So, You Wanna Be a Star! Podcasting Student Book Reviews
(Hands-on creation of a podcast)
AASL Concurrent Session #1123, Saturday, October 27, 2007
Podcasting 101
(Hands-on creation of a podcast)
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association May 2, 2008
Directions, helpful information, book review script, URLs, glossary, bibliography
Lead Presenter:
Carol W. Heinsdorf, M.S.L.S.
Youth Study Center School Librarian
School District of Philadelphia, PA
cheinsdorf@phila.k12.pa.us
Clemente Middle School podcast page http://podcast.phila.k12.pa.us/weblog/7731_rclemente/
Podcast introduction---Click on the link below and then on Mrs. Heinsdorf's introduction to podcasting for download.
http://libraries.phila.k12.pa.us/clemente/podcasts/podcast.htm
Co-presenter:
Robert A. Karl
Academic Coach, Technology
School District of Philadelphia, PA
rkarl@phila.k12.pa.us
Mr. Karl's homepage
http://web.mac.com/robkarl /iWeb/Site/Robert_Karl_Home.html
School District of Philadelphia podcast page
http://podcast.phila.k12.pa.us /
Software required:
iLife 06, which includes GarageBand 3
Goal: Participants with the equipment specified will leave this session having created his or her own podcast.
Program Outline
5 min. Greeting and introduction
15 min. Description of idea and its development
45 min. Hands-on creation of podcast
10 min. Wrap-up
Note: The podcast will not be published to a server today. Therefore, it will be available to be played only from your computer, either from the desktop or through iTunes. Later, you can publish your podcast to make it available on the Internet. The file can be placed on your school or district server, published to the iTunes Music Store, or to another site that hosts podcasts.
If your interest in podcasting is sparked by today's exercise, you will want to learn to subscribe to, edit, and enhance podcasts.
Create file (GarageBand):
Click GarageBand 3 (Guitar icon on dock) to open.
A GarageBand selection window will open.
Click New Podcast Episode.
New Project from Template window opens.
In Save As window, type name of your podcast.
From drop-down menu in same window, select Desktop.
Click Create. [File will appear behind GarageBand window on desktop with the name you gave it and .band extension.]
GarageBand window opens.
Internal microphone (GarageBand):
This is the default. No need to do anything to use it.
Select and enable track on which to record (GarageBand):
In upper left hand part of window select track on which to record by clicking on its name.
Ex. Click on either Male Voice or Female Voice track. That track will become highlighted in blue.
Click on the small round left button of that highlighted section's button bar to enable recording. Button will turn red when enabled.
To adjust recording volume (GarageBand):
From the menu bar, click on Track, Show Track Info. At the lower right is a sliding bar next to a microphone icon. This is volume control. Use the mouse to slide the button all the way to the right to record at full volume. OR, to adjust the volume on a selected track, slide the button to the right in the Mixer column.
To record "song" (GarageBand):
Locate large horizontal button bar in the middle of the screen. This central bar controls recording and playback (hereafter referred to as central control bar).
To start recording, click on the record button, the large round red button. The playhead will move to the right and a purple track will stretch out to the left behind it.
Using the internal microphone, speak in the direction of the computer, or close to the microphone, which may be identified as a pinhole in the screen frame.
Your voice will appear as dark waves on the purple track.
To stop recording, click again on the record button.
From the top menu bar, click File; select Save. (The file will be saved to your desktop.)
Listening to your recorded "song" (GarageBand):
Use the buttons on the central control bar.
Move the playhead to the beginning of the track by clicking the arrow facing left.
Begin play by clicking on the large arrow facing right.
The playhead moves across the purple track playing your spoken words represented by the dark waves.
Use the volume buttons on your computer keyboard to adjust the level of sound.
Recording another track on the same podcast (GarageBand):
Use the mouse to align the playhead to the end of the track you recorded first.
Follow instructions above at Select and enable track on which to record, using a different track .
To listen to your two-track podcast, follow instructions above at Listening to your recorded song .
