Podcasting
This generation of students has not known life without technology integrated in it and podcasting is a part of it. Since the invention of the iPod podcast's have been very popular in the United States. Podcast have many benefits in the classroom. A teacher can send his/her lecture out through as a podcast which the students can then use to review. It is also very easy to upload classroom lectures into a website which would create a sense of community in the class. Teachers can upload these podcast to their classroom blog to generate meaningful debate among students. Students can use podcast to take a project based learning approach which allows creativity and innovation. Podcast can be very beneficial for students when they are sick and are unable to come to class so that they do not fall behind. Students seem to love to do podcast and it gives them the opportunity to practice fluent reading and share.
"The Education Podcast Network" is a website that is a collaboration of teacher’s informative podcasts. This website includes a catalog of topics covering a diverse range of subjects. Most of the producers of this website are teachers and some podcasts are meant to inform teachers and others to be used in the classroom by students. I personally love the slogan of this website “We are a multicast society of speakers and listeners, listeners and speakers, teaching and learning in a life and time of change.” I think this really encompasses the purpose of this website. After watching and listening to a few of the podcasts I had a better understanding of the variety of styles and possibilities for our Podcast.
Judy Scharf’s website is very useful for anyone first learning how to create a podcast or for a teacher who wants to start using them to help teach lessons. She gives tips for how to set up a full lesson incorporating podcasting and links to resources that I found to be very useful. Also included is a rubric for grading podcasts, how to submit podcast to iTunes and example podcasts. I got some great ideas from this website I think would make our podcast more exciting, informatory and interesting. I also realized after reading her suggestion sheet that my ideas may be over my head because I do not yet have a full understanding of the software needed to create the podcast. It is best to start out simple given the time frame and build from that.
I also agree with you that podcasts are very useful for a child who is sick and has to stay home from school one day. If the teacher is a regular podcaster, the student will always know there is some medium of communication where the child will always be informed.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Regina!
ReplyDeletePodcasting is a very versatile tool and should be in every teacher's toolbox. This type of activity while being engaging for the students also allows the teacher (coach) plenty of flexibility to mold and direct the entire learning experience. As you pointed out it is also a great way for students who may have missed class to participate and get the information they need.
Your blog is outstanding! Keep up the good work. SS