PortablePD.ca

Sonia Manchen and Tracy Nicholson from Jack Donahue P.S. have created the “Ultimate Podcast Organizer”. They took the items that they received as part of our podcast kit and found a container, I think at Canadian Tire, to house everything. With the labels on the items and in the box it makes it really easy for kids to take the kit and be responsible for returning everything to the proper place. The storage box is 38 cm x38 cm. The brand of the box is Plano model 3870 from the Plano molding company . A neat and inexpensive way to keep your podcast stuff organized.

While it is easy to listen to our podcasts on this website, Jane and I recommend you try finding the PortablePD Podcast on iTunes as well.  That way, whenever  a new show becomes available, it will automatically be downloaded to your computer. Now that the podcast is on iTunes, it can easily be added to your iPod.  Imagine, listening to Jane and Nathan when you do aerobics, jog, drive, or take the dog out for a walk.

or click here

Note:  This post is specific to computers maintained by the Ottawa Carelton District School Board.

When I try to plug in our new usb headsets to the student computers in our minilab some of the computers prompt for an administrator password and say we do not have the rights to install. Why does it work fine when I plug in some but not on others?

Have anyone seen this issue before or have any advice on how to remedy this?

Thanks in advance,

Jamie

This tutorial is meant to support those working with Windows and Audacity.  I hope it proves to be helpful.

Click here for a larger version of this tutorial.

Here’s a quick how-to on deleting files from your Sony ICD-UX70S MP3 Recorder.  It’s currently available at the big box stores like Staples, Best Buy and Future Shop. For more thoughts about this particular voice recorder, and why we like it so much, visit this post.

Click here for a larger version of the tutorial.

Time to put on your troubleshooting gloves.  Or put it off and find something really strong to drink.  It all depends on how your day is going.

If you are using a USB headset microphone we suggest that you first plug them in and wait a few seconds so that the computer recognizes them. Then start up Audacity.

On some OCDSB computers, you will get a password prompt when anything USB is plugged in. The board has put out an installer called “USB Thumbdrive…”. Install that and reboot. Jane says the computer freezes after installation. Of course that never happened to me – so either way you have to restart.

If that doesn’t work or you are using a “regular” non-USB microphone go to edit/preferences in the Audacity menu. You’ll be in the Audio I/O tab automatically. Click on playback and record menus and select a different device. In the case of USB headsets, the name of that particular headset should show up in the menu. In the “regular” microphones just try picking a different one and cross your fingers.

Perhaps this doesn’t need to be said, but check that the microphone is plugged in to the microphone jack. It is often in both the front and back of the computer. Try both if you have the patience.

Another thing about USB headsets: they often come with an on/off button that is not so obvious to those of us, like me, who don’t read instruction manuals. A solid red (or blue or whatever) light means the mike is operating. If it is blinking it is not recording.

We hope there was something there that did the trick.

Is it really so dirt cheap to start podcasting in the classroom?

Absolutely.  It can be free assuming you have a computer, microphone and Internet access.  One of the biggest attractions of podcasting, for us anyway, is that it could be done with hardware and software that our school board already had, or, was freely available on the internet.  As long as you have a computer that either can run Audacity, Internet access, and a microphone you already have everything you need.  You might discover that your school has lots of unused microphones lying around from older computers and tape recorders.  They are still usable.  Easier still, your computer already might have a built in microphone.  No microphone?  They can be found at dollar stores.  I wouldn’t suggest shelling out big bucks until you know what you’re dong and if you want to invest anything more into it.

But I really want to spend money on shiny gadgets

OK.  Fine.  Just for the sake of not going completely overboard, let’s say that you have money to burn or your principal or some mysterious benefactor has given you $1000 to spend on some sort of podcasting kit.  What would you include?  Jane and I have put a great deal of thought into this very topic (Some of this stuff goes on sale so there’s a good chance it will come out a little less than $1000):

Sony ICD-UX70S MP3 Recorder

-    plug and play (no proprietary software)
-    built in USB (no lost cables)
-    single AAA battery
-    relatively inexpensive
-    similar to the model Jane won in another grant
-    really important: it saves to the MP3 format

Battery Charger

- help avoid that infuriating moment when your students are set to record and you have no batteries

- make sure it charges AA and AAA

AAA rechargeable batteries

- most voice recorders run on AAA

Eee PC 4G

-    once Audacity is installed, you can use it as a student editing station
-    small enough for students to use at their own desks
-    inexpensive enough to include in a kit like this
-    plug in a USB headset microphone, or use the built in microphone to record your students
-    install iTunes to listen to and subscribe to more podcasts

Mouse

- because the eeePC keyboard is really tiny for adult hands

- Audacity can be used almost entirely with a mouse

8GB Memory Card

-    we found a Kodak SDHC card for $20
-    also available in 16GB and 32GB, probably will keep increasing in memory and decreasing in price
-    triples the memory of your Eee PC 4G
-    allows you more flexibility to store and edit audio and install other programs

USB Headset Microphone

-    USB simplifies things, don’t have to fiddle with sound settings
-    quality recording for a single user
-    students are less tempted to bump microphone around resulting in a cleaner recording

Stereo Headphones

-    allows for quiet sound editing
-    we suggest you get at least four sets to allow for more that one student to edit audio on a computer or listen to podcasts

Headphone Splitter

-    allow for two headphones to connect to one headphone jack on a computer, CD player, MP3 player, etc.

