Comments on: Am I finally ready for podcasting?

By: technotuesday

technotuesday — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:22:00 +0000

MaryAnn–my thinking that it has to have a feed to be a podcast admittedly is just me, as I have found MANY other teachers who do the same thing….It’s just my own mindset, and one I will hold myself accountable for. The teacher I visited has GREAT content and should be loudly applauded for his accomplishments, and I hope I didn’t come across as ridiculing him. He is an awesome teacher who has definitely raised the bar for his school. I am just happy that I was able to help him make the next step, which he asked me to do, which is getting his podcasts to have an RSS feed. I also think that many educators don’t bother with this b/c they don’t understand the rss (even though it is not absolutely necessary.) I am hoping to share his rss feed when he is ready, as he is from a more affluent area in Horry county, and has many parents who would subscribe through podcast catchers (like iTunes.) I am not in an area where that is likely. He wants to take advantage of the tools, and in my opinion is a trailblazer for our area. So please know I am complimenting him, but also measuring his accomplishment against my own personal standard (which may or may not be fair.)

By: MaryAnn Sansonetti

MaryAnn Sansonetti — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:46:26 +0000

I have to disagree about the RSS making it a podcast.

“According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, a podcast is “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player,” but the generally accepted definition has expanded to include video as well as audio. Originally derived from a combination of “broadcasting” and “iPod ™,” the word was declared “word of the year” when it was added to the dictionary at the end of 2005. ” http://www.bbn.com/glossary/P

In this definition and many others I read there was no mention of RSS feeds making a podcast a podcast. Audioblogging as it was first called was digital audio files on the internet. What made them podcasts was the fact they could be downloaded from the internet and then uploaded to a mobile mp3 player.

Of course with the creation of RSS; finding, downloading, and listening podcasts is easier than ever. Not to mention, the wide audience you have with RSS. BUT just because someone has a site with download-able audio files that does not have an RSS feed does not mean its not a podcast. As long as that audio can be mobile it is a podcast.

The fact that you were speaking to a teacher who does create the audio and posts it … is great. He is trying to integrate which is more than I can say for a lot of the teachers I know. Maybe he’s not doing it with Web 2.0 tools but he is creating podcasts and trying… give him some credit for that!

By: mrgranito

mrgranito — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:12:14 +0000

Cathy, Thanks for getting me worried about my external hard drive. I checked and it has a 7200 spin rate!!

The next plan on my agenda is to get recognized by technorati. How do I do that?

By: Allanahk

Allanahk — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:34:43 +0000

You are so ready for podcasting!

I agree- it annoys me when people say they have a podcast. To me- no RSS then no podcast. It would just be an audio file that is on the internet somewhere.

You can podcast anything pretty much!

It is so simple and eight year old could do it.

Have fun.

By: Susan Roustan

Susan Roustan — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:22:51 +0000

Digital Recorder? Are you talking video or audio? For audio, if I’m not recording through my computer (I have a PC, so I use audacity), I’m recording directly onto my iPod. My favorite mic is XtremeMac MicroMemo. Just make sure that you get the one that is compatible with your particular iPod. It makes a BIG difference!
Video recorder – hmm..not too sure on that one. If you have a Mac, you could probably record from your webcam, right? I have a nice recorder, but I don’t think it’s digital – it’s pretty old.
For the record, GB is easy to use and can do about everything you want it to besides create the content itself! Good luck and post your results!

By: technotuesday

technotuesday — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:57:33 +0000

Sue–ooops–sorry I misquoted you but I still cannot find the older files I had on podomatic. In trying to retrieve my password, I am sure I used that old email address that no longer exists. They were not that important anyway.

David! I am going to have to take a second look at GarageBand! Thanks for that tip. Acid Music looks a lot like GB but it comes prepackaged w/ many musical sequences and loops, ready to be mixed and mashed. GB probably does too, but I just don’t have enough experience to use it yet.

You both are helping me be motivated. THX!

By: David Robb

David Robb — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:35:39 +0000

If you’re really looking to make video-podcasts, in the newer versions of Garageband you can just drag images in on the appropriate spots on the audio timeline. Garageband calls it an “enhanced podcast” but it’s basically a video-podcast.

I also like Screencast-o-Matic.com. No RSS feed on this one but it’s very easy to share what you create.

By: Sue Waters

Sue Waters — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:34:34 +0000

Hi Cathy – good to hear you have started podcasting again. Actually I did not lose any podcast episodes but a couple of my friends did. One friend said that the media files were still on the podomatic site she just needed to go through and relink her podcasts.

I host both my video and audio podcasts on podomatic so there is no need for me to create podcast feeds. Digital recorder – well I use my PDA (change input to 44,100 hz) or my video ipod with a recorder accessory (recording on high quality). I like the idea of an ipod cause you can use it for a range of purposes.