Post #4: I'm livin' on the air... (podcasting play)

My Podcasting Recipe

Richardson (2010) and other technology writers often refer to podcasting as the ability to create radio programs for free. Podcasting has had a tremendous influence on our personal learning networks and what we (can) do in our classrooms (and school libraries) utilizing very simple and uncomplicated technologies. Without question my favourite digital tool for sharing is podcasting. And it really is the ease of creation that gives teachers and students the biggest bang for their buck. And it really is quite a simple formula for success in demonstrating learning:

(a willing participant)

+

(audio recording software)

+

(royalty-free music service)

+

(podcast hosting service)

 +

A WILLINGNESS TO PLAY & GET MESSY

=

 (a podcast)

Many futurists foretold the reckoning of commercial radio (all radio, in fact) as a fait accompli with the advent of the MP3 and the portable MP3 player. What is really interesting is that neither commercial radio nor satellite or web radio have suffered at all. There seems to be a place for all forms of radio broadcasting via the MP3. And now, podcasting, is another way for students (and teachers!) to create and contribute ideas to a larger conversation (Richardson, 2010).

The simple power of podcasting allows for simple sharing of ideas. Trilling and Fadel (2009) argue that "the demands of our times call for a much wider and deeper and personal portfolio of communication and collaboration skills to promote learning together." For individuals to truly be successful in the 21st century they will need to "articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written, and nonverbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts" (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). This must be done through the utilization of multiple and media technologies. Podcasting is a natural and really fun way to demonstrate learning and engage in meaningful dialogues.

Eh, I can't hear ya!

Next to sight, hearing is the most important and complex sense that humans cherish. In her best selling book, A Natural History of the Senses, author Diane Ackerman, notes that "most people would, given a choice, rather lose their hearing that their sight [b]ut people who are both deaf and blind often lament the loss of their hearing more than anything else" (1990). Helen Keller persuasively shares the fact that "[t]he problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, if not more important, than those of blindness." and it means the "loss of the most vital stimulus--the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thoughts astir and keeps using the intellectual company of man."

Image courtesy of Google Images, 2010

Podcasting, Richardson notes, is not relegated to just school-related topics (although many are), both personal and public issues of interest that force you to express ideas and thoughts are the most popular forms of audiocasting (2010). I think that is what makes the entire process--writing a brief script, to selecting the music, to recording, editing and finally sharing--a really unique experience!

My formula for a successful podcast

For the podcaster it requires:

• Preparation (but not much!): perhaps a brief script; Make sure to include the main ideas and perhaps some examples to lead your discussion;
• Creativity: The podcaster needs to lure your listener in; to get them listening you need a hook and catchy music is a great start. The first thirty seconds of your podcast (post intro theme) are elemental to grabbing and holding your listener captive for the duration of your podcast;
• A 'live to air' feel: This is my favourite part about the entire process. Sure, you can have endless retakes and use audacity to edit out all the "ums" and long pauses. Or you can just record it in one take and grab the truest essence of what your intended the podcast to be (warts and all): fun and messy!

For the listener it requires:

• A process of active listening: This requires you to engage and focus (relying on essentially one sense); and
• Response ignition: For any type of podcast to be effective for the listener, it is often imperative to respond to the ideas of expressed in the session. Blogging and creating your own podcasting are but two simple and immediate means to do this.

It's about sharing what you know and having fun with it! (a tool for personal learning)

Podcasting will become an essential component to a twenty-first century personal learning network. I have been a member of the Education Podcast Network for less than two years and it has become a regular source with which to share with colleagues and search and use for my own personal learning. I have listened to podcasts on science, computers and technology, and one of my favourites has been the Open Stacks podcasts by librarian, Greg Schwartz, as he promotes information access and literacy for everyone. To this point, I have been reticent about creating a podcast for the EPN. But, who knows. Maybe I do have something share. Don't we all?

My other passion is cooperative (public) radio.

Podcasting (although we never called it that back in 2000) plays a tremendous role in radio programming. As a radio show host, I regularly worked with SoundForge to create commercials 'spots' for upcoming shows and many public service announcements. It is important to note that the spots were always done in one or two takes and involved very little or no editing in order to keep the essence of the information both authentic and spontaneous. In radio, I've learned, it's OK to be a little messy. The same philosophy holds true with podcasting.

Why doing a podcast, for me, is one of the most powerful ways to share, inform, and connect, and play with technology (a professional tool)

While podcasting and audio file creation can play a definitive role in the classroom (more on that in a wee bit) to help students demonstrate learning and share information, ideas, and opinions, I envision taking podcasting (and radio) with all its imperfections and ugliness to the next level in our school: to create and offer a radio broadcasting class.

Fortunately, in our small rural city, we actually have the resources to do this: the technical means, and the (free!) professional support.

The technical support would be courtesy of our local cooperative radio station, Kootenay Cooperative Radio (KCR) in Nelson, BC. KCR exports two critically acclaimed podcasts: Canadian Voices and Deconstructing Dinner. One of the first and most successful cooperative radio broadcasters in British Columbia, KCR also offers summer radio camps to students. During the three week program participants learn production (pre and post), broadcasting techniques, and the technical components (which includes using Audacity to create and edit projects). To no one's surprise, the program has become very successful, and my intention is to attempt to capitalize on this momentum and begin a secondary level radio broadcast program.

I envision the class actually hosting a weekly radio show produced and presented by members of the class. The course would consist of interviews, opinions, spoken word, and of course, music. While the idea is in the early planning stages, there is support from school administration. No doubt, the creation of podcasts to for the purpose of airing on the show will be the prime factor in all of this.

We also have access to two former BBC reporters/broadcaster living in Nelson (they are actually my next-door neighbours!) who have graciously offered to mentor students as they work to improve their broadcasting and hands-on technical skills! What a coup!

Podcasting also allows teacher-librarians to connect with members of the school community on another level. I have made a commitment to create two to three podcasts every academic year. The possibilities are endless: from a pod tour of the library; to more mundane yet equally important daily activities in any library: signing a book out, efficient utilization of the photocopier and our online L4U catalogue. No doubt these would all be more effective when done in conjunction with Jing screen-capturing technology.

OK. Now for the messy part: my podcast

The most difficult part of this assignment was selecting a topic on which to create my podcast. Personal? Professional? What would my intended audience want to hear? My love of radio? How I use podcasting? My passion for library advocacy? I decided to talk about why I believe in the power of provincial specialists association (PSA), my PSA, the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association and why all teacher-librarians (all education professionals for that matter!) must become an active member of their provincial specialists association. One take, no editing, live to air, baby!

why should you join your provincial teacher-librarians' association

My podcast back-beats courtesy of...Herrera

My first love of music always goes back to the amazing Canadian indie artist. And now that Internet radio and podcasting has made it easy to get your tunes out to the world, what better way than to share it on a podcast? The music for the podcast is courtesy of Herrera, a project started by Vancouver-based musician, Anthony Rowlands. This is "Wurly One" from the 2008 album Drop Box. Of course, Rowlands is one of thousands of artists that are using royalty-free services like Jamendo to share their music with the world! Enjoy!

References

Ackerman, Susan. (1995). A Natural History of the Senses. Vintage Books: New York.

Richardson, Will. (2010). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Corwin: Thousand Oaks, CA.

Trilling, B & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in our Times. John Wiley & Sons: San Francisco, CA.