Purpose: To provide you with the opportunity to make a podcast and have it appear on the Ithaca College itunes site.

Assignment: Create a podcast of 55 to 65 seconds in length. Your podcast should be structured as a Public Service Announcement designed to promote awareness of a national health-related or physical activity-related observance.

First, using the resources provided below, select a national health observance.

Next, decide on your goal for the podcast. Is it to inform? Persuade individuals to take action? Motivate individuals to change behavior?

Third, using the Notes feature of Powerpoint, plan out your script. You do not need to write it down word for word, but have a good idea of what you want to accomplish. You should have a beginning, middle, and end. Once you have done that, think about your visuals and what you will include on your slides.

Now, use Powerpoint to create your PSA. The show should be between 4-5 slides, fully automated, and custom animated, with it being between 55 to 65 seconds in length.

It should include a title slide with the title of your health observance, images that enhance your presentation, facts supporting the reason for the observance, resources for help or further information, and effects that will keep the viewer interested in viewing your presentation and listening to it to the end. Use Microsoft Office Online to secure an appropriate background for your slide or make your own. Do not use a standard template that comes with Powerpoint.

Once you have completed your Powerpoint, you need to add the narration. Be prepared with a script. You may benefit from rehearsing your narration before inserting it into Powerpoint.

Next, use the appropriate program to convert it to a podcast. Once you have converted your work to a podcast, upload it to the Ithaca College iTunesU home page.

You will then download two podcasts and offer the creators feedback on their work. Email them the feedback via Blackboard mail. An appropriate feedback would be between 200-250 words, including positive comments and specific suggestions for improvement.

Links: Use these links to locate an appropriate health observance. You must select your observance from the months that occur during the semester. Post your choice to the class discussion board. First come first serve; no duplication allowed.

• Health Observances Calendar and Annual Recognition Days by Months
• Health Awareness Days
• Wellness Council of American Health Observances
• 2009 National Health Observances
• Bizarre, Crazy, Silly and Unknown Observances
• Awareness ribbons

Before starting, check out these PSA available through various organizations and hints about making effective PSAs.

• American Heart Association - PSA for stroke and heart disease
• Alcoholics Anonymous - PSA
• Environmental Protection Agency - PSA
• International Walk to School - PSA

Search for tips on writing PSAs, radio PSAs, PSA scripts, etc. before you begin this assignment.

Evaluation : You will be evaluated using the generic scoring rubric. Presentations that are engaging, presented on a unique background, statistically accurate, image-rich, animated in interesting ways, and effectively narrated will receive the highest grades. Your grade includes your Powerpoint presentation, podcast, and feedback provided to your colleagues.

This page was created by Dr. Deborah A. Wuest and last updated on August 20, 2009.