What are Podcasts and Why Might You Want to Use Them?
Although many people refer to any digital audio/video media on a website as a “podcast”, the distinguishing feature of podcasting is the ability to distribute the podcasts over the Internet by syndication. While podcasts can be available through direct downloading from email and web sites, podcasting provides the options to syndicate, subscribe and automatically download new podcasts as they are published. Usually the downloaded podcast files are loaded on to a portable media player but can also be played on a computer system or other Internet-enabled appliance.
The video below provides an excellent introduction to podcasting from The Geezer on Vimeo:
How Can Podcasts be Used to Enhance Teaching and Learning?
For instructors, podcasts can be used to:
- Discuss a topic that you don’t have time to cover in class
- Interview an expert who can’t attend your class due to schedule or location
- Highlight key topics from a lecture, to be used by students as a review tool
- Share a personal experience or case study
- Record important parts of a lecture
For students, podcasts could also be used to:
- Present their views of a particular lecture
- Share completed group projects
Getting Started in Podcasting with Best Practices
We've identified ten 'rules of thumb' for creating quality podcasts. Take a look at the 10 Best Practices here.
Wondering How To Create An Audio File for Podcasting?
CTL Technology Services facilitates face-to-face workshops on this topic (check our Workshops page for details about sessions). However, if you want a basic overview, you may find it useful to consult this PDF document, "Creating Audio Files for Podcasting".
Want More Information?
We'll be augmenting this page during the next month. At the moment, you might be interested in Ruth Reynard's "Podcasting in Instruction: Moving Beyond the Obvious" published in Campus Technology. For a more technical focus on information about file formats for podcasts, check out Creating Content for iPod + iTunes.