Podcasting-+Audacity

=**Podcasting- Audacity**=

Audacity is an audio editor that allows users to edit and create software using Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and other operating systems created by the GNU General Public License (GPL). Audacity allows users to record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs; edit MP3, WAV or AIF files; cut, copy or splices sounds together; And change the speed or pitch of a recording. While Audacity appears on the surface to be strictly intended for audio engineers or musicians, it is a great tool that may be incorporated within the classroom.



Podcasts are an audio recording/digital file that may be downloaded to a computer, media player, cell phone or tablet. This creates versatility with the education process to enable students to learn and engage materials while not being in the classroom. Audacity is a tool that may be used to encompass and incorporate ideas not brought up in the classroom to engage students with a deeper understanding of topics discussed.

Audacity is free to use with no cost and gives freedom to the user to create/modify/study the software used. This creates a felt difficulty for students to discover how technology works and encourages them to explore and their own discourse. This helps students become interested in what is being taught by giving them objects to breakdown and create without the 'structure' of being told what and how to do something.

This software may be used to create podcasts pertaining to information relevant to the classroom. Since a podcast gives the individual the freedom to create audio recordings and splice important information out or vice versa, the educator has tremendous control over the educational importance of what is being projected. If students miss class or do not have the ability to take notes because he/she is overwhelmed or writes slow, the teacher may create a podcast on lessons taught to help these students understand information being taught in the classroom. This gives the educator mobility to cover more ground in the classroom as well. If he/she has missed important information while teaching a lesson the students may download the podcast to receive more information about particular topics.

Audacity not only gives the power to cover full lessons of information through podcast, it also benefits students in reading strategies. The students may be encouraged to create a podcast of them reading at the beginning of the year. As the students continue the school year teachers may have students create new podcasts of them reading to give them confidence in their growing ability or show where they are lacking and need improvement. This is a great tool as many students are nervous or lack confidence in their ability to read out loud. As students continue to create podcasts they may review previous ones to listen to their achievement and gain confidence reading aloud. By creating the confidence in their ability to read this will encourage students to read material in and out of class.

Students may also use Audacity to create projects within the classroom. In the Social Studies class they may create a news story relating to a time that is being studied. As the students create this podcast they may incorporate historical figures, events and sounds to generate an atmosphere for the times being studied. The students may create a mock news story and have other students be citizens living in that time. This gives students the creativity of designing what they believe was important for that time and the ability to share this information without presenting in front of a classroom. The teacher may listen to each podcast or have the students still present it in front of the class by using just the audio recording.

Audacity gives educators and students the freedom to encourage educational exploration in the classroom. Whether this be recording the lesson of that day, helping students with their reading or creating innovative projects for students to do. As technology increases it is important for we, as educators, to keep up with what is being produced and incorporate it in the classroom, Audacity is one tool that may be used to help students get excited about the classroom while educating them.

More Information: [|Audacity Features] [|Free Software Foundation] [|OHLOH]

Tutorial on creating a Podcast using Audacity: [|Tutorial]

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To put it simply, podcasts are recorded digital files (usually audio, but sometimes video) that can be downloaded to computers, cell phones, and media devices to be used conveniently and portably. The term “podcast” originated from a combination of “broadcasting” and the company Apple’s trademarked term “pod” from the quick success of the iPod.

Podcasts can be utilized in the classroom in countless ways with the great advancement of technology. In order for students to revisit material learned in class (especially if a child was absent, notes were missed, or a child got behind for any reason), teachers have the ability to record their lectures or lessons. From there they are able to post those podcasts on their website, email them to students, or post them to a class blog.

Voice recordings can be beneficial for students learning to read or struggling with speaking English. Obtaining a podcast of themselves reading aloud or dictating certain words will allow them to listen over and over to the sound of their voice. This will help with bumps in the pronunciation and words they are unsure of. Along with improving skills outside of the classroom, portable podcasts of the children save them from potentially being embarrassed in front of their classmates. Teachers can easily work with the students to achieve success through podcasts.