Recording over a track purposefully, or by mistake (GarageBand):
When a track is highlighted and recording enabled as indicated by the small red button, recording will take place at the location of the playhead when the record button is clicked. If the playhead is located over a prior recording, a new recording will take the place of the prior recording. If this is done mistakenly, on the top menu bar click Edit; select Undo Recording.
Save (GarageBand):
From File, click Save as. Check on the location of the podcast in Where: If necessary, use the drop-down menu to change the location. Click Save.
Convert recording to AAC/.m4a or .mp3 format (GarageBand to iTunes):
From menu bar, click on Share; select Send Song to iTunes.
Mixdown and Converting happens in the resulting window.
When they are completed, the iTunes window opens with the podcast name listed.
Getting information (iTunes):
Click on the podcast name to highlight it.
Hold down the Apple key and the i key together to get information about the podcast.
The Summary window will show
Kind: AAC audio file
Click OK to close the Summary window.
This format is acceptable to play from iTunes or to send to a server.
To continue conversion (especially for music)
Import to .mp3 (iTunes):
From the top menu bar, click on iTunes ; select Preferences.
The General window will appear; click Advanced.
Click on Importing to select it. From Import Using drop-down menu, select MP3 encoder.
From iTunes top menu bar, click Advanced; select Convert Selection to MP3. When MP3 conversion is completed, 3 notes will sound.
Get information, again (iTunes):
Two podcasts with the same name will now appear on the iTunes list. Hold down the Apple and i keys together to show the Summary window for each one. The .mp3 podcast Summary window will show
Kind: MPEG audio file Format: MPEG-1, Layer 3
Click OK to close the Summary window.
In the iTunes window, click on this podcast in the list if it is not already highlighted.
Moving AAC/.m4a or .mp3 file to desktop in preparation for sending to server for publication (iTunes):
Click on File; select Show in Finder. Podcast will be highlighted in the open window.
Hold down Option key and use the mouse to drag the podcast to the desktop. (Holding down the Option key makes a copy of the file and leaves the original podcast in its folder.)
This podcast file on the desktop can be submitted for publication to a server.
To listen to your podcast (iTunes):
At the top left of the iTunes window are control buttons. To start playing any selected podcast, click on the arrow facing right. To stop, click on the two horizontal bars.
To select the desired podcast click on Music under LIBRARY in left-hand side.
Double click on your selection under Name and it will play.
OR
Highlight selection under Name. Click on the arrow button to play.
OR
Double click on the podcast file on the desktop. iTunes will open; the podcast will play.
To turn off the podcast, click on the two horizontal bars.
Software programs that play podcasts:
Podcasts will play in iTunes or QuickTime on a Mac, or in iTunes, QuickTime, or MediaPlayer on a PC.
External microphone directions:
Plug microphone into USB port.
Under the blue apple in the menu bar, click on System Preferences.
In the System Preferences window, from Hardware, click on Sound.
Under Input, choose the external microphone.
At Input Volume microphone icon, use mouse to slide slider all the way to the right for maximum volume.
Close window.
Next, click on GarageBand from menu bar; choose Preferences.
In the General window, choose Audio/MIDI.
At the Audio Input window, from the drop-down menu choose the external microphone.
When asked to change the audio driver, click YES.
Close the window.
OR
Click Yes in Audio Device window. This automatically switches the settings for external microphone use.
To use the external microphone, speak into it with mouth 3" to 4" away for best sound quality.
[After using an external microphone, it will be necessary to MANUALLY switch to the internal microphone to enable its use again. See Reverting to internal microphone use , next.]
Reverting to internal microphone use:
When finished recording, remove the external microphone from the USB port.
When given the choice, click on Built-In Audio. This will cause settings in both GarageBand and System Preferences to switch to the internal microphone.
OR
Click on the blue apple on the menu bar. From the drop-down menu, choose System Preferences. From Hardware, double click on Sound. At the top of the Sound window, click on Input. Click to highlight Internal Microphone. Close the window.
Open GarageBand. On the menu bar under GarageBand , select Preferences. When the General window appears, click on Audio/MIDI. For Audio Output and Audio Input, select Built-in Audio. Click on General and close the window.
Outline/Script for Book Review Podcast
Notes:
Hi. My name is __________________________________________.
