Podcasting Support in the OU

part of the Virtual Learning Environment Programme

Rhodri Thomas

Rhodri.Thomas@open.ac.uk

Podcasting advice

• ‘Learn about’ guide to Podcasting (with audio intro)http://epd.open.ac.uk/browseLAG.cfm?lagID=23&method=displayLAGDetails

• ‘Home setups’ – public advice available, also Mobile Technologies group

http://www.open.ac.uk/pc4study/ou-computer-use/using-audio.php

http://conclave.open.ac.uk/m-tech-group/index.php/Podcasting

• Hands-on – try some of the kit out in the Digilab (including use of software such as GarageBand and Audacity)

Podcast recording

Points to consider:• Sound

– avoid hard reflective surfaces and concussion/windsoft (but not scratchy) is good

• Noise– limit background machine hum, whirring fanssome ambient noise good for context

• Settings: high or low quality - affects the file size check input levels (not inaudible nor distorted)

Podcasting equipment

What standard? (examples):• Bronze

Handheld technologies Recording attachments/accessories Audio recording software

• Silver ‘Prosumer’ recording devices Digilab or LTS (Sound&Vision) loan

• Gold: ‘Broadcast quality’ LTS (Sound&Vision) studio time

Podcast delivery - VLE

VLE iPodcastmodule

One podcast channel per course

Podcast delivery/publicity

KMi Podcast Directory public/approved? iTunes U

Podcasting activity

• Write down a few prompt words which will help you describe your thoughts on either of the following:o How do you see podcasting supplementing teaching

and learning activities and/or the contact with your students?

o What would you like to achieve through being part of the eLearning Community and what would you like to see covered in future?

• Record a one minute reflection on this topic, and play back to see if this is OK – no time for editing today.

• We will then upload to the Podcast Directory as part of the eLC Podcasting session outputs.

Where next?

Educational Podcasting:• MCT review

http://kn.open.ac.uk/workspace.cfm?wpid=8306• University of Leicester IMPALA project

http://www.impala.ac.uk/ http://www.atimod.com/podcasting/index.shtml

• iTunes U http://itunes.open.ac.uk/ http://www.open.ac.uk/use/