to Guidance - Sitepal Text to Speech Avatar
  • BONUS: Drop.io
• Creating Audio for a Podcast (15 min)
  • Overview of recording tools for the Mac, PC and web: (Garageband, Audacity, Odeo & Wimba)
  • Developing a plan for the podcast
  • Equipment needed (hardware)
• Recording audio using Audacity (40 min)
  • Locate and import podsafe music to Audacity
  • Edit and Save audio using Audacity
  • Export as Mp3 file
• Create a Podcast (65 min)
  • Upload Mp3 file to server & grab URL of the file
  • Create a Blog to host podcast using either Blogger or Wordpress
  • Post show notes and mp3 file to your blog
  • Burn the blog feed with Feedburner
  • Create new RSS feed link on the blog
• Subscribe to own feed in iTunes or Feed Reader (5 min)
• Survey & Assessment for FPG (10 min)

Resources

Utterli 

Utterli helps you create and follow discussions with friends or new people with similar interests. You can create or join a discussion from any mobile phone or computer. Utters are cool because they can be audio, video, pictures and text, and it's really easy to post to your other online profile pages.

There are several ways to use Utterli from your mobile phone.

1. Call your local Utterli number (712.432.6666 in the US, or click here for international numbers) to record a new utter, listen and reply to other utters.
2. Send video, pictures and text to go@utterli.com for public messages or private@utterli.com for private messages. Sending within 10 minutes of recording by phone will match up your video, picture or text with your recording.

Odeo  

Odeo is a creative way to record and share audio—and it’s free. You can record audio and then share it with your Odeo contacts, by email, or by placing it in a Channel for all the world to hear. Audio from Odeo can be downloaded to desktops, iPods, and mp3 players.

• Visit Odeo: Discover and listen to podcasts.
• Odeo Studio: Publishing and recording tools for podcasting. 

Give your online classes a voice!

Perfect for language learning and creating vocal exercises in any subject, our web-based voice tools facilitate and promote vocal instruction, collaboration, coaching, and assessment. Increase the interaction and student engagement level of any online class by allowing faculty and students to easily embed vocal interactions into the page level of their CMS. Wimba Voice Tools are now perfect for Podcasting.

• Read about Podcasting with Wimba Voice Tools (.pdf) 
• Read about Wimba Voice Tools 5.0 (.pdf) 
• Learn to use Wimba Voice Tools with your iPod! (.pdf)

Gabcast

Gabcast.com is a podcasting and audioblogging platform that offers an easy way to create and distribute audio content. Most people will use a touch-tone telephone to make their recordings but we also provide worldwide access to the service through VoIP. Once you have made a recording and have published it, a newsfeed is immediately and automatically updated to alert subscribers to your channel.

What Can I Do With Gabcast?

• You can embed a flash audio player into your personal or corporate website/blog and communicate with your friends/family/colleagues/customers
• You can voice your political opinions or use it as part of a political campaign
• You can record Greetings
• You can be a Citizen Reporter
• You can conduct Interviews
• You can use it as an Educational Tool
• You can use it for Get-togethers
• You can Speak Your Mind

Ning  

When you create a network on Ning, you have immediate access to dozens of features - and we're constantly improving and developing new features. You have full control over which of these features you add to your network and how they're displayed on the main page of your network. You also have a number of moderation and management tools to ensure only the best and most fitting content is added to your network. Finally, you have full control over the appearance of your network, from the colors and fonts to the order of tabs and sub-tabs on your network.

Sitepal 

SitePal allows for you to create a wide variety of animated speaking characters, which can then be added to your website. It offers 4 different, easy ways of adding voice to your characters. There is no additional cost to update your audio message. "Play" and "Pause" buttons are enabled to let site visitors initiate the audio of a speaking character.