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A podcast is a series of audio or video files that are released episodically and may be downloaded to a personal computer or mobile device and watched or heard later. Software applications known generically as feed aggregators or PodCatchers (e.g., iTunes, Zune, Juice, or Winamp) may be used to automatically download new files in the series when they are released by the author. This is accomplished by accessing a special URL, also know as an RSS (for "Really Simple Syndication") Feed that lists all files associated with the series. New files can thus be downloaded automatically by the PodCatcher for later use.
The UVM Media and Podcast Manager creates a folder (called podcast_folder) in your public_html space on www.uvm.edu. It allows you to upload audio or video files to this folder, and generates an RSS feed URL which you can give to students to access your podcast.
The podcast_folder can contain all the files associated with a single podcast, or you can create multiple sub-folders in the podcast_folder to support multiple podcasts. Each podcast folder file can be tagged with a title and description, and each media file can be tagged with a title, description, and release date. These tags help the PodCatcher and your audience to differentiate and navigate your podcast contents. Each media file also comes with its own URL address for on-line viewing outside the podcast structure. You can copy and paste this URL into your course website (e.g., BlackBoard).
Of course, the UVM Media and Podcast Manager also allows you to delete any folders and files you create, too. You may also use the associated "Password Protect Web Folders" manager to password protect your podcast media files.
Each section below is accompanied by a screencast example. For best results, watch them in Full Screen Mode by use of the Full Screen Button .
You can find the UVM Media and Podcast Manager at https://www.uvm.edu/htpasswd/podcast_manager/
You will be asked to provide your UVM NetID and password
The opening page allows you to enter a Title and Description for your podcast. If you plan on multiple podcasts (or even if you don't, but there's a chance you may in the future), you can leave these blank, jump down to Create a new sub-folder, select that new folder, then continue on as described below.
Enter a podcast title and podcast description, and then press Update Info.
Below the Title and Description is the Podcast RSS Feed URL. This is the address you give to your students. If you click on this now, nothing exciting happens, since you haven't uploaded any files yet.
Below the Podcast RSS Feed URL is a list of media files in you folder. Of course, it is empty right now.
To upload a file, first click the Browse button, and find a media file on your computer. The UVM Media and Podcast Manager accepts files of type MP3, MP4, M4A, M4V, MPG, AVI, FLV, and SWF files. Note that not all files will play on all devices. For example, iPods will only play MP3, MP4, M4A, and M4V files, and impose some other limitations on video height, width, and quality. After you have found your file, click the Upload New File button.
Below the Podcast RSS Feed URL is a list of media files in your folder. It should now show one media file. Click the View/Edit button next to the file name to view or hear your file, and assign it a title, description, and publication date. By default, the publication date matches the time and date when you uploaded the file; however, you can adjust it to the future, and most PodCatchers will ignore that file until after the future is now. This is handy for recycling podcast content from year to year: simply update the publication dates for each of your media files to reflect the coming semester, and you are done.
After you enter the Media Title, Media Description, and optionally change the Publication Date, click the Update Info button.
Near the bottom of the screen is the Create a new sub-folder box. Each sub-folder represents a unique podcast, with its own RSS feed and set of media files.
Enter the name of your new podcast folder in the box, and click Create new Folder. The folder name now appears in the sub-folder list. Click on its name, and proceed to assign a Title, Description, and media files to the new folder as above.
Every podcast has a RSS Feed URL, which is displayed below the Podcast description. This is the URL to which your audience 'subscribe' in order to periodically and automatically download your media files as episodes in your podcast broadcast series.
Clicking on that URL will yield somewhat different results depending upon if you are using FireFox, Safari, or Internet Explorer. For best results, right-click on the URL, select Copy, and then paste it into your favorite PodCatcher application to subscribe.
Every media file has two URLs: the Embedded Media URL and the Direct Media URL. The Embedded Media URL links to a simple dynamically generated web page that displays the media file's Title and Description, and embeds the media file in a 'universal' YouTube-like media player that should look and feel the same regardless of media type or browser. This URL is probably your best choice if you want to link to your media from other web resources, such as your course web pages, Blackboard, or even an email message. For best results, right-click on the URL, select Copy, and then paste it wherever you need it.
The Direct Media URL links directly to the media file. Clicking on this URL may yield different results depending upon browser and installed browser plug-ins or helper applications. We include it for completeness, historical purposes, and debugging.