Instructional Technology Conference 2008

Title: Podcasting Made Simple: A Hands-on Workshop for Creating and Distributing Enhanced Podcasts using an Apple MacBook

Name: Dr. Timothy N. Burcham, P.E., Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn, & Dr. Philip Smartt

Audience Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Audience: Faculty and IT Personnel

Length: 3 hours

Abstract:
Virtually any discussion associated with pedagogy in higher education will usually evoke the term "podcasting."; Studies indicate more than 80 percent of college students have at least one device capable of receiving and playing a podcast. This workshop will provide hands-on training for developing and distributing enhanced podcasts. Three 50-minute sessions will include: (1) MacBook Basics; (2) Creating Enhanced Podcasts; and (3) Distributing Podcasts using Blackboard and iTunesU. Apple MacBook computers will be provided by UT Martin. Enrollment is limited.

Description:
Session 1 - MacBook Basics: Living with a Mac in a Windows World

While Apple Macintosh computers are gaining in market share, they still represent a very small percentage of the PC base in the United States (~ 5%). Therefore, many Windows PC users are reluctant to adopt a new operating system (OS), such as Apple's OS X. Apple's recent adoption of the Intel CPU for its Macintosh computers allows them to run Microsoft Windows based software in either a native format (Bootcamp) or through virtualization software (Parallels and VMWare's Fusion). This 50-minute session will familiarize Windows PC users with the Macintosh OS and demonstrate how Windows-based software can be used on an Apple MacBook.

Session 2 - Creating Enhanced Podcasts: Apple's iLife 08, Profcast, and iShowU

Creating podcasts can be a daunting task for many individuals in higher education. Demands on time, lack of proper equipment (hardware and software), and training force many in higher education to continue with "business as usual"; with regard to their teaching style. Studies indicate today's college student is receptive to receiving information through a variety of outlets. These so-called "digital natives"; bask in a digital information paradigm that includes social activities (Facebook and MySpace), communication (SMS via cell phones, chat, and email), and learning (Wikipedia, Blackboard, free online courses through MIT, Carnegie Mellon, etc.).

This session will hopefully remove the "daunting"; aspect of creating podcasts and show the workshop attendee how to create enhanced podcasts that connect with their students. Dr. Burcham and his colleagues will demonstrate three software packages including: iLife 08, Profcast, and iShowU. The iLife 08 software comes with the Apple MacBook computer and provides some great tools for creating podcasts (GarageBand and iMovie). Profcast (Humble Daisey, Inc.) allows the user to record audio annotation on any Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote presentation. It is extremely easy to use and is an inexpensive way to create podcasts from your library of existing PowerPoint/Keynote presentations. The iShowU software is a convenient and inexpensive screen-capture utility that allows the user to capture anything displayed on the MacBook screen with audio (voice) annotation. This software is particularly useful for creating software tutorials, but can also be used to create enhanced podcasts from PowerPoint or Keynote presentations.

Session 3 - Distributing Podcasts with Blackboard and iTunesU

Once a podcast is created, it needs to be uploaded to a medium that makes it available to your students. Podcasts can be easily uploaded and played through a course management system (CMS) such as Blackboard or WebCT. In addition to the traditional CMS outlets for podcasts, Apple has introduced iTunesU, a free podcast-hosting platform that is being adopted by many universities. Podcasts uploaded to iTunesU are played using Apple's free iTunes software (Windows and Mac). Since iTunes is the dominant digital media player, students are familiar with its interface. Podcasts distributed using iTunesU include a "Subscribe"; feature (RSS) that automatically delivers your latest podcast to students in your course. This session will teach workshop attendees how to upload and distribute podcasts via BlackBoard and iTunesU.

Session Type: Pre-conference Workshop

Contact information/affiliation:
Dr. Timothy N. Burcham, P.E.
Professor & Gil Parker Chair of Excellence
University of Tennessee at Martin
254 Brehm Hall, Martin, TN 38238
(Phone) 731-881-7275 (FAX) 731-881-7968
tburcham@utm.edu

Dr. Joey E. Mehlhorn
Associate Professor of Agribusiness
University of Tennessee at Martin
265 Brehm Hall, Martin, TN 38238
(Phone) 731-881-7257 (FAX) 731-881-7968
mehlhorn@utm.edu

Dr. Philip Smartt
Assistant Professor, Parks and Recreation
University of Tennessee at Martin
261 Brehm Hall
(Phone) 731-881-7954 (FAX) 731-881-7968
psmartt@utm.edu

Equipment: MacBook computers will be supplied by UT Martin for workshop participants (enrollment is limited to available MacBook units).

---

Return to Proposals