Kidcast: Podcasting in the Classroom
by Dan Schmit  (FTC Publishing)

-    detailed overview of how to start up a podcast in the classroom
-    information for both Mac and PC users

FTC SoundPak
(FTC Publishing)

-    CD contains over 3,400 sound effects, music loops, and other sounds created specifically for the classroom.
-    feel secure in the knowledge that you are respecting copyright

Our Class Podcast
by Jane Smith and Nathan Toft (Scholastic)

-    handy way to introduce podcasting to your class
-    six copies in package allow you to meet your Guided Reading requirements at the same time
-    part of Scholastic’s “Moving Up with Literacy” guided reading series
-    well known and respected authors

We recently purchased a new voice recorder for our students to use.  It’s the Sony ICD-UX70S MP3 Recorder.  Its advantage over the Olympus models we have used up to now is the fact it records directly to an MP3 format.  That means there is no need to use software to convert the audio format.  With the Olympus models (and most other voice recorders) you first have to convert the audio files to MP3 to allow audio editing software like Audacity to use it.  Now, all you and your students have to do is plug it directly into the computer’s USB port, launch Audacity, and import the audio directly from the voice recorder.

This voice recorder comes equipped with built in stereo microphones. Its sound quality is at least as good, if not a little better than the other voice recorders we have used.  If you are after something with better sound recording, the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder would be the way to go.  This is what Jane and I use to record the Portable PD podcast.

Like the Olympus WS-320, its USB is built in.  This is a very handy feature to have as it will save you from having to search for the right cable while surrounded by impatient students who will inevitably find other, less constructive, things to do with their time.  It also comes with a pair of earbud headphones, a short USB extension cable and a bag.  Like all voice recorders, it is very light and small and its casing is plastic.  The price was fairly reasonable (we got ours for around $70 from Staples) and our ten year old students haven’t had any difficulty figuring out how to use it.

Jane recently won the grand prize in an Olympus Grant/Contest just for being so darn smart. I came runner up, probably because I am not quite so smart. Still, a pretty respectable showing from the two of us. Anyway, she’s about to get a bunch of things including some new Olympus Voice Recorders. Specifically, they are the aptly named WS-320 models. The features that excite us (OK – me) are that the USB is built in, so a USB cable isn’t required and it’s plug and play, so there’s no software to install (quite the challenge in our networked environment). It also doubles as an MP3 player – but that’s not particularly exciting for our purposes.

We’ll let you know how they work out once they come in. One thing I have learned from researching online is that the unit records in WMA format. That is a little problematic because the audio editing program we use, Audacity, doesn’t accept WMA files. One site suggests getting around that problem by using a free program called Switch. I’ve tested it, and some other programs, and have found this one to work quickly and reliably. Hopefully, we will be able to install it on a couple of our school computers. This same site speaks highly of the WS series of voice recorders from Olympus – although the WS-320 doesn’t appear to be available anymore.

Tim Hawes, assistant manager/vice-principal of Business and Learning Technologies within our board, has found a model that records to MP3 format and sells for around $80.00. It’s the RCA RP5046 Digital Voice Recorder. We’re hopeful that this will makes things even easier as there would be no time spent converting files. It’s plug and play and comes with a Windows 98 driver for those working with older machines in their classroom.

If money is less of an issue (not to mention your willingness to let students out of your site with the equipment), another solution which costs around $220 in the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder. Like the Olympus and RCA recorders, it’s plug and play. The sound quality is much superior and, because it records in MP3 there is no need to convert the files before importing the audio into Audacity. This unit is designed more for musicians and reporters as opposed to voice recorders which are really intended for recording lectures and taking dictation.

^credit

Elementary classrooms have very little budget for audio equipment so our primary concern is cost and ease of use. We need our equipment to be kid friendly and simple enough for even a teacher to understand! For that reason we aren’t getting into technical discussions about mixers, soundcards, microphone types and the like.

Portable Recorders

Nathan’s class uses an Olympus VN-960PC Recorder. It’s very easy to use and the sound quality is OK. It cost around $60, although it appears the model is no longer available.

Jane’s class uses a Sony Voice Recorder. It’s very easy to use (kid friendly) and the sound quality is better than Nathan’s recorder – not that he’s envious or anything. It’s around $100.

The downside for both of these recorders is the fact that software has to be installed in order to get the sound onto a computer. This is problematic in our school board as we do not have privileges to install software.

Keep in mind these specific models may no longer be available.

Nathan has read rave reviews about the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder for around $220. It has far superior sound to the voice recorder and easier to upload to computer because it doesn’t require any software to be installed.

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USB Microphone/Headset

We use Logitech USB headsets (we actually won ours in a door prize, but they cost around $40) to record students on their own. Most of our podcast introductions are recorded this way. The sound is much better than voice recorders and students are far less likely record themselves bumping the mike.