Holes Podcast Assignment Sheet
A Head Start Video: How To Make a Podcast
Useful Web-sites: http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Podcasts#How_to_.22Podcast.22
PowerPoint Resources: Podcasts
Briefly, here are the main steps in recording and broadcasting a podcast:
1. Record the audio using recording software such as Audacity (free!) or Apple Computer’s GarageBand for a Mac. Students can also record via telephone for free at Gcast.com and Gabcast.com.
2. Edit using the recording software (Audacity or Garageband) to cut out anything you don’t want.
3. Add music and sound effects, make volume fades, and so forth. Free sound effects and samples are available at FindSounds and Sounddogs.
4. Compress the audio to an MP3 file. This makes your audio file smaller
5. Upload your file to a class web site or other host sites such as Podomatic or Podbean.com. The host will make your web page automatically!
When using sound effects and music in your podcasts, it is important to consider copyright and terms of use. Most podsafe music is licensed under Creative Commons, which allows educators and others to use music as long as they give attribution.
Some ideas for class-produced podcasts are:
1. Interviews: Students can talk to people who use science in their jobs.
2. History:”This day in science history.”
3. Podcast drama: A recorded version of a classroom skit.
4. Pet podcast: Give kids a chance to talk about biology and nutrition using observations of their pets
5. Outdoor observations: Use cell phones or a portable recorder to note observations during urban science walks.
6. Where in the World: Submit a podcast to this worldwide geography quiz show – http://www.intelligenic.com/where/.
In the resources below we’ve included links to web sites that will be helpful sources as you create classroom podcasts and to other sites that provide science news and information in podcast format.
RESOURCES ABOUT PODCASTING
KidCast
A community of educators who are podcasting in K-12 schools. Books and workshops are available.
Education Podcast Network
Directory of podcasts produced by educators.
Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom
An article from Edutopia.org describes podcasting in a fifth-grade classroom.
Tips for Podcast Fans
Apple’s iTunes site gives helpful tips on creating and subscribing to podcasts.
Podcast for Teachers
Articles, blogs and podcasts about podcasting.
PodSafe Music Network and PodSafe Audio
Find music that is license-free and legal to put in a podcast in these two directories.
