A 'podcast' is a non-music audio or video recording that is distributed over the internet. The distribution is what makes a podcast unique. It's also what makes a podcast powerful - interested listeners or watchers can receive updates through RSS when new content is posted.
Podcasts come in many shapes and sizes. They can be brief (like those you've seen in Learning 2.0) or considerably longer (interviews, panel discussions, radio shows, etc). They can be slickly produced radio broadcasts or home-grown recordings done with a $30 microphone and free software. And, despite the name, you don't need an iPod or a MP3 player to listen or watch - all you need is a computer with headphones or speakers.
Where to find a podcast iTunes, free software from Apple, is the directory finding service most commonly associated with podcasts. It's tied to their online store but everything is free - you can browse by topic or search by keyword. iTunes also includes an amazing capacity for actually downloading the content you subscribe to automatically. And anyone can submit content for inclusion. But what if you don't use iTunes? There are plenty of other options. Podcast.net is one - try a search on 'library.' Podcastalley.com is another - try a search on 'library 2.0.' Yahoo Podcasts is still another - try a search on something that has nothing to do with libraries. Many podcast creators also post links to their podcasts on their websites. The NPR radio show Radio Open Source, for example, just featured an excellent program on web 2.0 tagging, classification schemes, and libraries. I missed the show but downloaded and listened to the podcast. Be the podcaster All you need is a microphone, some free editing software (such as Audacity) and a site to host the finished product (such as Twango). Want to learn more? Take a look at the Beginner's guide to Podcasts & Creating Podcasts or a 'How to podcast tutorial.'
Discovery Exercise
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