Pod-O-Matic
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
What is Pod-O-Matic?
Pod-O-Matic is a site that allows users to find, create, share, and promote podcasts, both audio and visual. Due to the increasing popularity of Podcasting, Pod-O-Matic was created to allow anyone who wanted to create and share podcasts the ability to due so, without requiring any previous knowledge of Web Design. Pod-O-Matic operates and views very much like Blogspot, or even Myspace; one must create a personal page, post podcasts and blog entries, add friends, subscribe to other peoples podcasts, post graphics, leave comments, and more. Similar to how Blogspot was created to bring blogging into the mainstream, Pod-O-Matic was created to bring Podcasting into the mainstream, and to allow anyone who was interested in podcasting the chance to try it, for free. Pod-O-Matic has grown to become the most popular destination for both novice and advanced podcast creators and listeners.
Many people are extremely interested in learning about how to podcast, but never attempt to do so because they believe it will be too technologically challenging. This is the exact reason why Pod-O-Matic was created - to make podcasting accessible to everyone. Pod-O-Matic provides user with a one-stop location where they are able to discover everything that is required to begin podcasting.
Pod-O-Matic is used globally, and offers users an extraordinary opportunity to connect with the rest of the globe, while sharing your ideas, and listening to the ideas of others. Pod-O-Matic allows user to spread their voice across the internet to anyone who will listen. It is a great tool for educators, as well. Teachers can create Pod-O-Matic pages for class projects: have every memeber in the class booktalk their favorite book, record their booktalks, and post them to Pod-O-Matic for students to share with their friends and parents. Any tool that allows students to publish their own work on the internet, to show off to friends and family, is destined to be successful with students.
What are the benefits of Pod-O-Matic?
-Pod-O-Matic is a one-stop location for all one requires to begin podcasting and sharing with the rest of the world. Podcasts are able to be downloaded, and subscribed to.
-Pod-O-Matic provides services for both audio and visual podcasting.
-Pod-O-Matic is 100% free to join, and set up. It would be a crime not to take advantage of such a technology.
-Podcasting has very quickly been accepted into the mainstream, and is a technology that all educators should be willing to learn.
-Students love using fun and engaging new technologies that they can show to friends and/or family.
-Pod-O-Matic is extremely user-friendly.
-Pod-O-Matic is compatible with both Mac and PC.
-Pod-O-Matic is itunes compatible
-By listening to, or subscribing to podcasts from the rest of the world, students gain a sense of worldliness, and experience directly what life is like in the other corners of the globe.
-Once exposed to the wonders of Pod-O-Matic, it can be addicting listening to other users' podcasts and interacting with actual podcast creators. It is very easy to network, and become part of a bigger group that may be attempting to do the same things as you.
-Perfectly compatible with both Audacity and Garageband
What are the drawbacks of Pod-O-Matic?
-Though Pod-O-Matic is free to join, there are still some outside purchases that must be made before podcasting can begin, such as purchasing a compatible microphone/headset.
-Uploading and placing images and graphics within Pod-O-Matic leaves a lot to be desired. It is very difficult to remove and replace images once they have been uploaded. This can lead to extreme frustration, as it has with me.
-Despite the fact that the majority of users on Pod-O-Matic have positive and informative things to convey, there will always be a few crazies running around spewing out insensitive and inappropriate broadcasts. This cannot be helped. Unfortunately, while browsing Pod-O-Matic, a student could potentially come face to face with some controversial material.
-Some educators might simply blow off Pod-O-Matic because they think podcasting will be too technologically advanced. Do not let educators believe this myth!
-Creating Podcasts, and loading podcasts to Pod-O-Matic can take time. It is not a quick process, and should not be confused as one.
Should Pod-O-Matic be used in schools/school libraries?
Pod-O-Matic is definitely a resource that teachers should be instructed how to use in schools. School Librarians/Media Specialist should provide training to all teachers, and offer possible ideas for project collaborations. Pod-O-Matic takes advantage of a technology (podcasting) that has become extremely popular very quickly, and provides users with a quick and easy way to contribute to the growing trend. Librarians should jump at the opportunity to incorporate this technology into their schools curriculum.
The upsides to using Pod-O-Matic in schools are practically endless. Besides the fact that Pod-O-Matic is free to join, the fact that students and teachers have the chance to publish and share their work with the entire world over the internet is beyond exciting. Through the use of such a new and trendy technology as Pod-O-Matic, students may even be excited and interested to start learning.
For example: Imagine having a students in 5th grade booktalk their favorite book, only when they talk about their book, they are recorded. The recordings could then be converted to MP3, and the class could create its own Pod-O-Matic page called "Our favorite Books," where they could listen to and download all of their reviews. When students come home and show their parents what they have done, their parents will be amazed, and the student will be proud of what he/she has accomplished.
Learning can be fun, interesting and interactive, and through Pod-O-Matic this can be achieved. Any new technology that can grab a student's attention is a technology that is worthy of investigation and exploration.
Pod-O-Matic is also a great resource not only for students and teachers, but for the entire school community as well. It would be an excellent idea to have a school Pod-O-Matic page where, when necessary, schools could post important announcements, such as school closings, PTA meeting updates, sport/event updates, and other such announcements. Additionally, it would extremely beneficial for the school library to have its own Pod-O-Matic webpage, announcing upcoming events, featured books, interviews with authors, research advice, and more. In fact, my final project for this class is the creation of a Pod-O-Matic page for a school library. If the school has access to video equipment, then the library can even create a visual tour of the library.
