Podcasts are typically audio files which can be downloaded
and listened to on a computer, phone or mp3 player. Podcasts are extremely
popular and many people tune in frequently to catch-up with their favorite
broadcasts. I have not jumped on the podcast bandwagon, which is surprising,
because I am a huge fan of audiobooks and love to listen while doing chores or
driving around town. Looking over the types of Podcasts available, it seems
there is something for everyone. I explored different ways to publish my own
podcast.
Soundcloud
The first site I looked at was Soundcloud. You have to
create an account, but it was simple and I linked it to my Google account. Soundcloud offers a free account or you can
upgrade for $4.99 a month for ad free listening and saving content off-line. With
the free account, you can store up to 180 minutes of podcasts you have created.
AudioBoom
I had to create an account and confirm by email. You have a
one month free trail, then it is $9.99 a month. It does allow you to connect
your podcasts to social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook. It also
allows you to distribute your work on Google Play and Spotify. This might be a
great option for an educator who wanted to create podcasts for others.
Podomatic
PodOmatic requires that you set up an account either by
using Facebook or email. PodOmatic does offer a free plan of 500 MB of storage
and 15 GB of bandwidth per month. You are able to embed you podcast into
Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. There is also a pro addition for $9.99 a month.
It was easy to upload a computer file and create a podcast.
PodBean
I have used PodBean in other classes to upload and store
audio recordings. This site works similarly to PodOmatic in that you upload a
file from your computer. This site allows you to share links or upload to
social media accounts like Twitter or Facebook. The content I created over the
past year is still saved on the site.
Overall, I found Soundcloud the easiest to use, but podomatic would be a close second. I like that there are several options out there to help meet each individual's needs.
There are some innovative ways to use podcasts in the classroom.
1.
Students can create book talks to promote
literature.
2.
Students can create a podcast in lieu of the traditional
written reports.
3.
Students could create newscasts on current
events
4.
Teachers could record guest speakers for absent
students.
5.
Teachers could record explanations of difficult
concepts for students to access as needed.
Hi Allison,
ReplyDeleteI also found SoundCloud to be the easier to use. I enjoyed how user friendly it was and how I did not have to enter any billing information like other podcasts required. I like how you embedded, I couldn't figure it out, I inserted a link.
-Maritza Molina
Allison,
ReplyDeleteI have used PodBean before, and I too think it was easy to use. I went ahead and tried Podomatic to try something different, and I loved it. It was easy to use, you can add an image to the podcast, and it easy to share or embed. I love to use Podcasts in the classroom because it keeps students engaged and can be used in various ways.
I loved your book talk about I Hunt Killers. It's one of my favorite young adult novels. I was wondering was anyone able to use podcasts recorder on your phone? I think Soundcloud was the easiest to use as well. I hope to use this in my future library.
ReplyDelete