The Podcast Series (PS) requires you to produce 4 episodes of a podcast series. The PS is challenging because it requires cycles of preparation, audio production (recording, editing, development of complementary content), and production of related documents.
This project requires 4 submissions, one for each episode. All files are submitted to a Podcast Series folder in your shared course space on Dropbox.com. The submission requirements vary by stage.
Your submission for Episode 1 of your series should include the following files:
Your submissions for stages 2, 3, and 4 require 3 files each:
Document types: memo; podcasts; release notes
Document length: 150 words (memo); 10-25 minutes (podcasts, see below); 1 page + transcripts (notes)
Project value: 800 points (200 points per episode)
Evaluation rubric: _RPW205_Eval_Podcast#.pdf
The PS project results in 4 episodes of a podcast series that you prepare, record, edit, and publish for peer (and professor) access. The overarching goal is to progress in your level of production quality and professionalism throughout the semester.
Your first episode provides an opportunity to introduce the concept and format for your show, and will be the shortest entry for the series at 10-15 minutes. Episodes 2, 3, and 4 will be full episodes. Each of these episodes should have a run time of 15 to 25 minutesh. Beginning with Episode 2, you will add release notes, which will include the standard 1-page description of the episode and a full transcript of the dialog.
Details about how to develop and deliver your podcast series follow.
The 4 episodes you produce must connect thematically in some way. That is, the episodes must contribute to a coherent podcast series that is created with an appropriate core concept. You determine the thematic connection, and remind listeners in episodes of how it all fits together. As you plan, consider the following details.
Focus, Content. What will your podcast be about? What kinds of topics will you discuss? What purpose will your podcast serve for listeners? What angle are you able to take regarding the topic that might distinguish you in the podcast market?
Format, Approach. What kind of show do you imagine? A solo monologue about your topic? An discussion format with a regular co-host / sidsekick? Interviews with guests? Do you have a standard structure you plan to follow?
Possible episodes. What are some of the possible episode topics/titles that might fit your concept for the series?
The planning you do at the beginning of the development process will feature in your Podcast Vision Statement project, so every bit of thinking you do here will be relevant to your Podcast Series work.
As you prepare to record each episode, consider how many of the following details you need to address before you begin.
If your episode requires others to participate, how will they contribute? That is, do you plan to record in the RPW Audio & Video Production Studio (C148), or will you gather participants in a Zoom video session?
Test your equipment at the beginning of the recording process. Make sure you have a good signal. That is, observe your signal levels on your recording/editing package. Hard syllables should register in the yellow bands. If you are not sure what that means, review one of the videos that support recording that I have provided through SVSU Canvas.
As you begin, introduce the participants for the session and the topic(s) up for discussion. During the recording process, if your discussion group loses focus, pause for an extended moment to make that segment easier to identify and trim such moments later during the editing process.
As you record, do not worry about running long as much as you worry about running short. You can always trim excess content when you edit, but you may not be able to add content easily.
When you edit, work to establish and maintain coherence, professionalism, and high production standards when you tweak and trim content. Add fade ins and fade outs to snipped clips to make the transitions between edited moments clean and free of unwanted audio artifacts.
Add intro music (and outtro music).
When you think your podcast is ready to export, save the file in mp3 format. Listen to it all the way through. Note any moments that you want to re-edit (adding time stamps to your notes helps immensely), and then refine that content in your session file. When you are satisfied that the episode is ready to share, export it to MP3 and label it according to specifications in this description.
Beginning with Episode 2, your submissions will include release notes documents. Use the sample doc provided through SVSU Canvas as a design and content guide. The core document need not exceed a single page in length, and should include the following elements.
Episodes 2, 3, and 4 require transcripts. Add this to your Release Notes beginning on page 2 of each document. (See the sample treatment docs for reference.) I recommend the Otter service for this purpose (see Otter.ai). Otter's free service plateau offers 300 minutes of transcription in up to 30 minute increments. That should provide more than enough support for this course. Just remember that you don't want to process a transcript until you have a final edit of each episode.
A memo of transmittal introduces the accompanying document to its audience(s). You will craft such a memo with each submission for the project. Your memos should be addressed from you to me, and should introduce the accompanying project. Your memos should incorporate the following content elements.
Read and attend carefully to these submission guidelines. Failure to do so may result in delays in receiving feedback on the draft of your project, or in points lost on the final evaluation of your project.
Create a project folder inside your shared class folder on Dropbox.com. Remember, I can only view files that you place inside the shared folder. Until you place files in that space, you have not in practice submitted them.
Name the folder Podcast Series.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
This section describes the standards by which your draft and final submissions will be evaluated.
There are 200 possible points for each episode of this project. The first submission is the final submission. You will earn points according to the standard described on the policies page (40% content development, 40% design execution & delivery of the podcast, and 20% professionalism & attention to detail; see Policies). The specific areas of emphasis for this project are drawn from the description and discussion of the project, and are detailed in the evaluation rubric (_RPW205_Eval_Podcast#.pdf).
Remember that I will only post the point values for projects on the Grades page in SVSU Canvas. I will post the details relevant to that evaluation in your class folder in a project-specific file.
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