Podcasting Software Audacity and LAME

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

http://lame.sourceforge.net/

 

Minutes to get familiar with
40-50 minutes (5 mins to download over fast network). This is all for Audacity.
Ages suitable for
Any but most suitable for Y5-Y9

 

Key Features

• Microphone – you need one of these!
  
• Red button – RECORD!
  
• Import Audio – ALLOWS YOU TO ADD SOUND TO YOUR PODCAST.
  
• Export as mp3 – sends you to LAME for conversion to mp3 – so you can podcast/email
  
• Change volume – on each track so you can turn down music and turn up voice.
  
• Help Menu – this has a simple guide to using Audacity and explains all the buttons.
  

 

Health Warnings

• There are a lot of technical elements which are best left alone if you aren’t familiar with recording software.
  
• This doesn’t create video podcasts but see PICASA page for how to use mp3 files to create videos!
  
• Unless you convert through LAME then anyone you email the file to must have Audacity.
  

 

How to introduce

• Download Audacity to your class computer and connect a microphone.
  
• Open Audacity and explain that the class is going to complete a podcast.
  
• Show the class the record button (red one) and record some sound – can be just class singing happy birthday.
  
• Once recorded show the class how to increase or decrease the volume on that track.
  
• Show them how to import an mp3 file to play music or other sounds over the happy birthday track.
  
• Finally show the class how to export the podcast to an mp3 file for emailing or putting onto i-tunes.
  

 

Quick Activities (skills)

1)      Scripting and Recording :  Working in pairs, ask children to create a script they can use to create a podcast – this could be jokes, revision questions, an interview. Ask them to record the script using both voices.

2)      Editing a Sound File: Using their sound file ask children to cut some sound (using the cursor tool and shift to select, then delete), import an mp3 file (make sure there are some on the computer) and change the volume of a track.

Longer Activities (capability)

See Germination Podcast for Year 5 Science

Mapping Software Google Earth/Maps

Minutes to get familiar with
15-20 minutes (2 mins to download over fast network)
Ages suitable for
Any but most suitable for Y3-Y9

 

Key Features

• Search feature (key in postcode or place)
  
• Ruler (miles and km)
  
• Insert your own information on Google Earth (only for your class)
  
• Look at weather, videos, photos etc., of each searched location.
  

 

Health Warnings

• Watch the Flight Simulator with boys – very addictive!
  
• Information entered in Google Earth is not checked so suggest children cross-refer with other information sources (a bit like they need to do with Wikipedia).
  

 

How to introduce

Bring up Google Earth and spin the globe (use the mouse 

like a finger on a normal globe)

Explore your local area and different images, videos etc. 

Look at the HYBRID view and see images + roads to help 

everyone get orientation.

Take children on Googletour (free) http://www.googletouring.com/

 

Quick Activities (skills)

1)      Using the ruler:  Ask children to measure their route to school in kilometres and miles. Other measuring activities can be substituted. The length of the M1 or Old Kent Road or M62.

2)      Using Layers View images/places of interest in somewhere they have not been – Gabon for example

3)      Adding content: Ask children to insert on their map some information about your school or another

 

Longer Activities (capability)

1)      Google have provided some useful activities to use with Google Earth. They are free and can be downloaded here:  http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/schools/classroom.html

2)      Investigate physical geographic features such as: rivers, mountains, volcanos, lakes, settlements, valleys, roads, railways. Children can copy the image they want and then paste it into a word document, detail the specific feature and define the feature.

3)      Students can investigate an area they know well and add in their own detail be that text, digital images, video.