Video Podcasting: When, Where and How it’s

Currently used for Instruction

Abbie Brown, Ph.D.East Carolina University

Timothy D. Green, Ph.D.California State University, Fullerton

or

Abbie Brown, Ph.D.East Carolina University

Timothy D. Green, Ph.D.California State University, Fullerton

Podcasts are So Last Week

Abbie Brown, Ph.D.East Carolina University

Timothy D. Green, Ph.D.California State University, Fullerton

We started with a few questions

• What is video podcasting?• When is video podcasting a helpful addition to a

live or online course?• What educational institutions are currently making

use of video podcasting for instruction?• How does one create and distribute video podcast

content?

Video Podcasting

• A podcast is an audio or video file placed on the Web for individuals to subscribe and listen to primarily on MP3 players such as the Apple iPod.

• The term “podcast” like that of “radio” or “video” can refer to either the content or the method of delivery.

• Video podcasts contain some combination of audio and/or visual information (still images, animation, or video). The digerati call it vodcasting.

Video Podcasting for Instruction

• It may allow students an opportunity to receive supplemental multimodal presentation, which is generally accepted as beneficial, particularly in the apprehension of complex concepts (Tuovinen, 2000).

• Vodcasting presents interesting opportunities for design and research in that vodcast productions may be accomplished with a minimal budget and moderate technological expertise.

Institutions Currently Making Use of Video

Podcasting• Universities such as Duke, Michigan,

Purdue, Stanford, and UC Berkeley are making podcasts of course lectures available for their students – especially undergraduates

• Video podcasting is in its infancy: the vast majority of video podcasts are essentially collections of clips produced originally for television viewing.

Creating and distributing video podcast content

• “Podcasts can easily be created on your Macintosh” (apple.com, 2006)

• “Yeah, right.” (Brown and Green, 2006)

We tested the production process by creating two vodcast episodes.

The Vodcast

» Vodcast = Video on Demand» Vodcasts use similar technology as Podcasts» Creating a Vodcast is simliar to creating a

Podcast

» Vodcast = Video on Demand» Vodcasts use similar technology as Podcasts» Creating a Vodcast is simliar to creating a

Podcast

The Process in Brief

» Gather your tools» Film the video» Edit and compress video» Create XML file» Upload video and XML file» Test it in a browser and iTunes

» Gather your tools» Film the video» Edit and compress video» Create XML file» Upload video and XML file» Test it in a browser and iTunes

Creating a Vodcast: Gathering Your Tools

» Camcorder

» iTunes 4.9

» QuickTime Pro 7 (encoding your video file)

» Video Editing Software

» HTML Editor

» Server space for hosting your video and XML files

» Camcorder

» iTunes 4.9

» QuickTime Pro 7 (encoding your video file)

» Video Editing Software

» HTML Editor

» Server space for hosting your video and XML files

Creating a Vodcast: Create and Edit Your Video

1. Create Your Video Film the video (obviously) Edit using software you are familiar with or

have available (iMovie, Final Cut, Premiere) - do your best to Spielberg your video

Export the video in a reasonable size and save it in H.264 format.

» Video codec standard - allows for a high level of data compression

» High quality video at bit rates substantially less than previous standards

» Available for a variety of applications and works on various networks and systems

1. Create Your Video Film the video (obviously) Edit using software you are familiar with or

have available (iMovie, Final Cut, Premiere) - do your best to Spielberg your video

Export the video in a reasonable size and save it in H.264 format.

» Video codec standard - allows for a high level of data compression

» High quality video at bit rates substantially less than previous standards

» Available for a variety of applications and works on various networks and systems

Creating a Vodcast: Compress the Video

2. Compress the Video QuickTime Player Pro 7

» Open the video» Export Settings for MPEG-4

You will want to manipulate the File Format by selecting H.264 Select a relatively smaller size (240x180 is reasonable) Frame rate of 15 fps Audio: AAC-LC Music should be selected Audio: output sample rate 32 kHz is adequate Streaming: make sure you click on the Enable Streaming option

» Save Exported File As This could take quite some time depending on the video size and the

settings

» Upload video file to server

2. Compress the Video QuickTime Player Pro 7

» Open the video» Export Settings for MPEG-4

You will want to manipulate the File Format by selecting H.264 Select a relatively smaller size (240x180 is reasonable) Frame rate of 15 fps Audio: AAC-LC Music should be selected Audio: output sample rate 32 kHz is adequate Streaming: make sure you click on the Enable Streaming option

» Save Exported File As This could take quite some time depending on the video size and the

settings

» Upload video file to server

Creating a Vodcast: MPEG4 Export Settings

Creating a Vodcast: XML File

3. Create and Upload the XML file Code example can be found at http:// Upload the XML to a server

» Same directory as your video file

3. Create and Upload the XML file Code example can be found at http:// Upload the XML to a server

» Same directory as your video file

Creating a Vodcast: Test It!

4. Test Your Vodcast!» Browser

www.geocities.com/bookwormsandgeeks/vodcastexample.xml A page should appear with the title of your vodcast along with a

Read More link. Clicking on the Read More link will take you to a page where you

can view the video

» iTunes Click on Podcasts Subscribe and then type in the URL (same as above) The vodcast will download to your computer - click on the play

button to view (bottom left side)

4. Test Your Vodcast!» Browser

www.geocities.com/bookwormsandgeeks/vodcastexample.xml A page should appear with the title of your vodcast along with a

Read More link. Clicking on the Read More link will take you to a page where you

can view the video

» iTunes Click on Podcasts Subscribe and then type in the URL (same as above) The vodcast will download to your computer - click on the play

button to view (bottom left side)

Discussion

Video podcasting or vodcasting is a medium in its infancy. Vodcast production and distribution requires a number of

digital media manipulation skills. Ellis and Cohn (2001) caution that instructional

multimedia supplements are intuitively attractive, but their use must be weighed against the cost of production.

Vodcasting currently adds glamour to content, but the old programmers’ rule “GIGO” still applies.