Holmfirth High School 'Podcasts'

1. Holmfirth High School 'Podcasts' ................................................... 1

• Introduction: ................................................................................. 1
• Host Service: ................................................................................. 1
• Subscribing via RSS:....................................................................... 2
• Sharing and Social Media: ............................................................... 2
• Playing Podcasts: ........................................................................... 3
• Directly on the Web Log ............................................................... 3
• Using the 'Pop-Up' players ............................................................ 3
• Through an RSS Feed ................................................................... 3
• iTunes........................................................................................ 4
• Download ................................................................................... 4
• Portable media player/ iPod .......................................................... 4

Introduction:

Wikipedia-

"A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically
and downloadedthrough web syndication.
The mode of delivery differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing media files over
the Internet, such as simple download or streamed webcasts: a centrally-maintained web feed on the
distributor's server lists all files associated with a given series, and special client software applications
known as podcatchers (e.g., iTunes, Zune,Juice, and Winamp) are used that can automatically
identify and download new files in the series when they are released, by checking the feed for
updates. New files are thus downloaded automatically and stored locally on the user's computer or
[1][2]
other device ready for offline use, giving simpler access to episodic content. Commonly used
audio file formats are Ogg Vorbis and MP3."

Host Service:

To host our Podcasts, a service called: Podbean.com is used. This service uses a 'web
log' or 'blog' type of website where new Podcasts are posted, and old Podcasts are
stored. The unique web log (blog) address for our school
is: http://holmfirthhigh.podbean.com/
The web log/ blog provided by Podbean.com will allow users/ learners to access any
Podcast which is published directly online, from within the blog itself. However, there are
features on the blog that allow users to subscribe to our blog feed. Subscribing to the
blog feed will allow any new content which is published on the blog, to stream directly to
users RSS and or/ Atom reader accounts. For example, as student could place an RSS
feed reader on their VLE home page which is linked to the school Podcast website. Any
Podcasts that are published on the school Podcast blog will be automatically sent to the
students VLE home page. This means that content is 'Pushed' directly to the learners
personal VLE home page so that the learner does not need to navigate and visit the
school Podcast blog directly.

Subscribing via RSS:

Users/ learners can subsribe to the Holmfirth High School podcasts

via a number of methods. Most web/ internet browsers support
RSS feeds, which will allow users to subscribe directly through thier
own PC/ web browser. Students at Holmfirth High School also have
the option of setting up an RSS player on their personal home
pages.

On the Web Log side bar there are a selection of 'Feeds' for
users to use to subscribe to content.

By getting the link (use the right-click mouse function, and

then copy link). The feeds for the web log can then be added
to any podcast player.

Users that use IE8 or IE7 can subscribe to a feed as

soon as the Feed Notification tool lights up at the top of
the web page. BY clicking on the menu (down arrow) a
list of RSS feeds available will be displayed. All the user
needs to do is select the feed they wish to use.

If/ when a podcast is played using

the 'Pop-Up' player another link to
the web log RSS feed can be
obtained, located above the player.

Sharing and Social Media:

Recognising that many users/ learners are likely to have other online acounts, there are
a number of ways to share podcasts and content via other accounts.
 On the sidebar of the Web Log there is a set of links for users
to place podcasts and content directly onto an alternative
online space/ account.
Providing that users have an account, by clicking on the
relevant link, access to Podcasts will be placed directly onto
thier online space/ page.
Podcasts can also be shared with friends and social media
sites by using a set of links which are available directly
underneath each post.

Alternatively any podcast can be shared by using the 'Email it'

link, also located under each post.

Playing Podcasts:

There are a number of ways to play a podcast published by Holmfirth High School.

Directly on the Web Log

Every time a new Podcast is published, it can be played directly on the school
Web http://holmfirthhigh.podbean.com/. A mini player is added to each post/ Podcast as
soon as they are published. By clicking on the 'Listen Now' player the
content will play directly on the web page. NOTE: Speakers or headphones
will be required to listen to the content.

Using the 'Pop-Up' players

Another way to listen to published Podcasts online, is by using the 'Pop-Up' players. The
advantage of using this type of player
is that the user is then free to
navigate elswhere on the web, or
continue work on a project/
assignment while still being able to
listen to the Podcast content. The
'Pop-Up' player opens up in a new
small window. While listening to the
content this window can be minimised
to the desktop bar.

Through an RSS Feed

Users that subscribe to Podcast content via an RSS or Atom reader can play content
without the need to visit the actual Web Log site/ page.

This is done by the RSS reader providing a link to play/ download the Podcast content.
As long as the user has a supported media player (Windows Media Player, Real Player,
Quick Time Player) then the content can be accessed by clicking on the link provided
within the RSS feed.
iTunes

All Podcasts posted on the Web Log are automatically posted on the iTunes store within
24hrs.

Users that have an iTunes account can find podcasts created and published
by our school by simply searching using the term holmfirthhigh.

By clicking on the SUBSCRIBE

button/ link, all podcasts and
content published will automatically
download into the users account/
PC. Users only need to subscribe
once. As soon as new Podcasts are
published/ available, the next time
iTunes is accessed, and the refresh
option is used, the
new content will
be downloaded
automatically to
the users account/ PC.
All podcasts can be played directly
inside iTunes by using the iTunes player.

Download

Podcasts can be downloaded to users/ students local/ home/ school PC directly from the
Web Log page. Under each post there are some links, one of which is called 'Download'.
When this link is used a new page appears with an option to download the file/ podcast

Downloading Podcasts is useful for students that

may not have internet access at home. Content
could be downloaded at school and saved as a file.
Then this file can be played on the students home
PC. This option would also suit users/ learners that
so not have an iPod or iTunes account too. As the
files could be loaded directly into an alternative MP3/
media player such as a mobile phone, so that
content can be used, as and when needed by the student/ learner.

Portable media player/ iPod

 Using iTunes is possibly the easiest way to add/use
Podcasts. If an iPod or iPhone is used, any new Podcasts
can be synchronised easily. After connecting the iPod or
device, open iTunes and select the device from the main
menu on the left of the screen.

With the device selected, use the Podcasts Tab to view

any/ all podcasts that are available to sync with devices.

Select the relevant Podcast/ episodes, as shown below:

Then click on the APPLY button, which is near the bottom right of the screen:

After a short while any content/ Podcasts will be updated on the iPod/ device:
To gain access on the iPod/ device, find the iPod application,
and open it. It may take a couple of moments to update the
device library:
When the library is ready to use,
navigate to the Podcast section.

Any Podcast stored on the device will then be available for selection.
Simply select the episode that you wish to use from the menu.