Podcasts are audio or video files that can be downloaded from the Internet and listened/watched at the viewer’s convenience. They have become a popular way to share thoughts, feeling, and information on a wide variety of different subjects. Podcasts allows you to package any type of media, whether it’s course work, a discussion or your opinion about something, and distribute it across the web. The distribution can be offered for free or subscription base to any user or computer with access to the internet and to a media player. One my favorite sites to download podcasts is ESPN radio. By downloading different podcasts I am able to listen to radio shows that otherwise I would not be able to hear during the day.
I began listening to podcasts of different ESPN radio shows two or three years ago. As a classroom teacher I got bored while grading papers after school and watching TV wasn’t much of an option because of the limited channel selection at school. So, I was left to explore different podcasts. I quickly found ESPN radio’s podcasts and loved them. The podcasts allowed me to catch-up on my favorite radio shows, current sporting events, and commentary. They were also a good way to motivate me to keep up on the grading. The school district has since blocked access to the website. Thankfully this happened after I left the classroom because my paper grading production would have dropped like a rock.
All of the podcasts I am familiar with are easy to use. Again, a majority of my experience is through ESPN radio (http://espnradio.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/index). There are a variety different podcasts available to choose from. Each podcast offers four different options for to select. They are: Play, Download, iTunes, and RSS (Really Simple Syndication). I usually select play or download. Select your choice and away you go. Check out the screen capture of the page with helpful hints (http://www.screencast.com/users/erelmore/folders/Jing/media/bf57e65c-c6d1-4a52-ae50-a981a213aa39). Here are some short definitions about each option:
o Play: the podcast is played through ESPN radio’s SuperStreaming Player
o Download: the podcast is downloaded to a media player
o iTune: the user can download Podcasts through iTunes .
o RSS: allows the user to subscribe to the podcast or feed. As information is updated the feed is automatically downloaded to my computer and can be viewed in Internet Explorer and other programs.
I logged on to iTunes today and found that there are hundreds of different Podcasts available and many of them are free. When in iTunes select the podcast option in the library column. Select the podcast and click the button in the low right hand corner to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Podcasting is user-friendly, and it is easy to find something to engage each user.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I never though about using podcasting at school when grading papers or doing other boring after school work - I'll have to keep that in mind when I get my own classroom!
ReplyDeleteI like how you tell about how you use the podcasts! It was also nice how you took the ESPN podcast and used it throughout the whole post. Not being big on podcasts myself, it's nice to see just how people use them and how much they really like them!
ReplyDeleteI usually listen to some sort of music while working, but now that I have found the world of podcasting I think I will start listening to some podcasts while working! It will also help keep me on track once I have my own classroom, once the students leave, grading papers and tests. I haven't started using any of my podcasts I recently downloaded, but you make it sound super easy to use!
ReplyDeleteNice blog! I like that you point out the ESPN podcast, I am very interested in sports myself and did not know that ESPN was offering podcasts. I also like how you explain each individual step in order to get the podcast on your ipod, this definitely makes it easy to understand and to follow.
ReplyDeleteGood blog! I like the idea of listening to a podcast when you can't watch television. I had never thought of it being useful in that way. Also, I like that you gave people examples of the blogs you like, so that people know they work, because you have used them.
ReplyDelete