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Podcasting: Language Instruction
Applications for an Online Phenomenon
Donna Shelton, PhD
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Agenda
What are podcasts?
How are schools using this technology?
Where do I find Spanish-language podcasts?
How can my students and I create podcasts?
How can I incorporate podcasts into courses?
What are podcasts?
Podcasts and Vodcasts
Digital audio and video files distributed over the
Internet
Available through download from websites or
through a subscription feed
Listen and/or view on a computer or a mobile
device such as an iPod or an MP3 player
Podcasting software – iTunes, Juice, iPodder –
needed to subscribe
Many of these applications are available online
free of charge
Podcasts and Vodcasts
Subscriptions to pod- and vodcasts are made possible by
software called RSS
Some RSS applications are open-source or free
To make podcasts, digital audio can be converted to an
MP3 file, a format recognized by RSS
To make vodcasts, digital video can be converted to a
variety of formats that RSS can deliver
The RSS file includes text that describes your MP3 or
video file for the potential user
Again, pod- and vodcasts can be created, posted, and
downloaded without subscription
How are schools using this
technology?
Methods for Using the Technology
Use growing rapidly
Podcasts in higher education
Content delivery method for online or hybrid
courses
Supplements to traditional courses accessed
through websites or course management systems
Outreach or recruiting tools
Podcast-based programs at many institutions
Methods for Using the Technology
University-level projects, both general and
language-specific
Georgia College and State University, see
http://ipod.gcsu.edu/
Duke University, see
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2005/12/ipodupdate.
html and
http://cit.duke.edu/ideas/newprofiles/merschel.do
Stanford University, see http://itunes.stanford.edu/
Iowa State, see
http://www.language.iastate.edu/main/podcast/
Methods for Using the Technology
University-level projects, both general
and language-specific
https://segue.middlebury.edu/index.php?acti
on=site&site=achapin-ipod
http://spanport.lss.wisc.edu/newsite/podcast
s/
Methods for Using the Technology
Podcasts in K-12 schools
School and/or district information for families
and community
Instructor-produced content for classes
Student-produced content, either for regular
classes or for extracurricular projects
School events such as sports or music
Methods for Using the Technology
K-12 projects, both general and language-
specific
http://ghs.gcs.k12.al.us/~gvaldez/index.htm, Spanish
at Gadsden City HS, Alabama
http://www.intelligenic.com/forum/, The KidCast
Forums, projects in various disciplines
http://chatt.hdsb.ca/%7Emagps/boylit/Podcasting%2
0in%20Education, Podcasting in Education
http://www.langwitches.org/links/podcast.htm,
LangWitches.org, the Magic of Learning Languages
through Technology
Where do I find Spanishlanguage podcasts?
Sources of Content: General
Podcast directories are searchable and generally
organized into subject matter categories
These directories are general but do include some
Spanish-language podcasts
The Education Podcast Network, http://epnweb.org
Podcasting News, http://www.podcastingnews.com/
Podcast.net, http://www.podcast.net
Sources of Content: General
General podcast directories, continued
Podcast Alley, http://www.podcastalley.com
The Podcast Network,
http://www.thepodcastnetwork.com
iTunes Podcasts, www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/
Sources of Content: Spanish
Spanish-language podcasting still in early stages of
development
Considerable growth in available podcasts just in last year
Directories below cover a variety of topics
http://www.podsonoro.com/
http://www.podcastellano.com/
http://www.elpodio.com/
http://www.podcast.com.ar/
http://www.podcastinguatemala.com/
Sources of Content: A Warning
Podcasts and vodcasts are easy and inexpensive to
create
Anyone can and does publish them
Files containing adult content, extreme views, and
inaccurate information are common
As with all online content, instructors must be
cautious
Sources of Content: Suggestions
For many classes, instructor- and student-created podcasts
have greater value than published files
Appropriate content is still difficult to find
Advanced or Superior proficiency level required for
comprehension of most published files
Be aware of student Internet access limitations if iPods or MP3
players are not used
Dial-up service impedes access to many podcasts because
of file size
Instructor- or student-created podcasts should be brief
Encourage use of school or university computers or burn
files to CD
How can my students and I
create podcasts?
