From Wikipedia: RSS (which, in its latest format, stands for "Really Simple Syndication") is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a "feed", "web feed", or "channel", contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that's easier than checking them manually.
From Wikipedia: A podcast is a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers. A podcast is a specific type of webcast which, like 'radio', can mean either the content itself or the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also termed podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster. The term "podcast" is a portmanteau of the name of Apple's portable music player, the iPod, and broadcast[1]; a "pod" refers to the iPod, and "cast" to the idea of broadcasting. Specifically, Podcast means, Portable OnDemand broadCAST.
There are three main steps to becoming a podcaster:
- Step One: Learn how to obtain and play media files on your device.
- Step Two: Learn how to create your own media files.
- Step Three: Learn how to distribute your media files.
Each step requires software that you can obtain from the Internet. There are a variety of tools available - with a variety of features, levels of complexity, sophistication and cost. The software listed here is free of charge.
Step One Tools
- iTunes Download
- iTunes is a free digital media player for Windows or Mac OS X. This program allows users to organize and maintain a library of media files. The program is also an interface to manage the content on an iPod. You do not need an iPod to use iTunes.
Step Two Tools
- Audacity
- A free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems
- lame_enc.dll (zip)
- Due to licensing issues Audacity does not come with the ability to encode mp3 files. However, by downloading this small file, a dynamic link library (dll) file required by Windows to encode mp3 files, Audacity can acquire this functionality.
- libmp3lame.dylib (zip)
- This is the same file but formatted for MAC OS X (intel).
Step Three Tools
- Truman College Faculty Server Space
- All faculty can have directory on the Faculty Webserver hosted by the District Office to develop information relevant to their courses. To request to be given access to the Faculty Webserver, email webmaster@ccc.edu from your CCC email account. Please include your College and Department in the email.
- Podcasting News: New Media Update
- A comprehensive site about the creation of podcasts. It includes this how-to video How to Create a Podcast
- Making a Podcast
- This is a how-to document produced by iTunes. It is very detailed and covers audio and video podcasts.
- How to Make a Podcast
- This is a fairly simple guide to making and posting a podcast.
- Podcast on How to Create MP3 and RSS/XML feed
- Complete instructions for making podcasts.
- rss feed validator from feedvalidator.org
- Used to check your rss feed for proper formatting.
- Demonstration of an XML document for podcast lessons.
- Free RSS Feed Creator froom Sourceforge
- This simplifies the process of creating an RSS feed. It is only for windows and it requires the .NET framework to be installed on your computer.
Interesting Sample Lessons
- NOVA - RSS Feeds
- Offers links to the two NOVA RSS feeds along with an excellent explanation of the RSS phenomena
- University and College Podcasts - Free Educational Podcasts
- A large collection of podcasts.
- Computer Science E-1 - Harvard Extension School
- Comprehensive Educational Media
- Physical Science 111 Vocabulary by J. Walker
- I am just starting this series of lessons to reinforce basic vocabulary in Physical Science 111
- Chemistry 121 Lessons by J. Walker
- I am just starting this series of lessons to reinforce basic concepts in Chemistry 121
- Chinese Language Lessons
- Chinese Lessons in mp3 format.
- Japanese Lanugage Lessons
- An edgy site for learning Japanese using video and audio files - all free.
- Russian Language Lessons
- Includes mp3 podcasts and pdf transcripts.
- Historic Broadcasts in mp3 format
- Original audio files converted to mp3 format