There are a variety of options available if you would like to incorporate audio into your online course:

1) Built in audio components within Blackboard (Wimba Voice Tools).

If you are using Blackboard maybe you are already familiar with some of these tools, if not take a minute to check them out because they are very easy to use and extremely useful.

• Voice Authoring: to easily record and add audio file(s) to post for students
• Voice Email: to record audio file to be sent via email through Blackboard
• Voice Board: to create an audio enhanced discussion board
• Voice Presentation: to create an audio presentation
• Wimba Podcaster: to create an audio podcast directly within Blackboard

All of these audio options can be located from the drop down menu within a content area (Assignments for example). Record directly into the Blackboard system, all you need is a functioning microphone, and your students will hear the audio presented through the easy to use user interface tools within Blackboard and the given voice tool.

2) Record, edit and produce audio files independently from Blackboard (Audacity).

There are a large number of options available to work with audio. At the ITL we recommend a software called Audacity. It is a free download and allows one to record, import, edit and export necessary audio files which can be burned to CD/DVD, emailed to interested parties and even uploaded to a web server (including Blackboard).

The one important piece of information regarding Audacity is to know about the third party plug-in which allows you to export MP3 files. Without this plug-in you will only be able to export .wav files etc. and not the standard MP3 format which reduces file size dramatically. From the download page provided below, download and install the necessary version of software based on your operating system, but also note the "LAME MP3 encoder" which is required to export MP3 files. You can place this file anywhere you like (I typically place it in the software program file) just remember where it is so you can tell the Audacity where to locate the file later (this is only a 1 time chore).

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download