Podcasting -An introduction

Podcasting is the next big thing to hit education. The word is derived from ipod and broadcasting. The ipod is just a way of listening to sound files, usually in MP3 format. It is just a way of compressing a large amount of music into a small trendy box that teenagers love to use. Traditionally, they download the music via a computer and store it on the i-pod.
However, it does not need to be music. Any audio file can be recorded and stored onto an i-pod.
Podcasts are usually small radio programmes that can be listened to at the computer or downloaded onto an i-pod or other mp3 player.
It makes it easy to create a radio programme and distribute (or broadcast) via an intranet.

Create radio interviews for languages or make a science documentary. You are only limited by your own imagination.
Traditional Radio
The radio is alive and well on the internet. There are some excellent programmes on the radio but how to record them? Use the Listen Again service on the BBC. Listen again allows you to broadcast the radio programme from the computer to your class. You can stop, rewind and play the programme.

You will need the Real player software. It should be installed but please check with our helpdesk if not.

The BBC is trailling podcasts and downloads.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/downloadtrial/

Most programmes, however, are available only for a week.

Feeds
True podcasting involves using a ‘feed’ but you don’t need to go to such complexity to undertand the basics. If you do want to know more use the following sites.
The wikipedia definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

The BBC have more informtion on podcasts.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/downloadtrial/podcast.shtml


Remember
You do not need an ipod!
Have a nice i-holiday!

About blogging

An introduction to blogging

"Every reader is a writer, every writer is a reader." --Jay Rosen


Blogging
What is blogging or blog? It is short for web-log. They started out as a diary that a gap student may have written on their travels. The student can settle in a café and put thir blog on-line for the relations back home to read. You can include pictures and text. Have a look at Boris Johnson’s blog http://www.boris-johnson.com/index.html

How to blog
You do not need to know how to create a web site. You register with a blog supplier (free)and then just fill in the on-line form with the details of the blog and hey presto – the whole world can read your ramblings.
One supplier is http://www.blogger.com/start . You can set up a blog in minutes.
There are some excellent instructions on how to set up a blog at http://www.geographypages.co.uk/blogs.htm

Blogs for education
There are many teachers who use blogs for their teaching. Look at the Geoblog pages site, at (http://www.geographypages.co.uk/blogpages.htm) supported by the Royal Geographical Society.

Plenty of ideas on blogging are here.given at http://anvil.gsu.edu/EduBlogInsights/2004/10/05#a668
some examples are
You might like to create a reflective, journal type blog to...

* reflect on your teaching experiences.
* keep a log of teacher-training experiences.
* write a description of a specific teaching unit.

You can encourage your students (either on your weblog using the comments feature or on their own weblogs) to blog...

* their reactions to thought-provoking questions.
* their reactions to photos you post.
* journal entries.
* results of surveys they carry out as part of a class unit.
* their ideas and opinions about topics discussed in class.

Caution
Be careful about publishing details of your school work on the web.
Keep the site secure – you do not have to make it public.
Do not mention the school name - it can be anonymous.
Pupils will use blogs to bully their classmates.

The Future
If you understand blogging you can now go on to read about pod-casting,

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