Podcasting : What It Means to CPE

1
Podcasting What It Means to CPE

• Ray Schroeder, Dir. Technology-Enhanced Learning
• University of Illinois at Springfield

2
Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to
• Define podcasting
• Define RSS and describe what it does
• Describe process of creating podcasts
• Describe podcatchers
• Discuss the Zune factor in podcasting
• Identify how Podcasts can meet NASBA self-study
  requirements
  
• Discuss potential advantages in CPE

3
Podcasting

• 2005 word of the year New Oxford American
  Dictionary
  
• A podcast is a media file that is distributed by
  subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet
  using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile
  devices and personal computers. - Wikipedia
• Podcasting may auto-update an iPod
• Podcasting does NOT require an iPod!

4
Podcasting

• Podcasts were first called
• Audio Blogs
• Web logs (blogs) are web pages that are easily
  updated example
  
• Text, comments, exchanges possible
• These web pages with text accompany most podcasts
  allow for information exchange
  
• Engages the audience

5
Podcasting

• Process
• Make recording, gather visuals
• Assemble into a multi-media presentation
• Post to the Web most often with a description
  at a blog
  
• Generate RSS file
• Syndication
• Clients receive notice via RSS
• Their podcatcher automatically downloads to
  computer and send to iPod (if used)

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RSS

• RSS Really Simple Syndication (aka rich site
  summary)
  
• Uses XML web file to point to updated information
  online
  
• For example lectures, instructional modules
• Audio, text, graphics, video, multi-media
• Podcatchers iTunes, Juice, iPodder, etc.
• iTunes Enclosures powerful tool to configure
  contents to display/play
  

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Podcasts for Learning

• Have been used in higher education for three
  years! Originally called audio blogs
  
• iTunes University
• Sample Accounting Podcasts
• EPN Education Podcast Network
• Accounting Best Practices Bragg Nach
• Ernst Young Podcast Channels
• CPA Podcasts
• Podcasting News - Business

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Creating Podcasts

• In simplest audio form (mp3), podcasts can be
  created using free software.
  
• Audacity, Media Player, Feedburner, and other
  online tools
  
• Enhanced podcasts mp4a format
• Graphics, text, video
• ProfCast drag and drop visuals chapters
• OS-X platform required (Mac not PC)

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The Zune Factor

• iTunes still the largest, but proprietary
  nature (subject to lawsuits)
  
• Zune the iPod Killer - Microsoft
• Zune podcatcher
• http//feedyourzune.com/
• iPod vs. Zune - one is likely to win and the
  other is likely to die!
  
• Three to four year period of competition price,
  features, partners will determine which one
  survives
  

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NASBA Self Study Requirements

• Requirements can be met via blog, podcast, and
  associated online technologies
  
•  - Table of contents (blog)
•  - Learning objectives (blog)
•  - Review questions with evaluative and/or
  reinforcement feedback embedded within the
  learning activity (associated quizzing site)
  
•  - Final Exam (associated quizzing site)
•  - Index (blog)
•  - Glossary of terms (blog)

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Exams and Assessments

• Online testing / quizzing site (modest cost)
• Example Online Testing .Net
• Open Source Course management systems provide
  both testing and discussion options
  
• Example Moodle (UCLA just adopted) (free)
• Assessment / Evaluation by the clients
  (students)
  
• Example Get Fast (free online assessment tool)

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Podcasting Advantages

• Why podcast?
• RSS dissemination auto-distributes (syndicates)
  the media files to the desktops and iPods/Zunes
  of the clients
  
• iPod/Zune portable nature mobile! Easy to take
  to lunch ?
  
• Coming soon Zunes and iPods with cell phone
  and/or WiFi connectivity for quizzes and
  assessments

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Discussion and Questions

• Define podcasting
• media file that is distributed by subscription
  (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using
  syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices
  and personal computers.
• Define RSS and describe what it does
• Xml file that provides a brief summary of the
  content used to auto-update devices

14
Discussion and Questions

• Describe process of creating podcasts
• Record audio, assemble other elements, insert
  into MP3 or MP4a format, publish to web, publish
  RSS file
  
• Describe podcatchers
• Software that searches the net for updated RSS
  files and downloads podcasts
  
• Discuss the Zune factor in podcasting
• Like VHS vs betamax creates a winner take all
  competition with iPod
  

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Discussion and Questions

• Meeting self-study requirements
•  - Table of contents in associated blog
•  - Learning objectives in associated blog
•  - Review questions with evaluative and/or
  reinforcement feedback embedded within the
  learning activity in onlinetesting.net / moodle
  or similar
•  - Final Exam onlinetesting.net / moodle or
  similar
  
•  - Index - in associated blog
•  - Glossary of terms - in associated blog

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Discussion and Questions

• Discuss potential advantages in CPE
• Automates the syndication
• Mobile
• May provide live anywhere connection
• Additional Questions?

17
Contact Info and URL

• Ray Schroeder
• Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning
• University of Illinois at Springfield
• Springfield, IL 62703
• rschr1_at_uis.edu
• [phone]
• http//onlinelearningupdate.com/podcastingcpe.ppt