Adaptation Awards, Podcasting, and ComETS Preview and Discussion

Adaptation Awards, Adaptation Awards, Podcasting, Podcasting, and ComETSand ComETS

Preview and Discussion

Adaptation AwardsAdaptation Awards

Engage Mission

. . . transform teaching and learning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison . . .

. . . by partnering with members of the campus community to adapt, create, and integrate new and emerging information technologies in support of sound pedagogical approaches.

Transform teaching and learning . . . with podcasting?

Adaptation Awards 2006Adaptation Awards 2006

Today’s topicsToday’s topics

1. What is Podcasting? (10 min) Jan2. 2006 Adaptation Awards (10 min) Chris3. Pilot Podcasts (10 min) Doug and Ron4. Teaching&Learning w/Podcasting (10 min) Cid5. Recording Audio for Podcasts (10 min) Dan6. Publishing and Subscription (10 min) Timmo7. Questions (20 min)

Discussion about ComETS involvement, pedagogical value of podcasting (30 min)

What is Podcasting?What is Podcasting?Definition (based on Wikipedia):

. . . publishing via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed of files (usually MP3s).

. . . uses RSS 2.0 XML format to deliver an enclosed file.

Listeners subscribe using RSS aggregator software (e.g. iTunes), which checks for and downloads new content automatically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_format%29

What is Podcasting?What is Podcasting?

Publish

1. MP3 files2. RSS/xml3. Server space

Subscribe

1. RSS aggregator (iTunes)

2. Internet connection

3. MP3 player


Campus Podcasters

BiochemistryMedical SchoolEarthwatchWCERLaw School

Other Campuses

DukePurdueU MissouriEveryone!


learning supplements

tips

announcements

Q & A

exam review

audio files

bio sounds

music

lectures

colloquia

student podcasts


Dates and deadlines• October 2005: website ready, postcards

sent, articles published• November 30: Application deadline• Spring 2006: awards transferred to

recipients• Spring, summer, fall 2006 – recipients

implement their proposed projects; ongoing project support; ongoing evaluation

• March 1, 2007: Summary report published


Application form on websitehttp://engage.doit.wisc.edu/workWithUs/adaptation.html

• Can be easily completed by applicant and submitted on line

• Award: $800 (may include tech store gift certificate) and 10-12 hours of support

http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/workWithUs/adaptation.html


Criteria for project selection• Application submitted by deadline• Uses podcasting in a timetable course• Consists of at least 3 proposed episodes• Includes a faculty or instructional staff

member• Must provide a text transcript (accessibility)

* Projects are RARELY rejected** Projects are sometimes invited

Adaptation AwardsAdaptation AwardsSelection process• Applications reviewed several times during submission phase

• Applicants contacted for any clarification

• Awardees notified in December

• Do you want to know if there are recipients in your department/school/college?

• Updates: ComETS L@UW site? Engage site? Other?

•What else would you like to know?

Teaching & LearningTeaching & Learning

Podcasting is a new medium

Podcasting is Not Radio or TiVO

Specialized message for audience who chooses it, expects it

Personal, private listening experience


Audio learning advantages and considerations

Auditory materials (non-verbal sounds, music, poetry)Convenience - podcast something done live anyway (lectures, guest speakers)Podcast-Specific, specialized materials


How to design an effective podcast

Keep short (8 - 10 minutes)Provide topics that matter to studentsSpeak naturally, as in conversationDon’t need elaborate production techniques

Pilot PodcastsPilot Podcasts

Psychology 202• Negative Reinforcement by Jeff Henriques

Office hour• Gordon Smith, Law School


Learning Support Services Recording Studio


German Department Podcast• Das treffende Wort

Course/department• 3rd semester German• Focus on idiomatic language

Recording/editing• Voice acting• Collaborative Editing

IP rights• creativecommons.org


Folklore Program• Traditional Stories from Southwest

Wisconsin

Course/department• Folklore 540 - Local Culture and Identity in

the Upper Midwest

Recording/editing• Framing an original field recording

IP rights• creativecommons.org


URLs• http://lss.wisc.edu• http://german.lss.wisc.edu/podcast• http://csumc.wisc.edu/MediaLib/podcast

Questions?• [email protected]• [email protected]

http://lss.wisc.edu/

http://german.lss.wisc.edu/podcast

http://csumc.wisc.edu/MediaLib/podcast

mailto:[email protected]








Recording AudioRecording Audio

A good audio recording: low background noise and a clearly audible, easily distinguishable recording of the subject.

This holds true whether you are recording a lecturer for a class, or frog calls for research

How do I get a good recording?How do I get a good recording?

Select a good location.Use a microphone – don’t use built in

microphones whenever possible.Use appropriate hardware.Monitoring the recording / levels.Practice / scripting

Equipment for loan and campus facilitiesEquipment for loan and campus facilities

Resources and support on campus for faculty to use:Biology New Media Center – has both equipment for loan (microphones, recorders) and staff to help with audio editing.Learning Support ServicesCollege Library Media CenterCenter for Instructional Materials and Computing

Selecting a Good LocationSelecting a Good Location

Find a location that has low noise levels and has a lockable door.

Computers, air conditioning, and fans are problems.

Background noise can be alleviated to some extent by using an appropriate microphone or in post production when you are editing. Best avoid it altogether!

Monitoring the RecordingMonitoring the Recording

Make sure you have headphones.No monitoring ability? Take test

recordings before you begin your program recording.


Check for level meters. You want the meters near the red

without going into it. This is the 0 dB marker. Going over this will cause clipping and distortion of your recording.


Audio recorded too hot

Hot audio “fixed” - Note the quotes

Audio recorded from second camera microphone

“Fixed” audio recorded from second camera microphone

I make mistakes! When a track gets too loud it over saturates and clips, resulting in poor sound reproduction:

Use a MicrophoneUse a Microphone

OmniCardioidShotgunLavaliereMic stand

Use appropriate equipmentUse appropriate equipment

The right combination of mic and equipment is important.

Borrow equipment if you need to.Better quality audio captured at the

beginning means an easier time creating a podcast you’re happy with.

Don’t use built in sound cards on laptops if possible - poor quality.

Consider a portable mp3 recorder for lectures.

Use appropriate equipmentUse appropriate equipment

Built in laptop with low cost mic.Built in laptop with good mic.Good audio card with low cost mic.Good audio card with good mic.


Audacity – FREE audio editor for both Windows and Macintosh OSX.


SoundForge – Audio editor for Windows with more features (ex.noise reduction) – can be used at the BNMC.


Acid and Garageband – Music creation tools that non-musicians can use.


Bundles were created to try and make it easier for faculty to buy additional equipment for creating podcasts.These are not final – we would appreciate any input COMETS has on these.

Techstore Bundles


Quality-comparison

Bundle 1: $12

Low-cost mike, computer sound card

Bundle 2: $300

Low-cost mike, external sound card


Quality-comparison

Bundle 3: $200

voice mp3 recorder

Bundle 4: $500

better mike, professional mp3 recorder

Talking points for DiscussionTalking points for Discussion

How do you view the educational value of podcasting?How do you think most faculty outside of the fields of music and language will view podcasting?What roles would you like to play to assist faculty with podcasting projects?How do we begin to better understand the potential of this new medium?

Documents

Adaptation Awards, Podcasting, and ComETS Preview and Discussion