Podcasting 101
John Iliff
PALINET
Iliff@palinet.org
The purpose of this section of HigherEd BlogCon 2006 is to provide a rudimentary introduction to podcasting. Podcasts are audio files in MP3 format that are distributed via RSS (an XML-based syndication format). To obtain and listen to podcasts, you can download the MP3 file directly from the Web site or you can use a special RSS aggregator called a podcatcher (such as Apple iTunes). Creating podcasts involves using software to record and edit an MP3 file (such as the open source program, Audacity). The podcast sound file must be placed on a Web server and encoded in an RSS feed for distribution to podcatchers such as iTunes.
You can download this podcast presentation here http://www.higheredblogcon.com/library/iliff/highed.mp3.
Links referred to in this audio presentation include:
Podcatchers
- Apple iTunes
- Available for free for Windows and Mac machines
- Doppler
- Free for Windows
- Juice
- Free for Windows and Mac (Linux soon)
Podcast directories
Podcast text searching
Web-based Podcast Creation Services
Storage space for podcasts
Library Podcasts
- Chesire Public Library (CT) Young adult podcast series
- Muskingum College Library (OH) Notable lectures and discussions
- Western Kentucky University Libraries Notable lectures and discussions
- Lansing MI Public Library Podcasts of tech news, info teens, and also for children
- PALINET has podcasts
- Librivox effort to create sound files for public domain books
Other Podcasts of Note
- Podcasting in Education: Great for K-12
- Purdue University: Providing podcasts of lectures, called “Boilercasts”
- Nature: Great example of publisher podcast
Example of PALINET RSS Feed
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Tags: podcasting, podcast, library, libraries, higheredblogcon
April 12th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
After my podcast was sent out I got one phone call from a collegue who rightly noted that podcasts can be of a variety of audio formats (e.g. MP4 and etc.). When I spoke I seemed to indicate that MP3 was the exclusive format and that is not the case, but (at this writing) MP3 is the most common format. I also failed to mention that video formats are also possible files for podcasts (including MP4), and can be yet another file type (although, in a strict sense, I guess would be called vodcasts ort video podcasts). Hope this clarifies any confusion.
April 12th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
John,
I think your Podcasting 101 presentation will inspire me to learn more about it. I will try to venture creating one using the excellent informative tips you have provided; and the best part is I can listen to it whenever I need it.
Jay