Click the enlarged blue text (link)  

On this page, we will share insight about Audio Tools to use with your students.  Please note that some of the tools described here are also described on the Video Tools page. 

GCast - podcast hosting

A super simple way to create podcasts.  Once your account is set up, you can record voice via a microphone (using another free program, Audacity) or by calling a toll free number and using your phone.  Your podcasts are stored by GCast, so no special server space is needed at your school.  You can also get the podcast code to embed the podcast into your class blog or website.  If you can’t get the code to work, you can always create a link to your GCast Podcast.  To see a sample of GCast in use, go to Mrs. M’s website and click on the Podcasts page. 

A FEW IDEAS

• A new twist to book reports … BOOKcasts! 
• Another publication option for essays
• A collaborative tool for teachers OR students
• A forum for “the rest of the story” for those discussion details that you just didn’t get to cover before the bell rang
• A way to get instructions to students
• Discussion prompts or responses

Podomatic - podcast hosting + social networking

Another podcasting service, very much like GCast except your account includes social networking tools, too.  You can share your podcasts and search for other’s podcasts through the Podomatic website.  All podcasts are stored by Podomatic.  Instead of getting an embeddable code, you can simply share the web address of your podcast site. 

FOR IDEAS ON USING PODCASTS IN YOUR CLASSROOM, SEE ABOVE.

Voice Thread - images + your voice

Download your images and record your voice to give description to the images.  Extra cool.  Extra easy!  A fantastic addition to student essays.  Tired of students creating PowerPoints … try Voice Thread instead.  Click here for a goofy sample Mrs. M made in about 2 minutes (listen closely and you can hear Monday Night tv in the background!)

A FEW IDEAS:

• You pick the images, your students tell you what they know
• A jazzier version of the tired book report (students pick images that depict their interpretation of characters, setting, and theme and elaborate by adding their voice)
• Memory montage at the end of the year

Voki - avatar creator

An avatar generator … what’s an avatar?  An avatar is your digital persona.  You can tailor your avatar to your likeness and add your voice.  SEE THE AVATARS FOR MRS. M AND MRS. B IN THE LEFT HAND MARGIN OUR THIS SITE, click on the ‘play’ arrow to hear their message.  If you use Voki to create your avatar, you can tailor your image (e.g. hairstyle, clothing, and ‘bling’), choose a background and add your voice.  There are several voice options including typing your words to be read by a computer voice (give yourself a British accent if you desire) or using a microphone to record your own voice.  Messages can be 60 seconds long.  Once your Voki is designed, you can publish your Voki to your blog or website by embedding the code that is automatically generated.

A FEW IDEAS

• Add a personal (okay, digital-personal) touch to your website or even your podcasts
• Students can create Vokis and record responses to discussion prompts
• … okay, so maybe the educational value of Vokis isn’t all that impressive, but we had fun creating ours and wanted to make sure we told you about it in case you needed a Voki, too. 

Audacity - audio recording tool

Record and edit audio.  Requires a microphone.  Has several advanced options, but for simple recording of audio (e.g. for your podcasts) simply plug in your microphone, click the RED record button and begin speaking.  To stop recording, click the YELLOW stop button.  To hear your recording, click behind the track and highlight the track (like you would highlight text to copy/paste) and press the GREEN play button.  Don’t like what you hear?  Highlight the track and hit delete.  Like all but a few seconds of what you hear?  Highlight that section, delete, and re-do.  Finally have a track you like?  Export it as an mp3 file (under file) and save it.  Now you will be able to upload the mp3 file to GCast.  You may have to find a lame_dll file, this is a free download also … check with your tech staff as this file may need unzipping to install.  If you have music-lovers in your school (including your music instructor), you very likely have an Audacity expert within reach!