Year 7 Podcasting - Last chance to experiment with Audacity

Today you have one last chance to experiment with Audacity before we start our actual Podcasting project.

The video tutorials below will show you how to open a previous file. How to insert audio from the web and how to upload an mp3 file/song that you have saved.

Try to use these skills today so that when you need to do them for your project, you will be able to complete them with ease. Also, feel free to watch the video tutorials from last week for more basic instructions:

How to open a previous file




How to insert audio from the web




How to upload an mp3 file/song that you have saved
 

Year 7 Introduction to Audacity

Today we are going to be looking at the basics of Audacity. Audacity is a piece of sound editing software which we can use to make a podcast. It is free to download so if you wish to use it at home, then feel free to download it.

Below are links to resources that will help you to navigate your way around Audacity. I have also included some video tutorials to help you. Please watch them carefully.

Audacity User Guide

Podcasting - Key Words

 

 

Video Tutorial 1 

 

 

Video Tutorial 2

 

You will not be starting your actual project today. Instead, you must work with a partner and experiment with the following:

 

• Recording sound
• Adding multiple sounds
• Saving your file
• Playing your file

Template for your websites

If you'd like to use a template that I have made for your website, you can download it by clicking on the link, press download, and save into your documents. You can open it as a website or 'left-click' Open With > Adobe Dreamweaver.

When you click the link, you will also see some buttons that you may find useful for your websites. If you want to use them, save them to your pictures first.

Click Here

I have included sound in the video tutorials, made them much shorter and easier to follow. Work your way through them below using headphones if you need them:

How to open a previous file and edit on Dreamweaver:
 

Using my Template on Dreamweaver:
 

Using my Pictures on Dreamweaver:
 

Inserting Images on Dreamweaver:
 

Changing the Background of your Websites:
 

Inserting an external link to another website on Dreamweaver:
 

Year 8 Work for Week Beginning 17th November

This week, we will begin to build out website using a programme called Dreamweaver. Before you start, think carefully about what you would like your website to be about. Remember, your site must have multiple pages that you will link to. Here are some ideas:

• Your favourite things
• Countries of the world
• Football Teams (Club or International)
• Ultimate team (different pages on 'dream teams' from the different leagues around the world)
• Celebrities

The videos below are tutorials that I have made to help you through the process. There is no sound to the videos so you will have to watch them very carefully; pausing them and going back to see things again. These videos should teach you enough to start building your website and to create multiple pages for your site:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 7 - Existing Hardware and software that can be used for podcasting

The equipment that is needed to make a basic podcast

 

·         A simple podcast without any effects only needs a basic microphone and a recorder.  A speaker, or headphones, is needed only to play back the recorded audio to check for errors.

·         An audio editing software is not necessary, however, if mistakes are made, the entire audio would have to be rerecorded.

·         Some mp3 players could be used.

·         Most smart phones are capable of recording good quality audio.

·         Most computers, laptops or tablets now come equipped with audio recording capabilities.

·         There are many apps available for smart phones and tablets to add effects to recorded audio.

·         There are online audio editing products.

 

Task 1

Podcasting can even be achieved without a microphone and a recorder.  There are many free text-speech websites that could be used to create a podcast if you are desperate.  Your task is to use one of these websites to create a very short podcast then analyse the quality and effectiveness of the podcast.  Below are examples of questions that you can ask (yourself) when evaluating the podcast.

·         How good is it?  Did it sound professional?

·         What were the positives and negatives of the podcast?

·         What would you have liked to add to the podcast to make it more interesting or effective.

The website http://www.fromtexttospeech.com/ can be use.  It creates the audio file and you are able to download it as an mp3.

 

 

Task 2 – explore some online editors – complete for home learning if necessary.

Explain to students that there are quite a few online applications and mobiles apps that can do basic sound editing.  Some of these editors are capable of creating products that approaches professional quality.  They should then explore some of these online editors.  If any student has any audio editing mobile app, they can review that app.

 

Use this document to record your findings.

 

Students must explore at least two online sound editing software.  Click here for some links to online audio editors.  More can be suggested or students can find more.  They must comment on the:

·         Features of the software

·         ease of use

·         audio files supported

·         give a 1 – 5 starts rating

·         write a short summary on the software

Year 8 - Thursday 13th November

You must copy the text perfectly for your website to work!

Watch the tutorial from last week again if you wish. Also, watch the tutorial from today again if you would like to work at a slower pace:



Click here to find the html codes for all the different colours you can use

Year 8 - Thursday 6th November - Introduction to HTML

Watch the screencast made by Mr Bidwell below. If you have headphones, you can watch this again and pause to work through it at your own pace. You can then work your way through the activities below. The first is a review of one of a website. Choose something popular which should have a well organised website. Click on the 'website review' link below and you will be able to download the document to your area. Complete the document and save:

Resources for the lesson:

Website Review

Tutorial 1

Tutorial 2
 

Year 7 - Introduction to Podcasts

Podcast background and review – the following links  have enough information and  examples  to base the lesson on:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9545533.stm.

Try to answer the following questions on a Word Document entitled 'Introduction to Podcasts':

• ·       What is podcast?
• ·       Who uses podcasts?
• ·       Who listens to podcasts?
• ·       When are podcasts useful?

 Extension Task – Do the activity (PodCast Review.docx) in W:\Professional Studies\Professional Studies\ICT\Teachers\Mr Bidwell ICT