Rise of the Pod People

by Rebecca M.

"Many technology trends come and go. Others create a big splash and then fade to the background. Others seem to come out of nowhere...and then change the world. I would place podcasting into that last category" (Stephens, 2007, p.54).

[edit] Introduction

[edit] History

Podcast Wallpaper by Flickr user[1]

Podcasting was created for one man to share his gifted radio voice through a blog forum. Now, a plethora of people communicate via podcasting on any given topic, and the number of people podcasting is continually rising. Christopher Lyndon, a television and radio personality, remembers the birth of podcasting because he was there at its conception in 2003 along with Dave Winer, a brilliant Web standards architect. In Lyndon's words, "Winer says the first podcast in human history was the interview I recorded with him in July 2003 and posted on Bob Doyle's server at skyBuilders.com. It was the stream of subsequent RSS-fed interviews on my blog that landed in Adam Curry's iPod in Europe and fired the imagination that launched iPodder" (Doyle, 2005, p. 33). Dave Winer, Christopher Lyndon, and Bob Doyle put their creative minds together to create Lyndon's audio blog. Adam Curry then wrote software to automatically download archived shows from the Web into his iPod so that he could listen to his favorite talk shows, including Lyndon's shows. RSS feeds were adjusted to include audio attachments, and people could download podcasts into their portable recorders and listen to them anywhere, anytime (Doyle, 2005, p. 33). By 2005, podcasts were mainstreamed; BBC started radio podcast programs, President George W. Bush's weekly radio addresses were available as podcasts, and many other organizations, including libraries, started to podcast in order to reach a broader audience (History of Podcasting). A Google search for podcasting in 2005 produced 2 million hits (History of Podcasting); now it generates 17 million hits.

[edit] Definition

So, what is a podcast?

PC Magazine defines a podcast as:

(iPOD broadCAST) An audio broadcast that has been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer. The pod in podcast was coined from iPod, the predominant portable, digital music player, and although podcasts are mostly verbal, they may contain music.

Using the RSS 2.0 syndication format, podcasts are made available to subscribers just like news feeds. The client program that captures the audio feeds and delivers them to the music player is a media aggregator (a podcatcher) such as Juice.

[edit] How Podcasts Enhance High School Library Media Centers

[edit] Uses of Podcasts in High School Library Media Centers

Click here to listen to an audio book podcast sample I created from Pride & Prejudice, a book in the public domain. The music in the podcast is an arrangement of Chopin's "Grand Waltz Brilliant Opus 18," composed by Dave Greendale and published by Freeplaymusic. This podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 United States license.

Many school media specialists create podcasts to help patrons access library resources efficiently. Others create recordings of book reviews, news reports, speeches by visiting authors, and book club promotions. School media specialists continually find new ways to incorporate podcasts into students' educational experiences and are in a perfect position to engage classroom teachers in podcasting as well. Judy Hauser, an information media consultant, sees great potential in using podcast technology: "We want the educators to know that students can make announcements, read their own stories, interview people, and do other kinds of audio shows, and turn them into a Podcast so that they are learning technology skills along with other assignments" (Stephens, 2007, p. 55). School Library Journal's podcasts are a good resource for school media specialists; the topics include poetry readings, technical support, author interviews, and more.

[edit] Teachers, School Media Specialists, Staff

Teachers and school media specialists can create dynamic curriculum incorporating technology like podcasts. Project-based learning engages students on multiple levels and posting students' podcasts on a school website creates a wider audience for student work. Students learn important skills while creating podcasts; they "learn to research, write, develop vocabulary, speak effectively, manage time, solve problems, and grab attention" (Eash, 2006, p. 17). Podcasts also provide differentiated instruction for auditory learners. Jeanne Halderson, a seventh grade teacher, shares how she incorporates podcasting in her teaching curriculum, the educational benefits of podcasts, and how her students respond to podcasting projects in her Meeting Standards with Podcasting interview. She uses podcasting in science, history, and English classes. The Education Podcast Network provides a valuable resource to teachers; it compiles education, student and class, and subject-specific podcasts to create an easy podcast directory for educators.

Wise educators carefully plan how to incorporate podcasting in libraries and classrooms. Learning in Hand provides many helpful resources and tutorial links for educators. Consulting with other educators who use podcasting and using successful lesson plans, such as Casting a Wide Net: Writing and Producing a Class Podcast, are helpful for beginners. Educational organizations often post helpful lesson plans as well, such as Podcasting - Sharing Your Ideas About Featured Topics and Issues, a lesson plan provided by PBS TeacherSource. School media specialists and teachers will need to provide adequate training for students prior to assigning a podcast project and to be prepared to troubleshoot throughout the project. Posting links to podcast tutorials on the school website will help students become more independent in the podcasting process. Before students search for voice, music, or audio sources, it is imperative to teach them about copyright policies and accurate fair use interpretations. Creative Commons provides a helpful Podcasting Legal Guide that is a good resource to share with students.

