Mp3


 * Learn About It! **

media type="custom" key="27785245" Note: once you play the first video, you will see all the videos in this playlist, click the names of the current video next to the in the upper left corner (In this case, click on the words "Integrating podcasting into your classroom". There are TWO videos in this playlist.

// MP3 PLAYER BASICS //

Mp3 players are actually digital audio players (DAPs) that are used to store, organize, and play audio files. The name "MP3" comes from the most popular format for these audio files. DAPs are also sometimes referred to as portable media players (PMPs) because they support viewing images and/or playing videos, but the public tends to refer to both DAPs and PMPs as MP3 players. That's a lot of acronyms! So we'll just call them MP3s.

There are lots of manufacturers of mp3 players--Apple makes the ipod, MicroSoft makes the Zune, and Creative makes the Zen.

The MP3 file format was patented in Germany in 1989, but the first portable player was not available to the public until 1998. That player originally sold in Korea under the name MPMan. It hit the U.S. market a few months later and retailed for $250 with 32 mb of flash memory. Today's MP3 players fall into two types: hard drive and flash memory. Hard drive MP3 players offer more than 100 gigabytes storage and can hold large libraries of music, video, and photos. Flash memory mp3s can hold 64 gb.

Every MP3 player comes with special software that enables users to download and manage their files. MP3 players also offer different capabilities for recording and playing back user-created files. Prices start as low as $10 but can go as high as $500 or more.

// COMMON OBJECTIONS TO MP3 PLAYERS //

When MP3s hit the market, they made little impact on schools. In 2001, MP3 players accounted for just 5% of the U.S. sales. But by 2006, MP3 players represented 88% of all sales of portable audio products. Of course, students were bringing those devices to schools in large numbers. This caused more classroom to prohibit or restrict the presence of any MP3 player on the premise it was a distraction to the learner. How could a learner listen to the audio and continue to concentrate on learning! An interesting twist on this line of thinking occurred in 2005 when the principal of the International Grammar School in Sydney, Australia, decided to ban iPods on campus, arguing that students who were listening to MP3 players on the playground were isolating themselves from their peers and not interacting with the larger school community. Then, in 2007, bans on MP3s players gained international attention when teachers and school administrators began discovering that students were using these devices to cheat on tests. However, some enterprising teens had started recording study notes, formulas, and other tidbits of information.

By 2009. school officials started reconsidering their position. This was due to a shift in public option about the need to use mobile technology in education. In his article, "Are iPod-Banning Schools Cheating our Kids?" Mike Elgan (2007) writes that instead of preventing their use on campus, educators need to focus on helping students learn to use MP3 players effectively and ethically to promote growth in critical thinking, problem solving, and workplace skills. Today,lots of school districts use iPods to help English Language Learners improve skills, extend student school days by downloading and listening to teacher-created podcasts designed to help students review concepts when they are on the school bus or home studying.

// IN MY BACKYARD (from Dr. C) // Here are two examples of podcast projects implemented on district-wide basis (funded by Federal grants) iRead Boulder Valley Schools - Science Podcasts


 * Think About It! **



// DID YOU KNOW... //
 * You do not need an iPod to create or view podcasts.
 * Podcasts can be either audio, audio with still images (enhanced podcast), video (vodcast) or .pdf document formats. As the technology evolves, other formats may be added.
 * Podcasting works like a magazine subscription. You subscribe to a podcast and the latest episode is sent directly to iTunes or your podcast program of choice. Instead of having to go out and seek updated content, your podcast aggregator (e.g. iTunes) checks for you and you can automatically receive the latest episode of the podcast as it is published.
 * Many times you can obtain past episodes of podcasts through programs like iTunes or Democracy.
 * If you choose to use an iPod to view podcasts, your iPod will automatically sync to the latest episodes of the podcasts you subscribe when you connect the iPod to your computer (if you use iTunes, you can actually change this so that you only sync what you want to sync).


 * Plan It! **

**Step One**: Find some examples below and listen to a few podcasts. Listen for their organization, content, and production qualities that you enhance (or distract) from the audio.

**Step Two**: Decide on TWO podcasts (in a series) that would serve your teaching in a unique way.

**Step Three**: Learn how to make a podcast, then make your podcasts and post them.

EXAMPLES (Just look at a few!)

// Educational Podcasts //
 * [|Colonial Williamsburg]
 * [|Podictionary]
 * [|Speaking of History]
 * [|Teach42 Podcasts]
 * [|NPR Podcasts]
 * [|History On Air]
 * [|Matt's Today in History]
 * [|Speaking of History]
 * [|BBC Radio Podcasts]
 * [|ABC News Podcasts and Vodcasts]
 * [|Mr. Mayo's Audio Page]

// Some very popular, respected, and frequently-updated podcasts //



CNN News Updates []

History According to Bob [|http://www.summahistorica.com]

The New York Times []

National Public Radio []

PBS American Experience []

// Examples of Student Podcasts //

//By Elementary Students// [|Our City Podcast] [|Radio Gateway] [|Radio WillowWeb] [|Radio Cambridge] [|ColeyCast] MUST SEE!

B//y Middle School Students// Coulee Kids Podcast MUST SEE!

