(Return to Podcasting And Podcatching For The Absolute Beginner)

Me and My Gear

I began getting involved in podcasting in June 2005 with the NECC Apple Distinguished Educator podcast team. I had previously downloaded, subscribed to, and enjoyed a number of podcasts, but didn't really feel that it was a technology that was speaking to me very much. With the advent of enhanced podcasts (podcasts with embedded URLs, images, and chapter markers), I became much more interested. Enhanced podcasts were a lot more dynamic and utilized multimedia in a way that supports our visual learners.

At the Los Angeles County Office of Education, I train teachers in a variety of "emerging technologies" that include podcasting, iPods in education, GarageBand, iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto. My specialties center on infusing digital video and audio meaningfully into the curriculum.

When I record my various podcasts (or help others record), I use several different audio set-ups.

Mobile Recording w/o a Computer

  • M-Audio MicroTrack with either the built-in microphone or the Rode NT-3 handheld small diaphragm condenser microphone
  • iPod with Griffin iTalk Voice Recorder (I can't wait for the new 3rd-party recorders for the 5G iPod!)

Mobile Recording w/ a Computer

Studio Recording w/ a Computer or into a Digital Recorder


To see more pictures of my gear (and read some details), please visit my Flickr Page

Me and My Podcasts

Ted Lai is known in some circles as the PodPiper because of his involvement in several different blogs. He's a Utilization Consultant with the LA County Office of Education's Multimedia Services. Peachpit Press recently published his first book, The Macintosh iLife '06 in the Classroom. Ted wrote the classroom supplement of this best-seller by Jim Heid. Ted's specialties include GarageBand, podcasting, and filmmaking in education.

To read Ted's blog, hear the Digital Education podcast, or learn more about him, please visit PodPiper Productions.

The following are the podcasts that Ted Lai hosts, produces, or advises:

  • Digital Education My thoughts on educational technology and equipment for recording in the classroom.
  • The SoCal HockeyCast A podcast I do with my two daughters that centers on ice hockey around the world from our Southern California perspective.
  • Cut to the Core: Essential Podcasts for Educators One of the official Apple Distinguished Educator podcasts. There are interviews, reviews, and thoughts on educational technology.
  • The TechSavvyGirlz A group of five girls aged six to twelve who discuss technology in education. They also get together to create technology projects that help enhance their learning.
  • The Accidental Technologist My wife's podcast. She's an assistant principal and uses this podcast to help follow-up with the district professional development. She also discusses some best practices for technology in the classroom.
  • The ITO Podcast at LACOE This is the Instructional Technology Outreach's official podcast out of the LA County Office of Education.
  • The ReMix Project The ReMix Project deals with using raps and hip-hop to help students learn. The podcast puts out some samples of the student projects.
  • Wok on the Wildside (in production) This podcast deals with being vegetarian. Recipes, restaurant reviews, and ingredients will be discussed and reviewed here.

Feel free to email questions or comments to Ted at podpiper@mac.com

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