[edit] Podcasts Online: A Starting Point

Exposing students to professionally created podcasts is an easy way to engage them in topics they might not usually read about, such as current events or space exploration. Regularly including podcasts in classroom experiences will help students to become more comfortable with podcast formats and encourage them to access the many podcast resources available online. Listening to a variety of podcast shows will stimulate students' creativity, which will help them create their own innovative podcasts. Posting links to recommended podcasts on a library media center's website is a great way to encourage students to explore podcasts and actively participate in a learning community. A simple Google search will uncover a wealth of podcasts appropriate for high school education. A short list of interesting podcasts is included below, but it is only a small representation of podcasts available online.

My Podcast Desktop by Flickr user[2] CastRoller offers a way to continually update your desktop background with podcast logos.

• NASA's podcasts include topics such as Solar System, Universe, Earth, and Student Opportunities.

• BBC Radio podcasts cover a wide range of topics including art, drama, history, news, current events, religion, ethics, science and sports.

• NPR podcasts include topics such as news, politics, business, people and places, health and science, books, music, and arts and culture.

• Red Studio podcasts, sponsored by New York's Museum of Modern Art, posts podcasts by artists, museum staff, visitors, and teens that show different perspectives on works of art.

• The History Channel podcasts offer a fascinating array of podcasts on history topics.

• Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day podcast is a fun way to increase your vocabulary.

• The Discovery Channel's video podcasts cover topics including animals, adventure sports, planet Earth, technology, space, and history.

• The New York Times podcasts include Political Points: On the Presidential Campaign, Music Popcast, and Book Review.

• The White House podcasts includes White House news, presidential speeches and remarks, presidential weekly radio addresses, and White House press briefings.

• The Biography podcasts focus on the life stories of prominent and historical figures.

• Nature podcast provides current highlights in science relating to any aspect of nature, from medicine to astronomy.

[edit] Students

Jeanne Halderson's seventh grade students feel that podcasting has impacted their academics in positive ways. Her students report that podcasting helps them work in groups, develop expressive speaking voices, learn to write creative sentences and use engaging, descriptive words (Meeting Standards with Podcasting interview). Robert Rozema, assistant English professor at Grand Valley State University, teaches methods courses in the secondary English education program. In his article "The Book Report, Version 2.0: Podcasting on Young Adult Novels" Rozema describes several creative podcasts his students created that were based on young adult novels. One of Rozema's students wrote at the end of a podcast project, "Podcasting could reach out to a lot of students who aren't necessarily the good students because it's giving them so many choices. They get to choose what they say about the book, what music to use, the pacing, the tone....The podcast would be my number one alternative to the book report" (Rozema, 2007, p. 36).

Hauser points out, "Media specialists have found that young students love to record their voices almost as much as they love to use technology," (2007, p. 47) and she suggests several ideas for student podcasts:

• Interview visiting authors, teachers, and other students
• Record morning announcements
• Practice foreign languages
• Record their own stories or poems
• Record comments during field trips
• Discuss topics taught in class

[edit] Case Study: Parkrose High School Library Media Center

Picture of one of the video podcasts posted on Parkrose HS Library Media Center's website.

Stephanie Thomas, a school media specialist at Parkrose High School Library Media Center, started podcasting as an instructional venue; she created video podcasts to help students access library resources and conduct research. When she realized the potential for library podcasting to move beyond simply instructional topics, she envisioned a book club combined with podcasting and started a Bookcasting Club.

Thomas encourages the BookCasting Club members to exercise their creativity and take initiative in the production process. Students choose the book they want to talk about; the book must be one they have read or are reading. Students take charge of writing their own scripts and recording the podcasts. Thomas then uses Snaps Pro to capture a picture of the book cover that pertains to each podcast and posts the podcasts on Parkrose High School Library Media Center's website. She introduces students to the technology needed for podcasting, and the students quickly become independent because they feel comfortable with technology. They do, however, struggle with recording their voices because it feels intimidating, like "giving a speech in class." Thomas sometimes lets students work in other rooms with a laptop to record in privacy and encourages the students to record several times until they are satisfied with the result.

