iPod™ is undoubtedly the world's most popular portable digital music player, and dockable iPods continue to evolve as more technological improvements are added. With a software update and adequate memory, an iPod can support hundreds of hours of digital voice recordings and photo storage for thousands of digital pix, and hours of stored video.

    If you take iPod and combine it with the word broadcasting, you get podcasting. 
   Podcasting is an audio service based on subscribing to a podcast site in order to download their audio files. Many commercial radio programs now offer podcasting to their listeners for free. A special software, usually available from the podcaster, is installed which then can automatically search the site for new audio content and automatically download it when found. Podcasting is the term that is getting the most use for this type of service. However, you do not need an iPod for podcasting because any digital music player that plays MP3's, including a PC or iMac with audio software, can download and play podcast audio. Simply, podcasts are online audio or video broadcasts that are delivered directly to your iPod, Mac or PC, or a compatible portable media player.
   More and more bloggers are beginning to add podcasts to the Weblogs. The podcasting combination of audio, video, and blogging has tremendous potential for educational uses. This medium is perfect for reinforcing instruction by making use of the time students use to get to classes, regardless of whether they are driving, using a wheelchair, traveling by bus or walking.
    Integrated educational podcasting can be explored by faculty with discussions about the best technology for the best purposes. Some ideas and applications for audio and video podcasting:

Make available podcast downloads of "just-in-time" learning modules

Tutor a student via podcast

Make podcast downloads of practice exams

Develop a podcast of new vocabulary words for a language course

Develop a podcast of new medical terms for nursing students

Give bonus points to a question that has been podcast and answered correctly by the first student to get the right answer

Develop a library tour podcast for students in English 103

Create a small set of audio podcasts that can be used for "additional listening"

Working with Disabled Student Development, have a number of students and/or faculty provide podcasts to special needs students

Use podcasting to reinforce English as a Second Language concepts

Podcast short lectures

Allow students to create their own podcasts for class

Setup a text messaging or RSS to inform your class of new podcasts

Develop and reward innovative podcasting uses with an awards ceremony for the most creative, educational use of a podcast

Audio- and videostream digital podcasts to distance education students that are in compliance with the TEACH Act

Audio- and videostream digital podcasts to distance education students that are in compliance with content the Fair Use provisions of the Copyright Law

Apply for a grant to use podcasts in new pedagogical styles, especially the newly passed Federal Law, the Enhancing Education Through Technology federal block-grant program

For a specific, focused podcast project, embargo the use of a PC and/or iMac and do all research, text, photos, videos via iPods

Designate a student to be your Podcast DJ

Use podcasts to deliver flashy, history digital object content. Writer Bill Carey once stated, "The worst thing about history is teaching kids about dead men and dates. Kids want something flashy." 

   The University Copyright Center offers convenient discovery, access and connections with several sites that offer free podcasting, hundreds of sources of independent, self-published/broadcast audio downloads all of which can also provide ideas for educational podcasting content. View the Podcasts' page at

www.bsu.edu/library/article/0,,34749--,00.html

for information about selected podcasting on the Web, including free sites.
   For more information, contact Dr. Fritz Dolak, University Libraries' Copyright and Intellectual Property Manager, University Copyright Center, FDolak@bsu.edu or (765) 285-5330.