Podcasts
Why would anyone create a podcast? Well, the answer is simple...to get a message out to others. Podcasts vary in so many ways from listening to the latest crime thriller episodes to finding self-help podcasts to get your mind and body right each day, and all the way down to the classroom. That's right, podcasts and education go hand-in-hand. Not only can librarians use podcasts to help promote books or even promote authors, but teachers can also use podcasts in their classrooms to enrich lessons, and even more so, students can create podcasts to help demonstrate knowledge of understanding. The possibilities are endless with using podcasts in the educational setting. In this quick blog, I will highlight three of the podcast programs and sites that I have personally tried. While there are many out there that are available to check out, here are the top three that I have tried.
Anchor
This particular podcasting site was neat because it is also an easy app to use on the phone. I was able to go to the Google Play store and quickly download the app for even more ease of use. The website is also very user-friendly. Anchor is owned by the company Spotify, so many users will feel comfortable using the program if they are already Spotify users.
When you first log in, you are walked through the basic setup and can begin deciding how you want to start your podcast and what options, like music, you want to add.
The absolute best thing about using Anchor is that it is 100% free and super easy to sign up for an account. Included are unlimited episode uploads, downloads, or even the length of the podcast episode. One way that they are able to provide this service for free is to insert ads within your podcast, just like Hulu does if you have that streaming service on your TV.
It is super easy to set up with your computer microphone (or giving access to your microphone), or even easier using the phone and allowing permissions. It was also very simple to add music as an introduction and exit to the podcast.
One final huge perk is that you can link up with someone else who may not be nearby to do a joint podcast. It is a simple "invite to join" while you are set up to record. So to try this out a bit further, I partnered up with a fellow librarian Ms. Erica Aveytia and we created a podcast together about Graphic Novels in the library. We do not live near each other, so the use of this technology was neat to allow us to record together at the same time as if we were sitting right next to each other.
Please enjoy our podcast on what a Graphic Novel is. Click this link to take you directly to our Spotify account to listen.
Graphic Novels in the Library (If for some reason this does not work, please do not hesitate to comment and I will work on it some more.)
Buzzsprout
I have used Buzzsprout in the past and while I loved it because of the ease of use, especially setting up a profile and image; I did not enjoy the fact that my podcast was only available for a limited time unless I paid a membership.
While you can have a free membership, it is severely limited versus some of the other podcast sites out there. You can only upload up to two hours per month and then your podcast disappears after three months. However, if you are willing to pay, there are multiple payment options to choose from depending on how often you plan to do a podcast and how much time you need.
I do love how "clean" and organized the home screen is when you log in.
A really neat feature that may make this site worth one to purchase a monthly subscription to is the Magic Mastering option. I did purchase a one-month subscription when I used Buzzsprout in the past because of this one neat feature. I was recording my podcast while staying in a hotel and the AC was abnormally loud. Using this Magic Mastering feature, I was able to cut out most of the background sound and enhanced the vocal sound, giving me a clean-sounding podcast.
So if you are wanting to make podcasts often and don't have the quietest place to make your recordings, this might be one that you decide to do a monthly subscription at. I feel like Buzzsprout is one of the easiest podcast sites to use. If only they offered more on their free version it would be the top pick.
RedCircle
This is one of the newer podcast sites available for users right now. With this program, when you first attempt to sign up you have to select how you will be using the program from three available options.
After you have chosen your category, it will let you create an account. For this review, I went with "I'm a Podcaster." Right after you select, you are prompted with their pricing plans, which really do seem reasonable when you consider the options that are given with each monthly subscription amount.
The home dashboard is very clean and organized and immediately gives you the option to import an already created podcast or the option to start from scratch. Very similar to Buzzsprout, you are again asked to upload an image and begin formatting information for your podcast before you actually start the recording.
I felt like there were more steps and things to complete on RedCircle versus the other programs before you can get to the recording portion. However, once you are finally able to record, it is very easy to do as well as make edits and adjustments to the recording. Overall, this would not be the first pick for me but definitely a good beginner podcasting program to use.
Podcasts in the Library
There are several ways to push podcasts for use in the library that would be educational to all those that listen. A librarian could do book talks through podcasts, there could be student-led group book talks that are recorded for others to listen to, a librarian could do a podcast with an author to help promote their book, a librarian could do mini-professional development opportunities through podcasts for teachers, and so much more!
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are so many wonderful sites out there that allow you the ability to record yourself and get your message out there for others to hear. While these are only three, I will say, personally, these three are very user-friendly for any beginner that is willing to venture out into the podcasting world. My favorite to use is still Buzzsprout; however, because of the cost and living on a teacher's salary, Anchor would be my go-to choice because it offers so much for free! As a reminder, a quick search of the phrase "create a podcast" will net you so many options to choose from and while this may be only three to look at so far, the options are endless depending on your needs and your budget.
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First I would like to thank you for showing me different things this semester. This lesson was no different. I did not know that two people learning how to use podcasts could do this. I had heard a podcast with two people, but I figured it must be a really difficult thing to do. Once we had a plan on what to say and you explained to me how we were going to record it, it was really a really neat experience! Thank you, Jammie! Now back to your blog. I also played around with Buzzsprout and that is where I learned about that audio correction.
ReplyDeleteI too loved the ease of Anchor, especially when creating a podcast with another person who is not in the same location. I have never found a program that had such a simple method for recording a wonderful end product! I particularly enjoyed the "walkie-talkie style" setup with this app and the ease at which I could add background music to the entire podcast recording. The only downside I found was that there were editing limitations on the computer platform that did not exist on the phone. This initially caused me frustration, but once I realized what was going on, I quickly edited our recording using the tools available on my phone, saved it to my account, and had no trouble accessing the edited version on my computer.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to your podcast, I love the look of your page! The background color and "Keeping Literature Lit" icon captivated my attention right from the beginning. Additionally, the topic you chose is one I am very passionate about, so I was very excited to tune in. What a great idea to use podcasts as a way to "talk" to your students! The organization of the information was presented in a logical way, and the language you used was perfect for students. I also appreciate the length of time because it was long enough to provide the important details but not so long that it would lose the interest/engagement of your students. Great job!
I enjoyed you and Erica's podcast. I didn't know about the background of graphic novels; I thought that was interesting. I like that Erica introduced different types of graphic novels and gave examples of each one.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good idea to include pictures of the pricing underneath your podcast options. That way users can get a quick glimpse at pricing to see if this will fit their budget needs. Every time I look at someone's blog, it gives me ideas on what I should add to mine.
I really enjoyed this post and your podcast on graphic novels--you provided a lot of really great information, and I think your students would enjoy listening as well. I like that you set your podcast up with students as your target audience, and you have good suggestions on how to use them in the library. You also did a great job of breaking down the pros and cons of each podcasting platform you researched. My partner and I also used Anchor not just because it was free, but because it seemed the easiest to combine audio from people who were in two different locations. Very informative and professional blog!
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