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To support my particular area of interest in e-learning I decided to find a course on podcasting and have chosen the follow course to complete and comment on:

“How to create your own podcast – a step-by-step tutorial” by Corey Deitz from “About:Radio”

http://radio.about.com/od/podcastin1/a/aa030805a.htm

The tutorial outlines what a podcast is and takes the learner through the following topics:

1. How to record your audio and save it to an .mp3 file.
2. How to create an RSS file which holds the “directions” for sending your file when a user’s program like iPodder requests it
3. How to write the “directions” that are inside the RSS file
4. How to upload the RSS “feed” and your .mp3 file
5. How to validate that the file is written correctly and will send the file correctly.

It provides links to download appropriate software, links to other podcasting sights and to additional tutorials. The links to additional tutorials provide flexibility for the learner to access information at an individual level. It provides graphics and practical information reqgarding equipment requirements, even suggestions and comparisons for purchasing considerations.

So far…

* I started the tutorial and was able to download the appropriate software (Audacity) to my computer and read as far as I could go without a microphone.

* I purchased a microphone and plugged it into the computer and tried to record – nothing! It was at this point that I decided I needed to go back and access the additional tutorial links provided on audacity. I learnt a very key issue here – turn the microphone on first!

* I have now been able to record my first test – hooray!

I have set myself a goal to master podcasting in the next week in order to post my reflections on this blog as a podcast and also to use this technology for other subjects at UTS and I have to say I am worried that maybe I have bitten off more than I can chew! But I’m sure if I pace myself and access the additional links I will overcome!!!