Principles and Pedagogy: The 2 P’s of Podcasting in the Information Technology Classroom
published in the proceedings of ISECON, Nov. 2006. (http://isedj.org/isecon/2006/3354/index.html)

Hey Everyone,

I was recently inteviewed by Linda Briggs of Campus Technology.  We had a conversation about podcasting in education and I think she did an excellent job taking my minutes of rambling and consolidating the responses.

Read the article online here:

Linda L Briggs, “Podcasting and Education,” Campus Technology, 1/16/2008, http://www.campustechnology.com/article.aspx?aid=57399

Though I’m not updating this blog very regularly lately, as I get emails that I think I should share or questions that others may have, I’ll post them. Here is an email I recently received from a professor:

I use podcasts in a way that I don’t think anyone else is doing: as a follow-up to each weekly class session.

In the past, I composed an email to all students in a class (one distribution list to ease the hassles), and typed out my follow-up comments. With the advent of podcasting and the acquisition of numerous technologies to produce the podcasts, I started turning the follow-up, text-based emails into podcasts.

The first term I produced them, I simply attached them to the email (even included the text of the podcasts as a demonstration of meeting the needs of all learners; in this case, hearing impaired students could get the content via the text version). Students needed to have some type of software to listen, but that never presented itself as a problem

Then, the University rolled out an update of our Sakai-based course management system that included a podcast syndicator that could not be simpler! I simply upload the file using the same procedures I’d use to upload a document for student access in the CMS. Syndication is automatic and the podcast page includes links to subscribe. I also provide my students a step-by-step guide to subscribing to the RSS feed in their own copy of iTunes. Those who wish not to subscribe via iTunes or other RSS podcatcher can access and listen via the course management system just by clicking on the posted file.

I no longer provide the text of the podcast, but continue to type the script from which I read. If I were to have a hearing-impaired student, I’d have the text available. I have experience in radio news, so reading from a script is my preferred methodology (though I concur with those who say such a method often leads to a stilted voice).

The content of the podcast is the same each week: 1) a review of the class session, 2) a preview of the next session, 3) a reminder of tasks to be accomplished between sessions, and 4) a “tech tip” that is not covered/discussed in class. I also tell them I reserve the right to add additional material (specifically, things I may have forgotten to mention in class) and try to impress upon them the need to listen to the whole podcast.

One term, I did the podcasts the first few weeks of class and then required students to work in teams of 2 or 3 and come to my office to record the follow-up podcast. I provided the script and helped with production. Students enjoyed the process, but it wasn’t “their own” as the content was all provided by me. It left little room for their creativity.

Now, podcasts are a regular part of the course curriculum. Students write and produce their own podcast based on one or more standards from the Indiana State Standards for grades K-5.

Student feedback on the follow-up podcasts varies: some say it’s very helpful (mostly non-traditional students); others are ambivalent to it’s importance. One student found her husband enjoyed the podcasts even though he wasn’t in the class! (I’d have to consider that an outlier were I doing actual research here . . . ).

Hope you find this information a useful and different perspective.

I do know of a few professors who are using the podcast to augment their class (I talk about it in other posts). I do like the idea, however, of the students being made to produce one on their own.

I was recently asked by Dennis Lembree, the founder of web development company CheckEngine USA which specializes in web usability, standards, and accessibility, to be a guest on Web Axe: a podcast and blog featuring practical web design accessibility tips.

Podcast #59: Jeffrey Frey on Accessible Podcasts

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Dennis speaks with Jeffrey Frey and discusses accessible podcasting, guidelines on audio/video web accessibility, and Jeff’s role at Rice University.

Jeff is the Web Services Manager for Enterprise Applications in the Information Technology Department at Rice University. He provides technology solutions for faculty, staff, and students on campus as well as teaches new technology courses at the School of Continuing Studies. He is available for podcasting consulting, is involved in the creation of podcasts for businesses and non-profits, and has owned a technical consulting company and an audio/video recording studio.