When I interviewed Thomas in April 2008, I asked her how she sparked student interest in the BookCasting Club. The first group members were students she affectionately refers to as "the library posse," a group of teenagers who love hanging out in the library. Through student recommendations, flyers, and cafeteria announcements, Thomas stirred up even more interest in the BookCasting Club. She even set up a bookcasting station in the library with a laptop set up behind a curtain so students could try recording their voices and experiment with the podcasting process. Another of Thomas's innovative marketing strategies is to advertise an iPod nano contest. Students can earn raffle tickets by participating in podcasting and possibly win an iPod nano from the random drawing.

According to Thomas (personal communication, April 2008), the BookCasting Club members consistently report that they genuinely want to be in the BookCasting Club; some of them say that they find themselves reading more because of BookCasting. Thomas shares their enthusiasm: "Web 2.0 technologies and podcasting have opened up a whole new world of access. Librarians will continue to embrace and use these new forms of technology as a way to market our services, communicate amongst our peers and our clients, and to provide on-the-go access. Libraries have always been the center of the community and the school, and we intend to keep it that way. Utilizing these technologies as we see fit will ensure our relevance in the present and future. It doesn't hurt to maintain the cool factor as well" (Thomas, p.2).

[edit] Interviews with High School Library Media Specialists

[edit] Dryden Middle School/High School Library Media Specialist: Andrew J. Dutcher

I interviewed Andrew J. Dutcher, Dryden School's middle school/high school library media specialist, on April 21, 2008. His detailed, thoughtful answers to my questions shed light on the educational value of podcasting. The podcasts include a wide range of topics, including the educational applications of podcasting, microbiology, the value of the arts, and poetry readings. Check out these dynamic podcasts on Dryden Middle School/ High School Library Media Center's website. The interview transcript provides a backstage glimpse into the processes of Dryden's successful podcasting shows.

[edit] Whitney Point High School Library Media Center Specialist: Jeff Detrick

I also interviewed Jeff Detrick, Whitney Point high school's library media specialist, on April 21, 2008. His candid descriptions of student involvement in the creative processes of podcasting are helpful. Some of the podcasts are structured like book talks; students express their opinions about certain books or give a summary of the book. Other podcast topics revolve around the library and poetry. Check out these fun podcasts on Whitney Point High School Library Media Center's website. The interview transcript gives an inside look into why Jeff Detrick decided to start student podcasting projects, and the educational value as well as the challenges of podcasting.

[edit] Getting Started with Podcasting

Roscoe Considers Recording a Podcast by Flickr user[3]

Anyone can create a podcast. The equipment needed for podcasting is minimal: a computer and a microphone. Most newer computers are equipped with audio recording hardware, and free software is available online. Audacity is an open source application that is available for Macs or PCs and is relatively easy to use. Audio files can be recorded in Audacity and saved in a variety of file formats, including the standard podcast file format, MP3. Check out several helpful Audacity tutorials before you begin recording. Some Mac users prefer Garageband, an Apple application that provides a greater array of features.

Once you are set with hardware and software, the fun part begins. As you plan your podcast, browse through open source music websites to find background music for your podcast. To start your search, check out Freeplay Music, ccMixter, and Jamendo. For sound effects, check out Soundsnap, Sound Project, and Free Sounds. Combining voice, music, and sound effects creates an engaging podcast that listeners will want to add to their RSS aggregators.

After creating your MP3 file, save it to a server, create your podcast feed, publish your podcast feed, transfer your podcast RSS file to your webserver, and add your site to a podcast directory, such as Podcast.net and Podcast Directory. For more detailed information about this process, check out Tinkernut's How to Create a Podcast video tutorial.

[edit] Legal Issues

Chris Kretz's article "Podcasting in Libraries" points out the legal, technical, and conceptual questions that need to be addressed before beginning the podcasting process. Kretz explains that "podcasting is not broadcasting and does not require a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license" (Kretz, 2007, p.43), but that it does carry "legal implications for the library in regard to such issues as copyright, libel, and slander" (Kretz, 2007, p.43).

Kretz advises podcasters to obtain permission from podcast contributors (Kretz, 2007, p.43):

1. Speakers to record and redistribute their presentations

2. Authors and artists to use any of their works on a podcast (both audio and video)

3. Music copyright holders

[edit] Steps to Creating a Podcast: A Quick Summary

Podcasting Equipment; picture by Flickr user the scottish podcaster[4]

Jason Van Orden created several helpful podcast tutorials to lead people through the planning, producing, publishing, and promoting process of creating a podcast. View his How to Podcast tutorial for more information.