//By High School Students// [|Book Reviews from Hopkinton High] [|Apple Distinquished Award Winners] [] [|Bookwinks] MUST SEE! [|Eye Level]

// Examples of podcasts made FOR students: //

// English // [|Grammar Girls Quick Tips] [|English Idioms and Slang] [|Storynory: Free Audio Stories for Kids] [|Children's Storytime] [|Webster's Word of the Day] [|Houghton Mifflin Poetry Podcast]

//Math// [|The Math Factor] MathGrad Podcast MUST SEE!

//Social Studies// [|CNN Student News - Video] [|History Podcast] [|The Best of National Geographic Magazine] [|The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd] [|PRI's The World - Geo Quiz]

//Science// [|Mr. Wizard's Fun Science Facts] MUST SEE! [|Earthwatch Radio] [|National Geographic: Wild Chronicles] [|Why? Science for Kids] [|Dr. Carlson's Science Facts] MUST SEE! [|Nova Science Now] [|60 Second Science] [|Space.com's Space Podcast] [|Science Made Fun (from the UK)]

// Teacher Professional Development Podcasts Web Resources //

// Educational Technology // [|Karen's Educational Mashups] MUST SEE! [|Educational Technology] [|Moving at the Speed of Creativity] [|The Tech Teachers] [|Teachers Teaching Teachers] [|Podcasts for Educators] [|Bit by Bit] [|KidCast: Podcasting in the Classroom] [|Tech Chick Tips] [|K12 Online Conference Week 2] [|SMART Board Lesson Plans] [|Learning in Hand: iPods] [|National Educational Computing Conference 2006] [|TechPodZone] [|National Educational Computing Conference 2007] [|K12 Online Conference Week 1] [|Geek!Ed!] [|Soft Reset] [|David Warlick's Connect Learning] [|Techpod for Teachers]

// Teaching // [|School Library Journal] [|Inside Learning] [|ESL Teacher Talk] [|Wisconsin Center for Education Research News] [|Education Podcast with John Merrow - PBS] [] [|Amazing library/book podcasts] MUST SEE! [] [|http://techchicktips.net] [|http://intelligenic.com]

Let's Learn How to Podcast

Before you watch the screencasts below, here is a Live Binder I compiled for you. LiveBinder is a fabulous Web2.0 tool (free to use, of course) that is a terrific way of compiling and sharing a collection of websites with learners. media type="custom" key="23716636"

// Screencasts // media type="custom" key="23799064"

// Resources //

Audacity


 * [|Details]
 * [[file:cooltoolz/Audacity.pdf|Download]]
 * 361 KB

Here is the lame file (for the PC)! Put it on your desktop so you can navigate to it easily!
 * [|Details]
 * [[file:cooltoolz/lame_enc.dll|Download]]
 * 296 KB

Here is the lame file (for the MAC)! Put it on your desktop, then double click on it and expand it onto your desktop so you can navigate to it easily!
 * [|Details]
 * [[file:cooltoolz/Lame_Library_v3.98.2_for_Audacity_on_OSX.dmg|Download]]
 * 245 KB

If you are using Audacity 1.3.3 or later on Mac OS X (Intel or PPC) or Audacity 1.2.5 on Mac OS X (Intel)


 * [|Details]
 * [[file:cooltoolz/LameLib-Carbon-3.91.sit|Download]]
 * 118 KB

If you are using Audacity 1.2.6 on Mac OS X (PPC)

// Other Audacity Tutorials (if you need them!) // [] [|A short tutorial] that provides an overview of using Audacity [|A tutorial that focuses on] Audacity's tools [|Particularly note the section in this tutorial] "Bouncing Two Stereo Tracks to One Mono Track" [|This is an important tutorial on] "Changing Audio Sample Rate in Audacity" [|This is a movie on using Audacity] to create a podcast from a number of recordings [|A recommended tutorial from Transom] [|An excellent screencast on the use of Audacity]


 * Do It! **

Here is your assignment for this week (due A WEEK from Sunday). How come, you ask? Because it will take you TWO WEEKS to produce a high quality product!

Create two high quality podcasts for your instructional practice.



Would you like to avoid frustration?

Follow these steps to an easy podcast!

At a MINIMUM, visit the "MUST SEE" links in the SEE ME examples.

THEN:

1. Write your script series (bear in mind the audience). Start with an introduction of the show (the name, the date and the episode number). Then give a brief overview (or purpose) of the show. Record the content. Recap the show and invite the audience to listen to the upcoming show.

2. Find a 5-10 second piece of music:

http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/ is my favorite place to find royalty free music. You can first search by the "feel" of the music you want to find.

Another sources is [|http://www.freeplaymusic.com].

3. SAVE the piece of music on your desktop (you will use it twice, once in the beginning and once in the end).

4. Open Audacity.

5. IMPORT your opening music.

6. Open a new track and record your podcast.

CHECK THE VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE RECORDING!!

7. Open a new track and Import your music (again).

8. Adjust the tracks (so that they play in the right order)

9. Fade in and out the music.

10. Export the file as an MP3 onto your computer.

11. Upload the file to this wiki page: http://ksumobiledevices.wikispaces.com/podcasts

12. Put a brief title and annotation under the podcast.