__Audacity__ is a very simple way to record and export audio tracks. Before researching podcasts, I personally took advantage of this application for music editing. As confusing or advanced as it may appear, the program makes it extremely easy to cut and trim songs, change the tempo or pitch of audio files, add fun effects, and of course record sounds of your own.

For beginning users of Audacity: To start recording a podcast, just press the large, red circle contained in the music player at the top left corner of the screen. The sound picks up right away (make sure the volume is up). To stop, return to the top left corner and click on the yellow square.

From there you are free to replay, edit, or add effects to the recorded piece. By using the “select tool” located in the panel next to the red record button, you are able to highlight and select portions of the track. I encourage “trimming” the recording and “cutting” out unwanted portions or mistakes. These operations can be found under the EDIT tab at the top of the screen. Go ahead and explore the EFFECTS tab for volume control, different pitch, fading, and much more. There are many options available to you!



Once your podcast is just how you want it, it is time to export it. Click the FILE tab at the top of the screen and select “export.” Name your file accordingly and save it wherever you see fit. Most versions of podcasts are mp3 files; these are most compatible with media devices.



Especially in today’s modernized society, podcasts are a wonderful tool to use in the field of education. There are limitless things to be done with Audacity and other recording software such as GarageBand. Educators now can use their creativity to innovate ways to incorporate technology in lessons. Students love this sort of updated interaction. Podcasts are highly recommended to be utilized in the classroom.

Here is the link to the free download of Audacity: DOWNLOAD AUDACITY

And to clarify any confusion about recording podcasts with Audacity, I have included a YouTube how-to video: Recording an Audio Podcast mp3 with Audacity

**Stephanie Benson**
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Audacity is an aspect of Podcast. It is a free audio editor that supports Windows, Mac and Linux. It performs basic audio editing in an intuitive way that even beginners can easily learn how to use. Audacity performs basic audio editing and format transfers in an intuitive fashion. In other words, it is easy to understand.

Podcast is audio content that is delivered through an RSS feed which is like radio on demand but with far more options in relation to content and programming. Listeners can determine the time and place and what programming they receive and when to listen to it. They can listen at their own leisure and even turn into radio personalities. There are some different uses of Podcasts: 1) Self-Guided Walking Tours- use informational content, 2) Talk Shows- conducting news and commentaries, which could be a great interactive tool in the classroom, 3) Training- instructional and informational materials, and 4) Story- story telling for children or visually impaired students can have an opportunity to have their educational needs met in a different way. You can listen to contents of audio feeds using a reader or aggregator that supports podcasting.

Podcasts can be displayed on websites with clickable links to audio files and many of the standard readers support audio enclosures. The syndication aspect can create increases in audience size. Podcasts give the listener control over the information.

Audacity is used by a microphone, tapedeck or turntable. There is the feature that you can edit the files how you wish. In this, you can remove unwanted noise and pops between phrases to create a composite of the best takes. Users can also add audio effects, but they must be careful because you permanently change the audio and it can't be changed back. Audacity converts to MP3 format it the user wishes to do so. They can import audio files and view waveforms to find any visual clues to problems they are experiencing so they can be corrected.



Audacity can record and edit 16, 24 and 32-bit samples and up to 96 KHz. With this in mind, audacity's quality is up to professional standards. Audacity is a simple tool that works well and is becoming popular. Its simplicity allows more people to start podcasting that normally would not.

In the educational setting, students and teachers are learning to rely on audio style learning and teaching to reach more students which may learn best through auditory means. Visually impaired students now have another way to learn content that is crucial to them. Teachers can use this to help their students improve their academic performance. Teachers can teach lessons and have them uploaded to audio files for the students who need this form of instruction. Students also can have control over where to stop or parts to skip if they already know that particular information. Students can also create their own podcasts and share with each other or even across the world. It can be a valuable cross-cultural experience.

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-Stephen Bailey