I am a student at ___________________________________________School.
I read the book ___________________________________________
written by _______________________________________________.
Describe book--
Fiction:
Characters
Setting--time and place
Problem
Events
Resolution
Non-fiction:
Main idea
Supporting details
Give your opinion --
Reflect on the book.
What was great or not so great?
How did it connect with you?
How would you change it?
Identify and recommend the genre and/or series.
Identify others who would like to read it.
School library suggestion --
Suggest that other students visit the library to check out this book, or others.
Sign off --
Ex. "See you in the library!"
http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/
Podcasts created by students at Willowdale Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska. Good links. Viewed 5/20/07
http://www.learninginhand.com/OurCity/index.html
Tony Vincent's page for student created podcasts about their home cities. Viewed 5/20/07
http://podcast.phila.k12.pa.us/index.html
School District of Philadelphia introductory page for podcasts. Follow link to schools listing. Viewed 5/20/08 Look for Roberto Clemente Middle School! Or, click on
http://podcast.phila.k12.pa.us/weblog/7731_rclemente/ Viewed 5/20/07
Further investigation for creating podcasts :
http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/
Podcast introduction and overview by Tony Vincent, Nebraska teacher. Viewed 5/20/07
http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/create.html
Teacher's guide to creating podcasts by Tony Vincent. Viewed 5/20/07
http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/RadioWillowWeb.pdf
A guide to podcast production content by Tony Vincent, including glossary, tag lines, teasers, segment introductions and student-friendly formatting for things such as jokes and riddles, poetry, similes, interviews, and web sites. Viewed 5/20/07
http://www.apple.com/education/garageband/
Apple guide to GarageBand in the classroom. Viewed 5/20/07
http://www.bluemic.com/index.php?module=Dealers
Blue microphone dealer locations. This is not an endorsement. Including this URL reflects the difficulty I had trying to find a dealer on the Internet. The search term does not include Apple or Mac microphones. It is, BLUE microphone dealers. When I was in the market for a microphone (Fall 2006), Apple stores did not carry the BLUE brand. They were to be found in music equipment stores, much to my surprise. Viewed 5/20/07
Ducking--adjust volume of background recording
Enhanced podcast--includes music, photographs, markers
Lead track--volume remains constant. Backing track--volume is lowered through ducking.
Looping---technique to repeat a piece of music
Mixing--preparing the podcast to send it to iTunes. The file size is reduced through this process.
.mp3---extension for podcast with music
.m4a---extension for enhanced podcast with music, photographs, markers
Playhead--vertical red line in GarageBand that indicates where activity of central control panel is happening. Useful for lining up elements of podcast.
Real Instrument--includes voice, live music
Song--whatever is recorded, even if it is just voice
Track--area in GarageBand window where sound is recorded and visible as waves. Labeled Male Voice, Female Voice, Jingles, Radio sounds, No Effects.
LeVitus, Bob. GarageBand for Dummies . Wiley, 2004.
Explains technical aspects of producing podcasts. 2004© is already dated for GarageBand 3.0.0.
Morris, Tee and Evo Terra. Podcasting for Dummies . Wiley, 2005. Answers the "why" of podcasting, also what to include and how to organize it.
C.W. Heinsdorf ©2008
An Introduction
PA School Librarians Association Conference
Session A11
Friday, May 2, 2008
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Presented by
Carol Heinsdorf and Robert Karl
School District of Philadelphia Podcast Site: http://podcast.phila.k12.pa.us
Book Review Podcasts by students from Roberto Clemente Middle School, Philadelphia, PA:
http://podcast.phila.k12.pa.us/weblog/7731_rclemente/
The podcasts from Clemente Middle School are also available in the iTunes Music Store/
Hands-On Activity:
Using GarageBand to Create Podcasts
Introduction - Steps to create podcasts
GarageBand Window
Setting Preferences in GarageBand and iTunes
View Podcast Samples in GarageBand
Demonstration - Editing a Podcast Sample (Trim and Split Clips)
Exploration - Loops, Jingles, Stingers, Sound Effects
Guided Practice - Create an Audio Podcast Episode
Share the podcast to iTunes
Submitting podcasts for publication
Steps to Create Podcasts:
The GarageBand window:
The track window:
Podcast Track - place artwork there for enhanced podcasts.
