Contrary to popular belief, you do not need an iPod or a Mac to create or listen to podcasts. You - yes, even you - can create and receive podcasts from the comfort of your own PC.
Why podcast? For more info on podcasting in the classroom, check out these articles.
You need 4 things to publish a podcast:
Step 1: The Audio File
•Use Audacity to create
your audio file.
•Export your file as an
.mp3.
Step 2: The RSS File
•Use Podifier
, an open-source podcast publishing tool to make your .rss file.
Be sure to check the Help menu on each page.
•Enter your feed
details and your file information (be sure that
you enter the file size in bytes, not Kilobytes).
•Enter your FTP
info, or choose to save the file to your computer and upload manually
(skip FTP).
•Podifier will then give
you the info on where the file was published or saved. (If
you get a nasty error box, you probably have not entered info correctly --
go back and check the help files for clarification.)
Step 3: The Host Site
•Most schools have space
on their web server for teachers and students. Your tech guys can help you
get set up for uploading.
•After you have uploaded,
be sure to run the RSS
Validator to check for errors in your .rss file.
Step 4: The Podcast Receiver
•Use Juice,
SourceForge's free, cross-platform podcast receiver. ( You could also
use iTunes.)
•Add a subscription
for podcasts that you want to have downloaded:
•Go to File >
Preferences to specify where to save your files, change media players,
etc.
•Juice comes with a Podcast
Directory, but here are a few more good ones. Fair Warning: not all of
these pods are "Rated G". Be careful about sending students to any
pod sites without checking them out first.
