Podcasting

Draft

Definition

• Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio or video programs, over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term (a portmanteau), was coined in 2004 combining "iPod", a popular portable audio device, and "broadcasting." The term podcast, like 'radio', can mean both the content and the method of delivery. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster. Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other formats by its ability to be downloaded automatically using software capable of reading feeds like RSS or Atom. ([Wikipedia:Podcasting], retrieved 23:14, 13 September 2006 (MEST))

History

• The concept of podcasting was proposed by Tristan Louis in October, 2000 and then it was carried out by Dave Winer, the author of the RSS format. Winer defined a new element called “enclosure” which would pass the address of a media file to the RSS aggregator and he succeeded in enclosing a Grateful Dead song in his weblog on January, 2001. He created the RSS 2.0 specification which is used to give information about podcasts. Rss is an XML format which is used to identify the channels of information which contain audio, video, images, text, PDF or stories. Rss files are usually used to see metainformation about content and generally contain the URL references to web content. So it is possible to use RSS files to give information in a “standard XML based format”.

"Podcast are simply the application of RSS enclosures to audio files". The term podcasting was popularized by Adam Curry who created an “Applescript application that automated the process of downloading and syncing audio files to iPods”.

Podcasting in education

• Tape courses and distribute the recordings. (that's the cheapest form of distance teaching and has been done for a quite a long time before the term podcasting was invented).

• Scenarios where learners record (audio and/or video) things and discuss it in the classroom. Particularly interesting are integrated teaching scenarios in vocational training.

• Recordings to be used as source materials for learnings (e.g. interviews).

• ....

Links

• Podcasting in Education, a digial media center page from University of Minnesota. (useful).

• Potcasting

• Podcasting in Education, Apple Education solutions (you don't need an iPod - ed.]

• iPod lessons for all of us, edugadget.

• Podcasting Library from Learning Light e-Learning Centre. (This links to introductory articles)

Examples

• Podcasting News / Education

References

• Educause, (2005), 7 Things You Should Know About Podcasting Abstract/PDF (Educause probably has more on this topic).

• Crofts, Sheri et. al. 2005. Podcasting: A new technology in search of viable business models. First Monday 10(9) (September). HTML

• G. Philip Rogers, Podcasting and Its Role in Semantic Social Networks, the Web 2.0, and the Semantic Web, School of Library and Information Science, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill [ Word]

• Maag, Margaret (2006), Podcasting and MP3 Players: Emerging Education Technologies. Computers, Informatics, Nursing. 24(1):9-13, January/February 2006. HTML/PDF (Access restricted)