Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 3

Posted by David Wetzel

This is third and final installment on “Tips and Tricks for Podcasting” and focuses on GarageBand.

Garageband is a powerful software program for creating podcasts and offers enough sophistication to allow you to produce quality recordings.

Now let’s take a look at some tips and tricks for GarageBand.

Create a Template

Creating a podcast template in GarageBand saves hours of work. This is especially important when creating numerous podcasts for yourself or when working with students.

To create a podcast template:

• Select “Save as…” under file menu
• Then select “Create a Template”when editing a podcast session

It is important to create all the essential elements which will be part of every podcast. You will still have the ability to add any unique elements you need for a specific podcast in the future.

Enhancing Audio

Although you may have taken many precautions to prevent noise from sources other than a speaker when recording, some will probably still be present.

Some tips and tricks to make a voice recording crystal clear include the following:

• To add a new effect, open “Track Info Pane,” then go to “Edit” tab and click on the empty spot that says, “Click here to add an effect”.
• Select “Speech Enhancer” for reducing noise background noise. It is preset for female/male voices and can be stacked to reduce of eliminate a loud noises.
• Select “AUBandPass” for filter high-pitched voices or enhancing a boring voice in an audio recording.

Adding and Editing Markers

If you want to upload podcasts to iTunes or other hosting services you will need to add markers to your podcast recordings.

When you add a marker to a podcast, it appears in the podcast track as a marker region.

Marker regions show how long the artwork or URLs you add to a marker last, and you can move them or re-size them to change their duration.

To begin - select a podcast track.

The podcast track appears above the other tracks in the timeline, and the editor opens showing the marker list, with columns for the start time, artwork, chapter title, URL title, and URL for each marker.

Note: A podcast can have either a podcast track or a video track, but not both. If you try to show the podcast track for a project that contains a video track, a dialog appears asking if you want to replace the video track with a podcast track.

To add a marker:

• Move the play-head to the place where you want to add the marker.
• Click the “Add Marker” button.

The marker appears in the editor, and the start time for the marker appears in the Time column in the marker’s row. The marker also appears as a marker region in the podcast track.

You can edit marker regions just like other regions in the timeline to control when artwork and URLs appear and how long they are visible when you play the podcast.

Recording Levels

Watch your voice recording levels to prevent clipping. This is accomplished by ensuring strong recording levels do not enter the red zone.

In a digital world, recording meters which enter red zones result in clipping. Clipping causes broken and intermittent audio.

If you need to increase audio levels, do so after during editing.

Keyboard Short Cuts

Learning keyboard shortcuts can save a lot of time when recording, editing, and uploading. Check out the keyboard short cuts here.

Creating a Video Podcast

Creating a video podcast is similar to creating an audio podcast, except that the video podcast includes a video file and does not include artwork.

Use following steps to create video podcast:

• Send an iMovie project to GarageBand or import a video file from the Media Browser.
• Create the podcast audio in GarageBand.

When you have created your video podcast in GarageBand, you can send it to iWeb or export it to your website, blog, or wiki.

These are fundamental tips and tricks are not intended to be all inclusive, if you have others feel free to share them in the comments section for others to see.

Additional Resources

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 1

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 2

How to Integrate Podcasting into Science and Math Classes

Posted by David Wetzel

Most of today’s students either own or use iPods, iPod Touches, MP3 Players, and computers everyday. These digital tools provide a natural strategy to support student learning - Podcasts!

Integrating podcasts in science and math classes is a good way to support student learning, because it leverages the fact today’s students are digital citizens.

In a recent survey, Forbes.com found K-12 students spend more time during the week on the Internet and using digital tools (cell phones, computers, iPods, etc.) than watching TV. This is why today’s students are considered digital citizens.

Teaching: Strategies for Using Podcasts

The following are teaching strategies for podcasts in science or math.

• Audio and/or video reviews for tests - accomplished by providing a downloadable podcasts on the class web page or wiki.

• Audio recordings of science lectures in MS and HS - accomplished by teacher wearing wireless microphone during lectures. Then editing and converting the recording into a podcast for students to listen to later as a review.

• Video recording of math lectures and reviews in MS and HS - accomplished by teacher wearing wireless microphone and video taping lectures or saving interactive white board slides. Then editing and converting the video into a podcast for students to refer to later when completing homework assignments or as a review.

• Audio class newsletter - for parents to access on the class web page or wiki. This does two things - saves paper and keeps newsletters out lockers and trash cans. The newsletters have a greater chance of being read by parents.

• Audio/Video Sub Plans - entire or partial lessons are recorded for subs to use in class. This also does two things - it is just like your are there and it forces subs to follow your teaching plan. The reality is we all know when it comes to subs - “…it is like opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get!”

Learning: Ways Students Use Podcasts

The following are ways students use podcasts to support their learning science or math concepts.

• Student groups create a specific potion of a unit studied in class. These podcasts provide a downloadable review for students to use when studying for a unit test. The podcasts are posted on the class web page or wiki. Each podcast should be limited to 5 - 6 minutes to promote clear and concise summary of key concepts.

• Students create a podcast to supplement their research and findings during science or math project based learning activities.

• Students use a podcast to complete science or math case studies using information provided in a podcast to help them solve a problem.

• Students create a class newsletter related to concepts learned in class. Accomplishes two things - students must apply concepts to real world applications in newsletter stories and parents have better understanding of what their kids are learning science or math.

• Students create a virtual tour related to a science or math unit. For example - rainforests, landfills, geometry found on the playground, algebra applications in a skate park, etc.

• Students create mnemonic rap songs to help learn concepts. For example - ROYGBIV.

Benefits of Podcasts

So what are the benefits of podcasting (audio and/or video) in science and math classes?

• Reinforces concepts studied in class for both auditory and visual learners.

• Reinforces writing and reading skills as students prepare their own podcast scripts.

• Increasing parent communication, since parents have access to the class web page or wiki.

• Provides another teaching and learning strategy for helping students in being successful in science or math.

Why Use Podcasts?

It is time to take advantage of our students’ status as digital citizens. Students use iPods, iPod Touches, MP3 players, and computers everyday; use these digital tools to create podcasts to support teaching and learning.

Additional Resources

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting

Podcasting in Science and Math Class