Today, we will divide class into two segments. In our first segment, we will do a fair amount of work with technology, and I will guide us through the steps:

First, we need to get set up with the programs we will use to capture materials and edit audio. If you haven't already done so, download the Snagit application--use the 15 day free trial. Install the program, creating an account, etc.

Next, download and install the Audacity application.

Next, download and install the VLC program.

Once you have all of these installed and running on your laptop, we will take our time and work through several steps, with me guiding us:

1. identify one of the media sources that you might like to use and bring it up on your laptop. Be sure to have headphones set up for your audio. We will use Snagit to capture a screen video with the media materials.
2. open VLC, and from the File menu select Convert/Stream. I will guide us through turning the screen capture into and audio file.
3. open Audacity, and import the audio file you made in the step above. I will guide us through how to edit the file and then save it as a media clip.
4. if you have time today or with your group tomorrow, we will learn how to upload the media clips to our web site.

Remember, we will work through these steps together, helping one another. Once everyone has the process down, we will spend about fifteen minutes working on our own and helping so that we all get the media clips edited and ready to go for the podcast.

Part two of class will entail preparing a shared "script" for the podcast. First, we will look over one example to think through how these scripts might look.  Next, you will begin drafting your script and linking to the media items you may use for the podcast. Follow these steps:

• Have one member of your group create a google document for the script, and make it publicly editable and/or share it with your group. (Also share a link to the document with me--realiamdan@gmail.com.)
• Together, sketch out the opening of the document and the roles that each member will have in the conversation.
• Create sections in the document where the members can add their quotations from research sources, conversation-starter questions, and links to media
• Do any other brainstorming and make sure that the document is ready to be fleshed out be the members of the group.

Once you have the sections in place, you can work individually on the document. To access the media clips that you have posted to our web site, use this link.

For the rest of class and for homework, continue populating of the document.  For each section, link to all of the media pieces for now. Also include the quotations and questions in each section. 

If you have been able to rip the audio files that you need, continue to rip and save them to your computer.

Also for homework, complete tonight's reading assignment, adding a comment before class.