Schoolwires+and+Sound

This workshop looks at using sound files and how they can be used in your curriculum area. We will investigate podcasts, how to use them in the classroom, and ways to create them.


 * What is a podcast?** - A podcast is a pre-recorded audio program that's posted to a website and is made available for download so people can listen to them on personal computers or mobile devices. Each episode is an individual audio or video file. What makes podcasts different from other audio or video files you can download on the Internet is the fact that you can subscribe to what is known as a "feed" using an application that supports RSS, such as Apple's iTunes.


 * RSS** stands for Really Simple Syndication, but you can also think of it as "Really Simple Subscription". Subscribing to a podcast is very much like subscribing to a newspaper or magazine. You only subscribe once, and then new issues arrive on your doorstep on a set interval without you having to request them. Likewise, with a podcast you do not have to go out to a website each time you want to listen to or watch the files that make up the podcast. The RSS program automatically downloads those files for you.


 * Sample Podcasts:

[|History Classroom Podcasts] [|Science @ Nasa Podcasts] [|Museum of Science] [|Why? The Science Show For Kids] **
 * [|Math Concept Podcasts]**
 * [|Dan's Math Podcasts]**
 * [|The Poetry Foundation Podcasts]**


 * Some Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom:**

 Students reading their original poetry, short stories, or book reviews

Foreign language teachers narrating passages to be translated at home by students.

Biology students recording two minute overviews on specific genetic disorders.

Music students recording original compositions.

Interviewing notable people as part of a project

Produce a monthly or seasonal bulletin regarding class or school news

**Here's an example of a show outline:**

- Show intro monologue (who you are, what you're going to talk about): 30-60 seconds - Intro music jingle (repeat for each show so listeners identify the jingle with your show): 30-60 seconds - Topic 1: 2-3 minutes - Topic 2: 2-3 minutes - Interlude (music or break): 30 seconds - Topic 3: 2-3 minutes - Topic 4: 2-3 minutes - Closing remarks (thank audience, thank guests, talk about the next show): 1 minute - Closing music jingle (suggest same as Intro music jingle): 30-60 seconds


 * Handouts for Audacity and Podcasting:**