Creating Podcasts and Vodcasts
Hardware needed for podcasts
Digital audio recorder and microphone
Or, computer plus microphone
Or, microphone built into computer if available
Computer to upload files
Hardware needed for vodcasts
Webcam or digital video camera
Computer to upload files
Creating Podcasts and Vodcasts
Software needed for podcasts
Application to download the digital file from the recorder
to the computer
Generally comes with the recorder
Application such as Audacity or Odeo to record directly to
the computer if no recorder is used
File conversion application, such as iTunes, if needed
www.apple.com/itunes, free download
RSS server software for subscriptions
Open-source applications such as Drupal, www.drupal.org
Server software would be managed by IT staff
Subscription capability is not required
Creating Podcasts and Vodcasts
Record the content
Save the audio at maximum quality
Convert the file to MP3 format using iTunes or
another application
Upload the MP3 file to a website or course
management server
Test the file on a computer and on any MP3
player
Creating Podcasts and Vodcasts
Software needed for vodcasts
Screen capture applications such as
Camtasia
Apple QuickTime Pro
Windows Movie Maker, comes with Windows XP
These applications allow you to “capture”
PowerPoints, digital video clips and photos, and
your audio in one file
Creating Podcasts and Vodcasts
For a tutorial on creating podcasts, see the Webmonkey
article “All the World’s a Podcast” by Michael Calore
http://www.webmonkey.com/webmonkey/05/52/index4a.h
tml
See also the Podcasting News article, “Make Your First
Podcast”
http://www.podcastingnews.com/articles/How-to-
Podcast.html
Incorporating podcasts into
your courses
Incorporating the Technology
Three ways to incorporate podcasts and
vodcasts into curriculum
Those available for subscription or download
online
Those created by the instructor
Those created by students
Incorporating the Technology
Previously published content
Individual podcast downloads or subscriptions
Authentic texts, generally for students at higher
proficiency levels
Regular or supplemental content for upper-
division courses
Interpretive communication activities
Current events, social,
political, cultural topics
Regional variations in
language for linguistics study
Go to
http://guisando.org/podcast/
for examples.
Incorporating the Technology
Instructor-produced content
More appropriate for Novice and Intermediate
proficiency levels
Community members, upper-level or nativespeaker students could provide content
Should be brief, with visual elements as
appropriate
Pronunciation exercises
Mini-lessons on grammar concepts
Listening comprehension exercises
Cultural content presentations
Incorporating the Technology
Student-produced content
Interpersonal and presentational activities
Interviews or other conversational tasks
Story telling
Songs
Readers’ theater
Radio shows, newscasts
PowerPoint presentations with audio
Student self-assessment
Podcasts allow students to evaluate their own
performances
Additional Resources
Best, June. (June 20, 2005). Duke’s Free iPod Program Has Mixed Results.
CNET News.com. Retrieved March 30, 2006 from
http://news.com.com/Dukes+free+iPod+program+has+mixed+results/21001025_3-5754005.html.
Blaisdell, Mikael. (2006). Academic MP3s: Is It Time Yet? Campus Technology,
March, 38-50.
Calore, Michael. (December 16, 2005). All the World’s a Podcast. Webmonkey.
Retrieved April 15, 2006 from
http://www.webmonkey.com/webmonkey/05/52/index4a.html.
(December 5, 2005). Duke Sees Growth in Classroom iPod Use. Retrieved April
15, 2006 from http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2005/12/ipodupdate.html.
Make Your First Podcast. Podcasting News. Retrieved April 16, 2006 from
http://www.podcastingnews.com/articles/How-to-Podcast.html.
Terdima, Daniel. (November 3, 2005). Stanford Using iTunes to Take Lectures
Global. CNET News.com. Retrieved March 30, 2006 from
http://news.com.com/Stanford+using+iTunes+to+take+lectures+global/21001041_3-5931232.html.
Questions?
Thank you!
Donna Shelton, [email protected]