What is a podcast, anyway?

The Principal Institute on June 4 - 5 featured several "elective" breakout sessions on topics ranging from increasing one's comfort level in using Microsoft Excel, to learning how to create podcasts and blogs! I facilitated a session on podcasting entitled, "What's a podcast, anyway?"

Here are some of the links that I referred to in my presentation:

• A Hotlist on Podcasts
• Exploiting the Educational Potential of Podcasting
• Podcasts in Education

One of the most common question asked is "Why podcast?" IMHO, the question should be, "Why not podcast?" Anyway, here is a quick list of activities that integrate podcasts in instructional activities:

• Have students record their science reports
• Have students write and record a book review or book talk (like Reading Rainbow’s, “But You Don’t Have to Take My Word for It”.)
• Have students write and record an author report
• Type notes in NotePad, transfer to the Notes folder on the iPod – study notes in doctor’s waiting rooms, in line at the bank, etc.
• Record vocabulary in foreign language, type words in NotePad, read and listen
• Record a show in which one student interviews the author of a book
• Record a science report
• Conduct “Man on the Street” Interviews about timely topic at school
• Current Events - Record a news program
• Any type of report
• Record original story
• Create video tutorials and then view on iPod
• Audio public service announcements

We also discussed podcast subscription software and services. The most widely known is iTunes, however there are others. Here are a few:

• iTunes (and iTunes Store)
• Odeo
• Podcast Alley
• Podcast Net
• Podomatic
• Podcast Spot
• Yahoo podcasts

On the CD distributed to all principals, there are step by step directions for creating a podcast on a Windows XP computer using Audacity, free downloadable software. For more information, visit the Audacity website.

Happy podcasting!