Download Web Axe Episode 59 (Jeffrey Frey on Accessible Podcasts)

Links from Jeffrey Frey’s Blog

• Section 508 Compliant Podcasting and Undue Burden
• Section 508 Compliant Podcasting
• Podcast Captioning
• Accessible Podcasts

Transcription and other related services

• Connecticut Secretary
• Noble Transcription Services
• CastingWords
• enablr
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking

I received the following comment on one of my posts last week:

Jeff,

You have been a lot of help in the past. I finally got my podcast Losing Weight After Baby.com up and running on Libsyn. So far we have 11 shows. I have registered it on every directly I know of. According to the Libsyn stats we get about 100 downloads per a week.
How would you increase the exposer the show gets?

Thanks again,
James

RSS Link
iTunes Link

Good question.

Post to Websites, Forums, Podcasts, and Blogs:
First, I would do what you’re doing now. You posted a comment to my blog with the link to the rss feed and the itunes link. As long as you just don’t post the links, but ask something, say something meaningful, or stroke someone’s ego (i.e. “You have been a lot of help in the past.”… you won’t get spam filtered or deleted. Also, most blogs screen out more than two links, so be cautious about adding comments with three links on a blog. Find sites, forums, podcasts, and blogs about your subject. In your case, there are plenty of pregnancy sites / blogs that you could get into where the women will think about you later, and plenty of newborn sites that you could get on. Take a week and just find all of them. Dedicate yourself to posting meaningful and helpful posts on forums about your subject. Also, exchange audio promos or links with podcasters around the same subject. Just record an intro to another persons podcast, and mail it to them. Tell them you are willing to do the same on yours. Lastly, it goes without saying to get in all the podcast directories you can find.

Create a Press Release:
Press releases are a great way to get picked up by online media. Companies like PRWeb or PRNewswire can help you out with that. They’ll even let you pick and choose markets and sites for the press release to be distributed to. After doing this, you will see a big influx of listeners. Make sure you have a good set of shows (11 is good), the last one is amazing, and your last 3 or 5 have been fairly consistent (or else you’ll lose that initial influx).

Distribute Content Everywhere:
I’m now seeing the huge benefits of distributing your content to as many places as possible. Speaking in general terms, if your podcast is video, put it on youtube, google, veoh, etc. If audio, make a 30 second video promo of your podcast (it could just be pictures, an explanation, etc… BUT… it’s better to do something useful) and put that promo out there for everyone to see. The last still frame should say something like “Learn more at http:…” and give them the link. If you can help 50 people out there on YouTube with a clip of something you talked about on your last podcast… do it. Then, drive them to your site by telling them where to get more help. There are companies like TubeMogul that will help you do this as well… you submit your video to them… and they post it all over the net.

I think these three things will get you started, and will get you a lot more listeners than you have now. Creating a press release is a one time thing, unless you change something drastically. The content distribution is just good practice and should become routine. I think the most time consuming, but maybe the most important, is the connections you can make with other sites, forums, podcasts, and blogs.

Good luck!

Included in the new Apple operating system, Leopard, is an application under the Utilities folder called Podcast Producer.  It’s an easy way to publish podcasts without going through a lot of the steps that you need to now with automated processing, encoding, tagging, uploading etc… it makes it very easy for anyone to publish a podcast.

What I haven’t quite figured out is why they wouldn’t allow the application to be fully functional without a server component as well.  Upon clicking the icon on the client, it immediately asks you for a server name.  This server will be used to publish to once the audio / video has been captured, or once you have designated a file that you want to use for the podcast.  Cancelling this screen takes you out of the applicaiton.

If you do desgnate a server location, username, and password, you can use a built in microphone or camera to record your file… say you’re done, complete a couple meta data fields, and the file is encoded, tagged, and put into an iTunes readable RSS feed on your server.  It’s that easy.

I think this is a GREAT tool for institutions, churches, small businesses, etc. that can put up their own Leopard server and want to easily publish podcast feeds to their website.  We’re just dabbling in this now, and you may be able to play with this more than I right now… but… I’m sure I’ll have updates for you on how we’re using it in the future.

Download the Podcast Producer Manual.

Links:

• Features list on the Apple website
• Info on theAppleBlog
• Go Direct from QuickTime
• Apple Support Forum for Podcast Producer

I just got a note from K12LEARN folks who seem to have a similar product to those that I’ve talked about for Higher-Ed, but focusing on K-12. Their “About Us” states that it’s cost-effective, though I haven’t contacted them yet about that, and they seem to have the same goals in mind as I do: enabling people to “utilize technology as a teaching and learning tool to it’s fullest extent.”

