VisitMe - Enterprise in Education Template Pack for Teachers

Creating an audio tour

After the study of a unit on Tourism, Travel, Home Region or Giving Directions the teacher can consolidate language work by asking pupils to prepare a presentation. Do this in written form, which can be used in SQA assessments, and then this can act as a script or be done from memory, again, ideal for SQA purposes.

It is vital to prepare the text in advance before recording an MP3 file and then, perhaps, turning this into a Podcast.

Next stage: Create an MP3 file

Recording an MP3 file

Mac users:
SETTING UP:
Attach the USB microphone and headphones to the Mac.
Go to System Preferences > Sound. Make sure that the input is set to the USB microphone.
Open 'Garageband'. Turn off the Metronome in Control menu.

CREATING A NEW VOCAL TRACK:
Create a New Track from the Track menu (Real Instrument > Voice > No effect > Monitor On.
Press the record button and the pupils can say their text.
Double-clicking on the sound block will open an editing window. This allows pupils to take away any mistakes and re-record in the gap left over.

ADDING A BACKING TRACK OF MUSIC:
Add another Real Instrument > Voice > No effect track for some background music.
Drag the Freeplay.com music from iTunes into the desired point.
Lower the volume of the track so that the voice can still be heard: Click the downward arrow and change the volume line as desired.

SAVING AS AN MP3 FILE:
In the File menu, go to 'Export to iTunes'.
The computer transfers the file from Garageband format to iTunes.
In iTunes, make sure that your import settings convert new files into MP3 format.
Find the file in iTunes. Control-click the file and select "Convert to MP3".

TRANSFERING FILE TO iPOD:
Update the iPod with the new file from iTunes.

PC users:
Use Audacity. It is more 'clunky' than Garageband but uses the same principles.

NEXT STAGE: Making your MP3 file into a Podcast.

Making your MP3 file into a Podcast

A Podcast is a broadcast that can be put on an MP3 player or iPod automatically every time the broadcast is updated. Each broadcast is one MP3 file.

The simplest way to podcast is to first create a weblog onto which you will post each file in turn. Blogger shows you how to create a weblog in three steps, but does not provide hosting for your MP3 files. Try Typepad instead, which costs a small fee ($5 per month) but allows you to store your files. There is also a free 30 day trial which is just long enough for this project.

Once you have posted your MP3 file as a weblog post you need to "redirect your feed" to a service that will create an XML code with enclosures. This allows people to see every time a new MP3 file is posted without having to surf individual pages of the net. It also provides you with a small button to paste into your post. Users can use this button to update their 'podcatcher', the programme on their computer that scours the internet every time you log on for any new programmes.

WHAT SERVICE CAN YOU USE TO CREATE THIS CODE?
Feedburner gives instructions on how to turn your weblogged MP3 file into a Podcast so that listeners don't miss an update or show. Generally you just copy and paste the weblog URL into its system and it does thbe rest of the work, looking only for audio or video MP3 files to play.

EXAMPLES
Look at our Podcast examples from Stirling and subscribe to never miss another one.

ILLUSTRATED GUIDE ON CREATING PODCASTS:
David Baugh's article on creating a podcast covers the basics.

Podcast: Stirling Management Centre

Visiting the Stirling area? Subscribe to our Podcast to receive regularly updated guides on the area. This edition: the Stirling Management Centre and the University of Stirling.

Download StirlingTour.mp3

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Stirling Enterprise tours by copying the link below into your iPodder or podcatching application:

Want to know how to make a Podcast? Go to our guide.

Podcast: National Wallace Monument

Visiting the Stirling area? Here is a quick audio overview of the National Wallace Monument:

Download WallaceMonument.mp3

Don't want to miss a Virtual Tour of Stirling? Subscribe to our Enterprise Project tour:

Want to know how to make a Podcast? Go to our guide.

Creating an Ejay backing track

As a music teacher or student there is the challenge of creating suitable music as a backing for a digital video or podcast radio show. The worksheet below explains the pitfalls and sets out some aims for teachers who wish to use a free programme, Ejay, to get pupils thinking about structure in music-making. This feeds into the whole-school enterprise project of VisitMe.

Download Ejay Guide (MS Word)

Download Ejay Guide (RTF)