Area 3 Writing Project Blog

test.mp3

Welcome to our podcasting workshop! As we explore resources, ideas, and uses for podcasting, please jot down (via comments to this post) your thoughts, questions, and suggestions for adding this Web 2.0 tool into your teaching practice.

Let’s start with some of the tools you will need:

• Sound editing software: Audacity, a free download. Here is a link to downloading instructions for both Audacity and the Lame encoder file.
• A microphone: Purchasing a microphone will be your only expense. There’s a good chance the built in mic on your computer will not be adequate for a quality production, but check it out before purchasing mics. You can go high-end with a Snowball microphone or take a trip to Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. , and find one for under $10.
• Someplace (server space) to host your podcast: For today’s workshop, we’ll be demonstrating how to upload your podcasts to Edublogs.org, the wonderful, wonderful, free blogging program for educators. During our summer workshop, we’ll introduce you to the California K12 High Speed Network’s edZone, with its unlimited storage space for teachers, as well as Gcast, which enables you to podcast from your cell phone.
• Copyright-free music: If you would like to add music for your intro/outro, sites such as Freeplaymusic.com and Jamendo offer free downloads. Be sure to check out Terms of Agreement for any copyright-free/royalty free sites.

Here are some additional resources from CLRN’s Brian Bridges:

• Adjusting Sound Settings
• Podcasting Resources and Websites

If you have podcasting resources you recommend I add to the sidebar under Podcasting, please let me know.

Thank you for joining us today!

*Note: Podcast image copied from http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com

Bee Foster led the kick-off workshop for the 2007-08 Super Saturday Technology Workshops. Eighteen teachers gathered for the October 27 event, held at in the Computer Lab at the Academic Surge. Following a lively rant about technology access and issues at school sites, the teachers delved into some of the organization tools available in MS Word, such as creating an interactive seating chart.

Resources from the workshop are posted at http://a3wp-tech.blogspot.com/.

Session Two will take place on December 15, 9:00-12:00, at the Academic Surge. The topic will be Using Free Google Suite.