Networked Learning/Podcasting

Podcasting is the distribution of media files, such as audio and videos, over the Internet using a type of web feed. Listeners subscribe to the podcast's web feed for automated download to mobile devices and personal computers. The benefit of a podcast web feed over a standard web feed is that once the user subscribes the feed their podcast reader will automatically download any new media that is offered by the distributer.

Generating a podcast involves creating the media, usually an audio file using a free audio recorder and editor like Audacity, then uploading that file to a server such as the free and unlimited media storage space Our Media, announcing the file in a blog such as the popular and free Blogger, and enhancing that blog's web feed into a podcast using a free service such as Feedburner. To subscribe to a podcast and have media automatically downloaded to a portable device or personal computer you must use "podcatching" software such as the free MyPodder.

Uses for podcasting

• Teachers record lectures and distribute the audio for listening to on portable digital audio players.
• Students subscribe to a range of lectures they might otherwise not have been able to attend
• Students record their own audio and make it available in a podcast for their peers and/or teacher's assessment
• Students create a podcast for the subject they are studying

More information about Podcasting

• Guide to podcasting using Free Libre Software for windows users
• http://www.netsquared.org/blog/britt-bravo/7-ways-nonprofits-can-use-podcasts
• http://www.podcastingnews.com/articles/Make_Podcast_Blogger.html
• http://epnweb.org/