Check them out at http://www.k12learn.com.

As an update to this post: GHEC Presentation, the video is now online at http://www.vbpresenter.com/kbeedon/frey.

Welcome to the world of broadcasters. Instead of a portable recorder, a mic cable, and a mic… just combine them all into one unit. The HHB FlashMic does just that. You can read the specs off the website just as easily as I could copy them here, and don’t forget to search for a good review. Word is, it’s great for video podcasting… you can use your camera for the video and the microphone for audio. Upload them separately into your favorite editor, and sync them. You get pristine audio without a wire or wireless system. Plus, you can use it while the camera isn’t rolling. Getting interview material, voice overs, ambient noise, etc. quickly and easily in the same track.

Go to http://www.hhb.co.uk/flashmic

[click for larger image]

I got this question in an email:

For personal use only, I want to record rock bands that I see in clubs. I want something small that I can have on my body. I’d prefer to be able to use built-in microphones only but I’d be willing to do one external microphone if that would make a dramatic difference. I’m not looking for perfect recordings but I need something that would not distort at the high sound volumes. I just want to be able to later again listen to some incredible music performances that I witness in person. So, looking for recommendations from you for what would be appropriate.

Besides the obvious response of “you’re not allowed to record concerts” a mention of “copyright” and a warning that you could be fined if you try to do anything with the recording… here’s the scoop:

There are a bunch of great recorders out there that will do the trick. See:

• this post
• and this one
  
• here’s another
  
• and one more :)
  
• and search portable podcast recorder on the blog for more

The thing you have to do though, is use an external mic. Most built in microphones on recorders cannot handle the extremes of a concert (i.e. either very loud music and/or distance away from speakers and other people around talking/screaming).

If you want to do it right, I have a friend who swears by this little unit: Sony MZM200 HiMD Recorder, (add it to the list) but again, any recorder that you feel comfortable with that has a mic in will do. The important thing is the microphone.

Both omnidirectional and cardioid mics are capable of recording very loud music if you are close the speakers and not much is going on around you. If you’re back from the speakers, say 20 to 50+ feet, a cardioid would pick up less noise. If you will be even further back, 75+ feet, I’d go for a shotgun mic. I shotgun would be my pick for recording concerts… you can point it at the stage and be done with it.

I also know of people who carry a wireless mic around and clip it close to the sound source and walk away. The signal gets picked up by the mic and sent wirelessly to the recorder. When the speaker is done / concert is over, you go pick up the mic.

Whatever recorder or microphone you get, remember to always set the input levels yourself (don’t take the auto settings). Monitor the levels on the recorder to make sure it’s not getting overdriven or you’ll come out with a horrible recording. My advice is to set the levels at about 80% at the start of the concert and try not to touch it. Usually, a music set gets softer (which should be okay) and then louder… which would account for the other 20%. If you’re good with a mixer / editor afterward, then you can play with the levels between songs and normalize when you get home.

Hope this helps.

If you’re in the Houston area… I’m teaching another course at the Suzanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University… cool things to do online. :)

I do almost everything online, from wasting time watching tv, to doing research and making money.  As you all know, I also love educating people on technology.  So, why not teach a class to show people things you can do online?  I’ve picked 50 of the most asked about topics and my most loved things to do on the web, and will take students to a few websites per topic.  We’ll be finding a date and getting a divorce, eating better and creating a will.  I’ll also go through a bit of internet safety and how to block some of the not-so-fun sites online.

Four Thursdays, November 8-December 6, 2007, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (no class November 22)
Click here to see the official listing online and to register (space is limited).

A lot of studios pride them selves in having a ‘dead’ room. What’s that mean? 1 - it’s free and clear of ambient noise and 2 - it has enough treatments in it to soak up any sound made in the room (so as not to hear an echo).

When recording at home, sometimes it’s hard to get a dead room. Heating/AC vents, windows, neighbors, etc. all contribute to those ambient noises that you’re trying to keep out of your recording. You can also be the culprit with loose clothing, watches, a squeaky chair, computer fan, and even things like moving papers around.

I get questions all the time around the subject, and want to talk about how to make a live/dead room.

