Podcasting
From CTLpedia
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Podcasting
Project Summary: Podcasting is an initiative to provide consultation and support for podcasting intiatives on MCC's campus for the purposes of instruction and relative campus programs.
Project Goals
- Provide software and consultation for podcasting to enhance teaching and learning.
- Evaluate and implement Wordpress and the Podpress plugin for podcasting.
- Evaluate Apple iTunes University and its implementation for podcasting
Current Status
Podcasting in theory and practice is supported by the CTL. The primary contacts are Jeffrey Anderson for technology questions and Donna Gaudet for pedagogical issues. The more difficult hurdles to get around for newcomers exists on several levels:
- How to utilize audio material in a way that will engage learners
- Using technology to effectively create a well-produced end product that sounds good and is effective in its intended purpose.
- Teaching faculty how to be consumers and producers of podcasts including
- How to record and produce audio files
- How to publish audio files
- How to create RSS feeds
- How to consume RSS feeds
Currently many free open source initiatives and software packages exist for creating podcasts. The term Podcast got its name due to the popular iPod player made by Apple. Apple offers a workflow method and hosting service to house audio files and then expose them to would-be subscribers. This initiative is iTunes University. Maricopa Community College District supposedly has worked out a deal with Apple for use of its iTunes U initiative. Until that initiative for MCCD fully materializes, a free open source software package that supports web blogging and podcasting has been put into place. The components of this solution area are:
Together these products allow for the last major hurdle in the podcasting workflow: how to successfully publish audio files in a means both accessible to the casual user and also syndicate them so they can be accessed via an aggregation tool like the iTunes player software.
Relation to CTL Department Plan Initiatives
Project Staff
- Jeff Anderson adopted the use of the Wordpress and Podpress software for use in this initiative.
- Martin Lehner currently updates and maintains the application server that the software is hosted on.
- Jeff Anderson provides consultation on audio recording, editing and production in regards to producing audio files suitable for a podcast.
- Donna Gaudet facilitates the Podcasting Faculty Professional Learning Community which guides our thinking about how this will impact learning in specific disciplines
Project Timeline
- Project was initiated in Fall 2006 with the formation of the Podcasting FPLC.
- Jack Mullins, FPLC member and Journalism Faculty initiates a desire to host a podcast in tandem with the college newspaper sometime in Spring 2007.
Project Resources
- Staff time has been required to install and maintain the blogging and podcasting server.
- Staff time has been require to develop and deliver the best-use workflow for potential podcasters.
- Sever space has been required for Podcasting initiative until the fruition of iTunes U.
Project Outcomes and Future Directions
- A few faculty have desired not only to incorporate podcasting in their curriculum, but to be podcasters themselves.
- The CTL has incorporated podcasting through the use of its blog as a model.
- CTL is evaluting the potential impact an external hosting provider such as iTunes U on the podcating initiative.
