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GETTING STARTED

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This section explores how to get started in using audio in your teaching. Planning for your podcast guides you through the design of a podcast (why? what? who for? how?), and whether you want to produce your own audio file or find one on the Internet.

Planning for your podcast

Design your podcast. Who is your audience? Is it going to be part of a series? Can it be reusable? You may wish to explore a design model (produced by IMPALA) which guides you through the process
Try out this audio guide from NETSKILLS which gives you 10 things to try out.
Listen to the BBC podcasts and decide which podcasts appeal to you and why.
Understand the podcasting jargon - this short document will unravel the terminilogy!

Some ideas for a short 5 minute audio file:

Describe a case-study for your students to think about before next week's seminar
Clarify a complex theory to support a lecture
Recap the previous week's activities
Remind your students what activities you expect them to be doing next week
Contextualise a seminar discussion by playing a digital story
Trigger a group activity by playing an interview
Provide a challenge by playing an audio guide

Producing audio files yourself

There are several ways of producing audio files.

Using a portable digital recorder (.pdf). These can be borrowed from ISMS Media Services.
Using the Marantz Digital Recorder (.pdf)
Using your computer and Audacity. You will need a microphone headset and the software installed on your computer (see "Advertised Programs" on your work PC)
Guide to Using Audacity (.pdf)
Recording with Audacity (.mp4)
Using an I-gadget (Ipod, iTouch or iPad). Just find the recording application.
2-minute guide in using the iPhone for audio (.pdf)

In order to comply with the Equality Act 2009, you may be required to provide a text transcript alongside the audio file. Just contact the Anglia Ruskin Transcription Centre on ext: 3174.

Searching the Internet for audio files

There are many audio resources on the Internet which you may wish to use during a seminar, for example short news clips or interviews. A good starting point to finding an audio resource is to do the online tutorial from JISC Digital Media as this will guide you on searching the Internet specifically for audio files. It also lists a number of key sites for sourcing audio resources. In addition, the tutorial explains copyright issues with regard to using audio files. An additional resource is the JORUM Open Educational Resource which may enable you to re-use or adapt audio files without infringing copyright - just use the keyword "podcast" or "audio".