Why Podcast?

Podcasting (or in an academic environment - course casting) is nothing more than the act of audio recording a regular course lecture and then posting a digital audio file of that lecture to an online site or service. Students retrieve these digital lectures and play them back, either on a computer or from a portable MP3 player, at their convenience. The ephemeral lecture can now also be a tool for review and reference.

Coursecasting is a simple, effective technology that can extend your classroom far beyond the allotted four walls and fifty minutes. Impact on classroom activities and on instructor time is minimal, but the benefit to the individual student can be enormous.

Getting Started

Almost any digital audio recording device can be used to capture your lecture. Once lectures are recorded, they must be converted to MP3 format and then uploaded to the hosting site via a Web form. Students will then have full access to the lectures.

Although course casting is simple and easy, everyone needs a hand getting started. The Innovative learning Center will take you through every step and support you throughout the semester. Call or write now to begin podcasting today - 862-8594 or enotes@tulane.edu.

The Essentials

There are three steps to podcasting: recording the lecture to digital audio; converting the digital audio file to MP3 format; and uploading the digital audio file to a podcasting service.

Digital Audio Recorders - Portable recorders are available from the Innovative Learning Center and may be checked out for the duration of your course. The recorder comes with accessories including a lavaliere or lapel microphone, extra batteries, and quick-start instructions. If you have your own digital audio recorder, chances are you can use that one, too. Call or write to reserve a recorder, set up a demonstration session, or discuss your own recorder - 862-8594 or enotes@tulane.edu.

Conversion to MP3 - Although course lectures may be recorded in nearly any digital audio format, they must be converted to MP3 format for online posting. MP3 files are generally more compact than other file formats, but more importantly, it's a universal format that can be played back on nearly any device. Tulane uses multiple podcasting services to deliver files to students. Some of these services automatically covert digital audio files to MP3 format during upload; others require the user to perform the conversion locally before upload.

Free software and conversion instructions are available from the Innovative Learning Center. If you have questions, please call or write - 862-8594 or enotes@tulane.edu.

Podcasting Services - Tulane is currently using three different podcasting services to deliver course lectures. Benefits are different depending on the service.

Tulane eNotes - The overall course podcast initiative at Tulane is called eNotes, but it's also the name of the central service. Tulane eNotes is hosted locally, is very simple to use, and allows the widest range of access. Audio files must be converted to MP3 format before uploading to eNotes. (Please note that there are NO access limitations to course audio files hosted on Tulane eNotes - anyone, anywhere with a network connection can listen to the content.) Please call or write to setup your initial course account on Tulane eNotes - 862-8594 or enotes@tulane.edu.

myTulane - Tulane's course management system, myTulane (formaerly BlackBoard), includes a podcasting module. Instructors can load podcasts into their myTulane course content area and then associate them with one or more of their courses. A with other content on myTulane, Podcast files are only accessible to students in the specific course that they're associated with. It is recommended that audio files be converted to MP3 format before uploading to myTulane. Please call or write to learn more about using myTulane to host podcast files - 862-8594 or enotes@tulane.edu.

iTunes U - Apple's iTunes service has spawned its own "academic department" known as iTunes U. Universities, including Tulane, have been invited to participate in the program. Students may download course content from iTunes U in much the same manner they download music files from iTunes. Content access is determined by the institution; in Tulane's case, content is NOT course specific, but is limited to only users with a Tulane e-mail address. Once configured, any audio file uploaded to iTunes U will be automatically converted to MP3 format. Please call or write to create a space for your course in iTunes U - 862-8594 or eNotes@tulane.edu.