Male Voice, Female Voice: Record audio on these tracks.
Jingles: Drag jingles, stingers, and sound effects here.
Radio Sounds: A software instrument track. Use this when creating original music.
Controls:
1.Create a new track.
2.View/Hide the Loop Browser.
3.View/Hide the Track Editor.
1. Start or Stop recording.
2.
Go to the beginning of the song.
3.
Move back one measure.
4. Start or stop playback.
5. Move ahead one measure.
6. Turn cycle region on or off.
Editing Tools:
Trim Tool - used to trim audio tracks
Loop Tool - used to loop audio tracks (repeat the segments)
These tools will be shown during the demonstration.
Setting Preferences in GarageBand and iTunes
GarageBand preferences must be set if you are using an external microphone or speakers. Under the GarageBand menu, choose Preferences and select the Audio/MIDI tab. Select the Audio Output and Audio Input as needed.
You may also have to select the external microphone and speakers in the System Preferences. Use the Sound category to make the selections.
In iTunes, set the preferences for importing audio as MP3 or AAC. The AIFF format is high quality, but is very large, making it impractical for distributing podcasts. When you share your podcast to iTunes, the file will be converted to the correct format.
View Podcast Samples in GarageBand
Demonstration: Observe how the tracks are set up and connected.
Editing a Podcast Sample (Trim and Split Tracks)
Demonstration: Moving and re-naming tracks, adding and deleting tracks, trimming and splitting tracks.
Exploration: Loops, Jingles, Stingers, Sound Effects
Explore the sounds included in GarageBand. These can be effective ways to enhance the audio in your podcast. (Apply ducking to create lead tracks and backing tracks.)
Additional Enhancements:
Add artwork from iPhoto albums. Remember to adjust the size of the graphics by selecting the podcast track, then double-clicking the icon for the graphic in the track editor (the bottom portion of the GarageBand window).
Guided Practice - Create an Audio Podcast Episode
Record a few segments of your book review. Practice moving and re-naming tracks. Trim tracks as necessary.
Add some background music or sound effects from the Loop Browser.
Add artwork from your iPhoto library or search for graphics online. Be sure to re-size the graphics as necessary.
Publishing
You will publish your podcast to your local iTunes library. This will NOT make the podcast available from the Internet or from the iTunes Music Store. The file will be compressed and will appear in your iTunes library, where it can be played.
First, save your work. Use the Share command and select Send Podcast to iTunes.
Share the Podcast to iTunes
First, save your work.
Before sharing the podcast to iTunes, make sure the iTunes preferences have been changed so that imported files will be converted to the AAC or MP3 format.
In GarageBand, click the Podcast track to select it. Click the View/Hide Track Info button (the small i at the bottom right of the track window.) Enter information about the podcast episode, including the title, artist, parental advisory, and episode description.
In GarageBand, use the Share menu and select Send Podcast to iTunes.
In iTunes, use the File command and select Show in Finder. A window will open which will show the location of the file. Hold down the Option key and drag the file to the desktop. (Holding the Option key creates a copy of the file, leaving the original file in its folder.)
The file on the desktop can be used to submit a podcast for publication to various servers which host podcasts. If your school doesn't have a podcast server, you can have your podcast hosted on one of these sites:
The Education Podcast Network: http://epnweb.org
Podcast Alley: http://www.podcastalley.com
The Podcast Directory: http://www.podcast.net
Podcast Directory for Educators: http://recap.ltd.uk/podcasting
Other sites are also available for this purpose.
Besides book reports, here are a few other ideas for student-produced podcasts:
Poetry Journal
Book Talk
Persuasive Essays
Fan Fiction (What might happen next after the end of a favorite story.)
Travel Cast
Foreign Language Pod Pals (Make a podcast for a specific classroom in another country.)
Today in History
Science Career Cast
Pet Talk
Opinion Polls
Math-Related Job Opportunities
posted 4/12/08