Software Application of the Month
November - Audacity
Create and edit audio podcasts with this easy-to-use free software.

Creating podcasts with Audacity
Watch this video to see how to create a podcast - record, edit and export as MP3.
Here is a short video on uploading a podcast with an image in Blackboard
More to follow or consult: Audacity Wiki Home Page and information on podcasts and their educational uses

Downloading and installing Audacity
Download Audacity from: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
(to export podcasts as MP3, you also need to download the free LAME MP3 encoder - follow the instructions to download the zip file. Unzip the DLL file to anywhere on your computer (see short video). The first time you use the "Export as MP3" command, Audacity will ask you where lame_enc.dll is saved.)
Alternatively, the files you need are in the common drive: H:\eLearn\Audacity.

Tips for creating podcasts

  • Have a clear purpose for your podcast
  • Keep it short (under 10 minutes)
  • Integrate it into your teaching, so that your students see how it supports their learning
  • Be prepared before recording and consider reading a script (although the informality of talking without a script may come across better and you can always edit out mistakes, silences and so on)
  • Be aware of your listener - talk to them, think about what you want them to do
  • Talk clearly and not too fast
  • Use a good microphone and record in a quiet location

    Previous Software Applications of the Month
    October - Eclipse Crossword
    Easy to use free software that allows you to easily create professional looking crosswords, both as images for printing or as online interactive crossword puzzles.

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    If you have any suggestions or questions, please contact Damien Raftery, eLearning Development Officer