1. PowerCasting: Using PowerPoint as a Podcasting Tool
Dr. Steve Broskoske
Misericordia University

2. What Is a Podcast? + =
iPod
broadcast
podcast

3. What Is a Podcast? podcast:
An audio (and possibly video) recording that can be listened to (and viewed) via an iPod, other MP3 player, a computer, or a mobile computing device.
Many podcasters will offer an RSS feed to alert users of new podcasts available at the site.

4. Faculty Use of Podcasts
Repetition of lecture material covered in class:
A second look at the material.
A different approach to the material.
Supplement to class activities:
Remediation for slower learners.
Enrichment for advanced or highly motivated learners.
Assistance for students with certain disabilities.
Support for English language learners.

5. Faculty Use of Podcasts
Added benefits:
Facilitates self-paced learning.
Frees up class time for other group and interactive activities.

6. Popularity of Podcasts
Study by the Pew Trusts (Rainie & Madden, 2005):
29% of all iPod users have downloaded a podcast.
Nearly half of all college-age iPod owners have downloaded a podcast.
iTunes University currently distributes thousands of free college-level podcasts from over eight hundred universities.
McGarr, O. (2009). A review of podcasting in higher education: Its influence on the traditional lecture. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3),
McKinney, D, Dyck, JL, and Luber, ES (2009) iTunes University and the Classroom: Can Podcasts Replace Professors? Computers and Education, 52,

7. Podcasts Improve Student Learning
Researchers are beginning to find that podcasting can improve student learning outcomes.
McGarr (2009) suggests that podcasting can improve student learning by increasing student motivation and engagement.
McKinney, Dyck, and Luber (2009) found that students watching a lecture podcast significantly outperformed a group of students who only viewed the lecture in person.
McGarr, O. (2009). A review of podcasting in higher education: Its influence on the traditional lecture. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3),
McKinney, D, Dyck, JL, and Luber, ES (2009) iTunes University and the Classroom: Can Podcasts Replace Professors? Computers and Education, 52,

8. Two Ways to Implement Podcasting in a Traditional Classroom
Choose a medium for delivery that is appropriate to your technology skill level.
Podcasting: Use free or inexpensive audio recording software on a computer to record your voice.
PowerCasting: Easily record a lecture within an existing PowerPoint presentation.
PowerCasting is a term coined by Dr. Steve to describe an easy & creative alternative to traditional podcasting.

9. PowerPoint and Podcasting
“True” podcasting:
Audio (possible video).
Syndication capabilities (RSS feed subscription).
PowerCasting (PowerPoint podcasting):
Easy way to add “podcasting” to your teaching.
Focus on content, not on the tool.
Utilize presentations you already have.

10. Narrate an Entire Slideshow
PowerPoint will allow you to record continuous narration (lecture) as you run the slideshow as you usually would in class.
As you narrate, the time you spend on each slide can also be recorded.

11. Edit the Narration
In reality, PowerPoint records a separate narration for each slide. This allows you to:
Preview each slide narration individually.
Edit the sound for each slide individually.
Begin re-recording from a particular slide, stopping at any point.

12. Adjusting Recording Settings
Right-click the volume icon in the system tray. Select “sound.”
Set recording level.
Set recording quality.

13. Steps in Recording Narration
Set microphone level (in Office 2007).
Set up and adjust microphone if needed.

14. Steps in Recording Narration
Select this tool to begin recording the narration.

15. Steps in Recording Narration
After you hit “OK,” the presentation will run as usual.
Recording begins immediately. Begin speaking.
Advance slides by clicking as usual.
If you are using custom animation, click during narration as usual.
Hit ESC to end early, OR record until you hit the end of the presentation.

16. Steps in Recording Narration
PowerPoint will ask if you want to save the slide timings.
Before recording in PP 2010.
Maybe
Definitely
After recording in PP 2007.

17. Hint When Recording Narration
HINT: On each slide, pause for 1 second before and after speaking to ensure all of your words are recorded.

18. Learner Control When a Student Listens
When the slideshow is played back:
The presentation automatically advances using your saved slide timings (if you saved them).
If a student begins playing the slideshow from a particular slide, the narration begins from that point.
A student can click to advance the slide early, clipping your sound file.
Learner Control

19. Editing Narration Navigate to the slide you want to re-record.
Select slideshow—record narration.
Continue recording on subsequent slides.
Press the ESC key to end recording.

20. PowerPoint Extras
You can also add any of these PowerPoint interactive “extras”:
Use animation to build slides and maintain learner attention.
Navigate to a Website using an action button.
Link to files (documents, spreadsheets).
Embed or link to a video.
Use animation to provide embedded questions about the lesson, and triggered animation to feedback.

21. LET’S TRY IT!
Let’s try recording continuous narration using a PowerPoint presentation to create a PowerCast.
Remember:
Recording begins immediately.
Advance the slides as usual – your timings are saved as well.