This user guide will detail what a podcast is and how to use it. The guide will also highlight some of the benefits and features of a podcast.

• What is a podcast?

  A podcast is an online broadcast of an audio or video file that is meant to be played or viewed on a portable device. Podcasts are updated with new content at specific intervals (daily, weekly, monthly etc.) depending on the person who releases the content. The term podcast originates from portable broadcast. The person who releases the content is known as the 'podcaster'. The act of publishing and syndicating  the content itself is known as 'podcasting'. Here is the dialogue box that appears in iTunes to describe what a podcast is.

   

   

  

   

   

  An audio or video file that is posted on a website would not be considered a podcast until syndication or an RSS feed is added. Software is available that automatically checks for new audio or video files on the websites whose podcast feeds you have subscribed to. This type of software is known as a 'podcatcher.' Portable devices (such as MP3 players) are typically used to listen to or view a podcast. However, portable devices are not a necessity. The files can be played on your computer as well.

• How does it work?

  A podcast is distributed over the Internet using a syndication feed. A syndication feed is also known as RSS  (Really Simple Syndication). What this means is that once a user ‘subscribes’ to a podcast, they will automatically receive new content and updates. Users have the ability to manually download or stream the content of the podcast. However, using the automated method is typically much simpler because new content is automatically downloaded from many websites.

   

  

   

  Whenever you launch your podcatcher software it will search through all of the feeds you have subscribed to for new content. It will then automatically download the content for you. You do not have to visit each individual website to consume the content you want to get!

• How to subscribe to the ETFO Multimedia Podcast in iTunes

  Currently the most commonly used podcasting client is Apple’s iTunes player. This section will outline what steps to take to subscribe to the ETFO podcast. Note: This step assumes the user already has iTunes installed and updated on their computer. For a guide on how to install and configure iTunes, please go here.

   

  Navigate your browser to the ETFO Podcast page. On the right hand side there is a RSS feed section. Click on the ‘Subscribe in iTunes’ link.

   

   

  

   

   

  A dialogue box will now appear asking to close the current window or tab. Click on ‘Yes’ to go ahead. Click on ‘No’ to go back.

   

   

  

   

   

  iTunes will now open and a screen with the details of the podcast will appear. Click on the 'Subscribe' button if you wish to be automatically updated with the new content of the podcast.

   

   

  

   

   

  A dialogue box will now appear asking if you would like to subscribe to the feed you have selected. Click on ‘Subscribe’ to go complete the process. Click on ‘Cancel’ to go back.

   

  

• Using iTunes and managing podcasts

  Once you have subscribed to the podcast, iTunes will automatically search for the newest available content. A 'Downloads' bar will appear on the left side navigation menu in iTunes (below the iTunes Store in the Store section). iTunes is now downloading the newest content / update for this podcast.

   

   

  

   

   

  If a user wishes to view the progress of the download, click on the ‘Downloads’ bar. The name of the file being downloaded and the status will appear. There is also a pause button. Note: the 'Downloads' bar will not appear once the download has been completed.

   

   

  

   

   

  When the user is ready to listen to or view the podcast, click on the ‘Podcasts’ bar under the Library section on the left side navigation menu. Double click on the file that you would like to hear or see. An orange icon to the right of the file may appear, signifying that the podcast is being downloaded. When the download is complete (the icon will turn to a solid blue circle), double click the file again. It will now play directly in iTunes.

   

   

  

   

   

   

• Manually downloading an episode of a podcast in iTunes

  A user can choose to manually download any episode of a past or present podcast. Return to the ‘Podcasts’ section in iTunes. Click on the arrow to the left of the title of the podcast. A drop down menu will now appear, listing the current and previous episodes of the podcast.

   

   

  

   

  Click on the ‘Get’ button to download the specific episode. Click on the ‘Get All’ button at the top to download all of the previous episodes.

   

   

  

   

   

• How to subscribe to the ETFO Multimedia Podcast using other programs

  There are other podcasting clients available such as Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, Juice, Doppler and others. This site also has useful information about podcatcher software. In this step the user will be taken through the subscription process using Juice. Note: This step assumes the user already has Juice installed and updated on their computer. For a guide on how to install and configure Juice, please go here. Once Juice has been loaded the main screen will appear. Go to the ETFO Podcast section to copy the URL of the podcast from the ‘iTunes Podcast Feed’ link.

   

   

  

   

  

   

   

  Now go to the main screen in Juice. Click on the green + button to add a podcast.

   

   

  

   

   

  Click on the ‘Save’ button to complete the addition process. Click on the ‘Cancel’ button to abort the addition process.

   

   

  

   

   

  The program will now go to the ‘Subscriptions’ tab. The podcast should now be listed in this menu.

   

   

  

• Downloading and playing an episode in Juice

  In the ‘Subscriptions’ tab there is a menu listed at the bottom. From this menu, the user can ‘check on’ or ‘check off’ any or all of the episodes they would like to download. Once you are satisfied with the selection(s), highlight the feed at the top by clicking on it. Now click on the blue 'Check/Download selected feed’ button to begin the download process.

   

   

  

   

   

  If the user would like to view the download(s), click on the ‘Downloads’ tab at the top. You will now see the progress of your current download(s).

   

   

  

   

   

  When the download is complete, the circle will turn green and the status will change to ‘Downloaded”. Right click on the episode and then left click on the ‘Play episode in mediaplayer’ option. This will launch the episode in the default external media player.

   

   

  

• Benefits and features of a podcast

  When Podcasting was first invented, the appeal of the technology was that it allowed individual users to deliver unique content instantly over the internet. Over time, the scope of podcasting became much broader. Podcasting has become quite prevalent in the field of education. One particular application for podcasting is delivering school lesson plans and important messages from teachers and principals. Podcasting can also be used to share information between students and teachers at any time from any location. Podcasting will continue to grow and evolve into the future, and with it, the educational landscape will as well.