Introduction
This article will cover the "Audio Podcast" option that appears when adding an activity to a module.
The "Audio Podcast" activity allows course creators to upload an existing audio podcast file or have one auto-generated by AI based on selected source material. This activity is a good way to introduce variety into your course content.
When you add an "Audio Podcast" activity, you can choose to either generate a new podcast or upload an existing audio file.
If you choose to upload your own file, it simply needs to be an audio format. The system does not verify whether the content is actually a podcast, so any audio file will be accepted.
The "Upload" option looks identical to the window you are presented with when editing an existing audio podcast activity, which we'll describe later in this article. To start, we'll review the window that loads when selecting the "Generate New Audio Podcast".
Add New Audio Podcast Activity
When selecting the option to "Generate New Audio Podcast", the below window is displayed:
Below, we'll describe each option that appears when generating a new audio podcast:
- Sources - Use this dropdown to choose the source materials that will serve as the basis for the audio podcast discussion. Acceptable source activities currently include base video segments, PDF files, and PPTX files.
- Audience - Select the audience the podcast is intended for. Current selections are the default of "General", or "K12", which is intended for younger audiences.
- Additional Instructions - You can add optional guidance to the AI engine, such as instructing it to focus on a certain topic, etc.
- Generate - Click this button to create the podcast. The newly-added activity will show a "Processing" indicator for several minutes, as the AI engine generates the content. The final activity will be an audio file featuring multiple personas engaging in a dynamic discussion based on the selected source material. A full transcript of the conversation is also integrated into the activity, which learners can view as they listen to the podcast.
Edit Existing Audio Podcast Activity
Once a podcast has been generated, you can click "edit" to listen to the audio and to make adjustments. Below is a sample screenshot of the the audio podcast's "edit" view:
This is also the view you'll see after uploading your own audio file for a new podcast activity, instead of having one auto-generated from selected source material. For the "Upload" option, our system will accept .mp3 and .wav files.
Below, we'll describe each of the items that appears in the podcast "edit" view:
- Podcast Name - This is the name the AI generated for the podcast (or the uploaded audio file name) and is also is used as the activity name. You may adjust this, as needed.
- Audio Player - This basic audio player occupies the majority of the window. You can listen to the audio content here.
- Show Transcript - If the podcast was AI-generated, you'll see a "T" icon at the bottom right of the audio player, which can be clicked to reveal the podcast's corresponding transcript in a right-hand panel, as shown below:
At the top of that panel, you’ll see an edit icon. Choosing Edit opens an editor where you can revise the podcast text and regenerate the audio based on your updates. We've provided an example screenshot of the transcript edit window below:
Editing the transcript is especially helpful when the AI misinterprets something or when you want the podcast to skip or adjust certain topics. - Allow Download Material - Check this box if you want to allow learners to download the podcast audio file.
- Save Changes / Add to Module - This button will add the podcast activity to the module or save any changes you've made, depending on whether you were creating or editing a podcast.