Podcasting

Podcasting is an easy way to deliver a series of audio files in such a way that people can subscribe and have all current and future 'episodes' downloaded automatically to their computer or media player.

Podcasting in Moodle

There are two possibilities for podcasting using Moodle:

• Starting from Moodle 1.6, simply use the discussion forums tool! If you create a discussion forum and activate RSS feeds for the forum, you can simply post messages with media files as attachments. These will be delivered as podcasts in the RSS feed. (Note: This works in some situations and not in others, possibly based on whether or not guest users are able to view the forum. Otherwise the media files may not be accessible by the podcast-receiving software.)
• Use the optional Ipodcast module which creates a specific podcasting activity type in Moodle. The advantage of this method is that it includes extra metadata designed to work well with Apple's iTunes software (such as keywords and category labels).

Podcasting about Moodle

You may also like to know that a podcast about Moodle is in preparation, tentatively called "mCast".

Software for receiving podcasts

• Apple's iTunes is currently one of the more popular pieces of software for subscribing to podcasts
• Juice (previously known as iPodder) which is open-source and available on Windows and Macintosh.
• Songbird, a truly cross-platform, Open Source media player.
• Rhythmbox for the Gnome Desktop
• Amarok for KDE

See also

• Screencast
• Wikipedia article on podcasting
• Apple webpage on podcasting