From Concept to Podcast

Objectives

• Create an educational podcast in your subject area and grade level.
• Learn to use a variety of software tools from iLife and iWork (Safari, iPhoto, Keynote, iTunes)
• Model a project-based approach to learning with technology.

Identify a Concept

• that you will be teaching this semester
• that can be focused into a ten-minute presentation
• that takes advantage of images and voice
• that might be presented in class and stored on the iPod.

Find Images

• Think about the kinds of images that might help develop your concept.
• Use Safari to connect with Google Advanced Image Search.
• Set the size to larger than 800x600.
• Enter your search terms. (Concrete specific words are better than abstract terms: enter prairie grass rather then vegetation; smile rather than happiness.)
• Click an image that you might want to use in your project.
• At the top of the page, click See full size image.

Save Images

• If you like the image, control-click it. (Press the control key on the keyboard as you click the mouse in the middle of the picture.)
• From the drop-down menu, choose Add Image to iPhoto Library.
• Watch your image enter the iPhoto Library.
• In iPhoto, enter descriptive information about the image in the Information pane.
• Repeat this process until you have enough images for your project (about six).

Sequence Images

• In iPhoto, under the View menu, uncheck Event Titles.
• From the menubar, choose View --> Sort Photos --> Manually.
• Drag your images into the sequence that makes sense for your project.
• As you sequence them, think of how you'd narrate the sequence for your students.
• Select the images you want to show. (Shift-click to select more than one.)
• At the bottom of the iPhoto widow, click the Slideshow button.
• Adjust the settings as follows:
  • Theme: Classic
  • Music: Uncheck Play music...
  • Settings: Set each slide to play for 20 seconds.
• As you watch the slides, think through your narration.
• Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move back and forth through your slides.
• Rehearse your narration one more time.

Show Images

• Show and narrate your images to the person next to you.
• Watch and listen to that person's project.
• Provide and receive constructive criticism on your works.
• Reflect on what you have leaned so far in this process.

Create a Podcast

1. Open Keynote. Choose a plain white background.
2. Enter a title for your project.
3. From the menubar, choose Slide --> New Slide.
4. From the Masters button at the top, choose Blank.
5. From the menubar, choose View--> Show Media Browser.
6. Click the Photos tab, and find your first image.
7. Drag it from the Media Browser into the slide.
8. Repeat steps 3-7 for subsequent images.
9. Save your project.
10. From the menubar, choose Record Slideshow.
11. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move through the slides as you record your narration.
12. When you are done, click the forward arrow one more time to stop recording.
13. From the menubar, choose Play --> Play Slideshow to review your work.
14. From the menubar, choose Share --> Export --> iPod.
15. Wait as your narration and your images are compressed into iPod format.
16. Watch and listen to your video podcast in iTunes.
17. Reflect on what you have learned so far, and on how your students might enjoy working through this same process.