Recording lectures as podcasts: An introduction

Oct. 1, 2020

Duane Woods

Jason Toal

In this session:

Participants will

Be introduced to podcasting projects
Discover SFU audio resources and community
Be able to set up for audio recording
Demo the basics of editing audio
Share audio content on a variety of platforms.

Theory & Practice:

Why Podcasting?

Students can listen to anywhere and anytime
Frees up time in the classroom (Flipping)
Adds a new form of learning
High bandwidth not required to listen
Sparks the imagination
Great way to share conversations

Theory & Practice:

Best uses

Shorter lectures
Interviews or a conversations with an expert or guest
Sparks imagination and voice rather than visuals
Record an environment where you want to concentrate on its auditory nature (ie. park, farm, factory)
Share music or other sounds

Theory & Practice:

Remember DO...

Plan
Get a quality recording
Speak clearly
Use other sounds
Keep it interesting
Length can vary

"I want my professors to know that it is very hard to keep me motivated to listen to the lectures that they post on [Blackboard LMS], which are like more than one hour of podcast. I find it so difficult to just sit there and listen to a person talk and take notes. If I was in class, I would see the professor with movements (showing things with examples), but now I can just see them saying without seeing the example."

- Norman Eng, WHAT FRUSTRATES STUDENTS MOST ABOUT ONLINE CLASSES (COVID-19 EDITION)

Theory & Practice:

Remember...

Don't record a 2-3 hour lecture in one file
Don't read notes/text verbatim
Don't speak in a flat, monotone voice

POdcast Production:

Recording gear

External Microphone (eg. Yeti) or Headset Mic
Headphones
Quiet Space

POdcast Production:

Other Recording Methods

Smartphone
Zoom
Skype
MDR/Mosaic and MyMediasite

POdcast Production:

Recording Software

Audacity (Open Source)
Audition (Adobe, SFU-supported)
Zoom/ Skype
MDR/MyMediasite

Editing Software

Audacity (Open Source)
Audition (Adobe, SFU-supported)

Audacity

Learn the interface & tools:
Record your voice
Import other WAV, AIFF, MP3, M4A files

MICROPHONE SET UP

System Preferences > Sound
Input and Output set to your mic