1. Plan

• Purchase a microphone and download audio recording software.
• Plan your podcast format and content. Search for music and sound clips.

2. Produce

• Record the voice narration and upload the music and sound clips into your audio recording application.
• Mix, splice, and play with the timing of the narration, music, and sound clips.

3. Publish

• Create an MP3 file.
• Upload your podcast to a server.
• Create your podcast feed.
• Publish your podcast feed.

4. Promote

• Add your site to a podcast directory and search engine.

[edit] Conclusion

Podcasting is a technology easily available to educators. It requires minimal hardware, and the software is available online for free. Many podcasting tutorials are available for teachers, librarians, and students to walk them through each step of the process. Podcasting teaches valuable speaking, writing, and technology skills that will prepare students to creatively voice their ideas. Dr. Tyson, in his interview with Apple Inc., described how Mabry Middle School teachers use podcasting as "the carrot to get the kids involved" (An Administrator's View on Podcasting). Podcasting is a powerful way to captivate students' interest in any school subject and encourage them to take initiative in their learning.

[edit] References

Doyle, B. (2005). The first podcast. EContent, 28(9), 33.

Eash, E. (2006). Podcasting 101 for K-12 librarians. Computers in Libraries, 26(4), 16-20.

Hauser, J. (2007). Media specialists can learn web 2.0 tools to make schools more cool. Computers in Libraries, 27(2), 6-8, 47-48.

History of podcasting. Retrieved April 10, 2008, from http://www.podcastblaster.com/history-of-podcasting.html

Kretz, C. (2007). Podcasting in Libraries. Library 2.0 and Beyond: Innovative Technologies and Tomorrow's User. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

Rozema, R. (2007). The Book Report, Version 2.0: Podcasting on Young Adult Novels. English Journal, 97(1), 31-36.

Stephens, M. (2007). All about podcasting. Library Media Connection, 25(5), 54-57.

Thomas, S. (2008). Accessibility beyond our walls: Using Web 2.0 and podcasting to teach off-campus. Librarians Beyond the Circ Desk: Innovative Librarianship Today. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dhtdnfbb_5g45hzk. In press.

[edit] Resources

[edit] Examples of Podcasts in High School Library Media Centers

• Creekview High School - The Unquiet Library of Creekview High School posts a variety of podcasts, from tutorials like How to Cite a Reference Article from the Gale Virtual Reference Library in NoodleBib to poetry readings.

• Dryden Middle School/High School has podcasts on the Educational Applications of Podcasting, Student Poetry, a Visitor Showcase, and an Audio Tour of the Library Media Center.

• Hopkinton High School & Hopkinton Middle School posts Isinglass Booktalk Podcasts.

• Parkrose High School posts their Bookcasting Club podcasts.

• San Mateo High School posts a variety of podcasts created by students.

• Silver Creek High School podcasts range from poetry slams to technology stories to book reviews.

• Teasley Middle School posts their Reading Raiders Book Club podcast.

• Whitney Point High School creates book, poetry, and other podcasts.

[edit] Images

• Podcast Wallpaper by Flickr user

• My Podcast Desktop by Flickr user

• Roscoe Considers Recording a Podcast by Flickr user

• Podcasting It's What We Do by Flickr user the scottish podcaster

• Parkrose LMC Lightning Thief book podcast example

[edit] Links

• Audacity is an open source recording application that is available for Macs or PCs and is relatively easy to use.

• Garageband is an Apple recording application.

• Freeplay Music is an open source music database.

• ccMixter is an open source music database.

• Jamendo is an open source music database.

• Soundsnap is an open source sound effects database.

• Sound Project is an open source sound effects database.

• Free Sounds is an open source sound effects database.

• Juice is a media aggregator.

• Audacity tutorials are a great place to begin in the podcasting process.

• How to Create a Podcast video tutorial by Tinkernut provides an overview of the podcasting process.

• How to Podcast tutorials created by Jason Van Orden will walk you step by step through the stages of the podcasting process.

• The Education Podcast Network provides a valuable resource to teachers; it compiles education, student and class, and subject- specific podcasts to create an easy podcast directory for educators.

• Learning in Hand provides many helpful resources and tutorial links for educators.

• An Administrator's View on Podcastingis a video of Dr. Tyson's interview with Apple Inc. Tyson describes how Mabry Middle School uses podcasting.

• Flickr is a public database of photos; many photos have a Creative Commons license that allows others to adapt and redistribute them.

• Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that enables you to modify your copyright terms to "Some Rights Reserved."

• Creative Commons Podcasting Legal Guide provides helpful descriptions of copyright and creative commons policies.