A completely dead room is great if you have a lot of equipment to put live sound back in (depending on the level). In most cases, it’s good to have a little bit of presence in your room to make the recording sound alive. The trick for making a live/dead room is curtains.

Hang curtain rods at the wall ceiling joint all around the room (like crown molding). Get the bar type that you can just thread rings onto. Buy curtains that extend from ceiling to floor, and buy enough curtains to wrap all the way around the room and buy them thick enough that they will trap sound coming at them, and keep sound from getting through to you (like say from a window or door).

“Open” the curtains and tuck them in the corners of the room when not recording or recording and needing a live room. The curtains in the corners will act as bass traps, but will leave the walls open for some genuine reverb. When you need a dead room, close the curtains… pulling them over doors, windows, wood furniture against the walls, pictures, etc. Once you understand your room a little better, you may want to close just one wall, partially close another, or open opposite facing walls depending on your microphone placement.

Of course, I always recommend auralex room kits for recording studios… but if you’re a home studio and use your room for multiple things like live recording, dead recording, and a game room :)… curtains are an easy and a relatively inexpensive way to treat your room.

Seldom do you get such a list of high quality vendors for podcasting in one place as here: http://www.newmediaexpo.com/hall2007.htm

Some of these you should recognize… there are others you should seriously check out.

Adobe
Ambrosia Software
American Recorder Technologies
Aphex Systems
Audioengine
audioMIDI.com
Beat9
Bias
Blogger & Podcaster Magazine
boxpopuli
Casgle
Edirol by Roland
Everyzing
FreeIQ.com
Gigavox Media
GIMP.tv
Google
Intellipodcast
iProng.com
Kiptronic
LapWorks
L.A. Podcasters
Liberated Syndication
Limelight Networks
lynda.com
MacDirectory
Marantz
MXL / Marshall Electronics
M-Audio
Noble Transcription Services
Nokia
NowLive.com
Odeo
Oneupweb / Podgarden
Orange County Podcasters
PaulColligan.com
Phonecasting.com
Podcast User Magazine
Podango
PodKive
Podtrac
Revver
RawVoice
Revolabs
Shure
Smidgits
Sound Ideas
Spodtronic
SQPN.com
SubscribeCast
Switchpod
TalkShoe
TechSmith
Tool Factory
TPSRadio.net
Trinity Audio Group
TubeMogul.com
ubroadcast.com
Ultimate Ears
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Wizzard Media
Broadcast Supply Worldwide
FeedBurner
iPodObserver.com
MacObserver.com

I’ve got a couple updates to my transcription service postings.

One is about  Kate Smalley of http://www.transcriptionservices.biz.  In my last trancription services post, I had said that her website didn’t seem to have enough info on it to tell if it was a reasonable service or not.  Since that time, I received a note from her along with sought out a few testamonies… all seem to point to the fact that she would be a consciencous transcriber for your podcasts.  Give her a call at 203-641-3739, go to the website listed above, or check out her other website at: http://www.connecticutsecretary.com.

The second is actually a couple people I met at the podcasting conference from http://www.nobletranscription.com.  I liked them and their service a lot.  There are a few big name production shops that you can go with for podcast transcription, but I’m coming to find that a small shop may take better care of you.  Why?  Because they get to know you, your voice, your podcast, and can start to transcribe to what you want… and not exactly what you said.  For those of us at educational institutions, the folks from noble also have an interesting discount rate of $0.99 cents per minute for students.

Intellipodcast (http://www.intellipodcast.com) appears to be an interesting product.  Billed as a solution for businesses, I’m supposed to be getting a demo shortly on how we might be able to use it at schools and universities.  From their website:

The mission for intellipodcast is to create a site where individuals can upload either narrative text, sound, or video for automated production into RSS feeds, blogs, podcasts or videocasts and upload to iTunes.

• Intellipodcast automates the entire process of podcasting and media sharing
• Everything is done from the intellipodcast website eliminating the need for experienced user technical knowledge

Apparently, a educational institution can purchase the software and implement it with a little help.  Allowing faculty, staff, and students to create and share media through blogs, instant messaging, image sharing… and of course podcasting.

I’ll let you know how the demo goes… email or comment if you have had any experience with Intellipocast.