I really enjoy podcasting and the many varied ways it can be used. I enjoy listening to them in my spare time, and they're also a great tool for libraries to use. The fact that they're so transportable really helps, because so long as you have a computer, an MP3 player, a smartphone or a tablet, you can access podcasts. iTunes carries a wide variety, many of which are free. One link that they have is to TEDtalks. TED, which stands for "Technology, Entertainment, Design", is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Sharing. It started out as a conference to bring together those three worlds mentioned, but it has grown to include a much wider scope. They have two annual conferences, and they post all of the videos of the speakers on the site. TEDtalks allows users to subscribe to the audio casts of the conferences for free. It's a wonderful way of disseminating fascinating information from well-known and innovative speakers.
Subscribing to a podcast like that in a high school library would be beneficial to the students. It would allow them access to current and innovative information, and since they're our future, they should have this type of information at their fingertips. It could inspire them as to what direction they want to take in life, as well as helping them with school assignments and projects. Creating podcasts would be a great tool for them as well, teaching them how to create and broadcast. For younger students it would also teach them research skills, writing and speaking skills.
Academic libraries use podcasting to allow their students and other interested persons access to lectures given. This is extremely helpful, especially if a student has missed a few classes and they need to catch up. It's also great for revision, because the student can download the lecture and review it as many times as they need to, revising their notes as they go. Which would be really helpful when exams came around. The academic library can also use podcasting as a way of disseminating information about the library itself. For example, Cornell University has "Libecast" which features "audio and video recordings about Cornell University Library and its exhibitions, events, lectures and services, offering the world a glimpse of life inside one of the nation’s best research libraries." The library also has the Oral History Project, which is a collection of oral history recordings contributed by their alumni and friends.
So not only are podcasts great for learning, but they're a wonderful tool for preserving history. If a student is doing a project on WWII and they could access podcasts of interviews with veterans, they would have a much more visceral experience as opposed to just reading about their experiences. And I think the more tangible information is, the better it can be used when teaching and informing others.
It's also a rather simple technology for a library to implement. Most of the equipment needed for basic podcasting can be downloaded for free. All that would need to be bought would be a microphone and headphones. Audacity is a recording program that is free for download, and it allows users to record and edit their recordings. I've used it myself and it's pretty easy to use. I haven't used it to record any podcasts, but that was the intent when I downloaded it. Another great site that podcasts is Revolution Radio, a fan site which posts podcasts of members reading high quality Chronicles of Narnia fanfiction. Their podcasts can also be found on iTunes, and on their RSS feed, which I have added at the side. They are always looking for staff to read the stories, and some of the staff they already have are amazing.
Which is more than I can say for some of the podcasts I had to listen to for this blog. From our selection I listened to Clayton Public Library- The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, Los Angeles Public Library- Author Interview with Children's Book Author John Scieszka, and Duggan Library Instructional Podcasts- Book Reviews.
I didn't care for The Raven podcast: the speaker spoke far too quickly and had a rather monotone voice. I found it unsuitable for such a poem, especially when I could easily hear a preferred pace and diction in my own mind. The overall volume of the podcast was far too low as well, I had to turn my volume up rather high to hear it properly.
The interview with John Scieszka however was very well done. I thought it was a good interview: the volume was perfect, the speakers had clear voices and used a moderate pace. My only con for this podcast was the length. I found it a bit long, and just sitting there listening to it, my attention started to wander. But that could be just because I don't know who the author is, and I haven't read his books. I'm sure if it was one of my favourite authors, then I would definitely listen with rapt attention all the way through.
Finally, the Duggan Library. I found the volume and pace of this podcast to be good, but the speaker's voice was somewhat annoying. It seemed a little raspy and I found that slightly distracting. But other than that, the content itself was great and very helpful.
Overall, I think podcasting, both in general use and for library use, is a wonderful tool that can be used in a variety of creative ways. You don't need a whole lot of expensive equipment to make it work. Just a little technology know-how and some spare time. And of course, creativity. That's really the key, because nobody wants to listen to a boring podcast when they are better things they could be doing with their time.
So get out there and let your voice be heard! Anybody and everybody can do it, and they can have fun doing it! With that in mind, I'm off to play with Audacity and maybe submit an application to Revolution Radio as a reader. Cheers!
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