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Monday, March 28, 2011

Week 4: Podcasting and Communication



Podcasting is simply put, a blog and radio combined to create a new feed of news.  They are sound files or video files (called vodcasts), that are RSS feeds in which you to subscribe to.  These files are automatically updated and you are alerted when you have a new feed of news to listen to or to view and they sync to your gadgets!

There are many podcasting tools and uses in the classroom.  In this course, we will not go into the details of traditional podcasting but will look at some other ways we can use voice recording with other web 2.0 tools.

Take a look at Discovery Education's links for podcasting in the classroom.  They describe in detail the tools you need and how you can get started.

There are simple web 2.0 tools you can use to podcast like Audacity that are FREE.

Want to explore how you can become a podcast subscriber?  Did you know there is tons of professional development for FREE at your fingertips?  Apple has created an educational podcasting library for student and teacher use.  If you go to iTunes U you will have access to over 75,000 podcast feeds.

Do you have an iPhone or iPod Touch?  There's an app for it!!

So what do you think?  How has communication changed and what can we learn from this change?  What does this mean for the classroom?  Post a brief reflection on the Junkie Blog. 

31 comments:

Nancy Keck said...

The tactical methods of education have grown so much. Students should be encouraged to create content. Teachers must encourage students to create content, and this is a great way to do it. I think we really need to take a look at our whole curriculum....put more emphasis on helping students navigate the technology basics in very early grades. We also need to use the connections that web tools afford us...connections to students and teachers in other locations around the world.

Strahan said...

I love that technology allows students a blank page that can be used with no money and less time!
On the down side is the freedom, some students grow out of their socially appropriate confines soooo quickly with technology because it is all available.

Amy Miller said...

Enchaning lessons with technology such as blabberize, Avatars and Blabberize is a great way to get students excited about learning. My students made comic strips using their vocabulary words and I observed that by putting the words into "action" it made them understand the meaning of the words much more. My students love my Avatar on our classroom blog and they are excited that they will also be making one. I have asked my students to brainstorm how we can use Avatars and they have come up with a multitude of ideas for every subject. This is important because even though it is fun they are realizing the importance that technology has on learning. I have students who comment on our class blog almost daily, and these are students who were apprehensive about using computers before. Their excitment makes them "want" to learn which is indeed a great benefit to the teacher of the reluctant student.

Sharon V said...

What a great way to allow anyone to participate in your classroom. Parents who would like to help out, but are not able to come into the classroom could create podcasts that can be used by the students in the classroom. Students can create podcasts for other classrooms or they can create podcasts to help review material. The possibilities are unlimited.

Corrine Wilton said...

Podcasts are awesome because they are a great way to collaborate ideas in the classroom with other students. They teach students about all the different forms of writing as well: narrative, expository, persuasion, and reporting. They are a great way to teach how to edit and revise as well in a fun way for students. It is neat that anything that is created can be displayed to the world in such a short time.

christine said...

Podcasts definitely have an important role in the classroom. It lets the kids CREATE. When a student has to create something they develop a much deeper knowledge of whatever they are learning about. It shows their individuality. Nothing is right or wrong...it's just their way. I like the idea Sharon had about parents creating podcasts at home. What a wonderful way to help parents get involved...their child could help them do the project. Talk about collaboration!

Gizbe said...

The lightbulb just went on! We as teachers have watched POD casts and so have our students...but...for the student who stil has the fear of speaking in front of a group, what a great way to start them out.

Unknown said...

Podcasting would be a wonderful way for our more quiet students to showcase their learning. This really keeps me hopeful for the day when pencil and paper assessment becomes obsolete!

Holly said...

Wow! I'm learning so much through taking this online class. Communication has changed through the years. We now communicate with each through all kinds of outlets that weren't previously there. Podcasting is an example of how students can connect with each from afar. It's an educational tool that allows students to record and publish their work for others to see. It makes learning more meaningful when students are activly working together to produce their own media. It instills in them pride for what they have accomplished and makes learning more exciting!

Señora Sarasua said...

Wow! Great tool with endless possibilities! I can envision doing remote lessons for absent students and as a review for students who need additional help. In my discipline (foreign language), listening activities can be posted with an accompanying comprehension activity. Also, students can produce their own projects. All types of resources from around the world can be accessed and implemented. I already posted two podcasts on my blog!

Sue said...

We can now communicate effortlessly with people from all over the world. When students are studying a region of the world, they can easily view podcasts from people of that culture.

Jason said...

I can't wait to have podcasts of our weekly story to help students improve their fluency. I can also see a possible "2nd grade news" podcast or something along those lines as well.

Late Comer said...

Podcasting would be an easy way for my "shy" students to share their ideas and research. Some students cannot stand up in front of a teacher and/or a class and present their information; however, creating a podcast would allow the student to prepare the information in a comfortable surrounding and present the material without having to stand in front of a group. I like podcasts for students to prepare a "radio talk" piece where they must be aware of the difficulty of preparing information for only auditory audiences.

Late Comer said...

Have ha d a great time with Blabberize! I can see using this program with great success in an elementary school. The program will be a new twist on my bell-ringer activities in middle school. Animae characters have a great appeal to middle school students. I am interested in trying to combine avatars from doppleme.com with blabberize and see some great attention-getting results.

Late Comer said...

Voice Thread is fantastic! This would be a great product to use when preparing remediation materials and assessments for the Volusia Proficiency Model as well as for creating end-of-course exams. Group members can be "relaxing" wherever, and contribute via voice or written comment on the materials as well as make changes and upload their thoughts and materials. I have used Safari Live (which is free), but Voice Thread offers much more.

Anonymous said...

Podcasting seems like a great way
to have students communicate and create. Some students are afraid to get in front of the class. This could be a way for them to get rid of that fear. I've used Audacity before it's a great little program.
I will be exploring podcasting much more in the near future.

Mrs. Jacobsen said...

I quickly went to Itunes U to see what was offered. I downloaded two podcasts and lost myself on a rainy day afternoon learning how to create ringtones for the Iphone. Too bad the podcast was too old that Itunes has figured a way to prevent you from doing just that! I had a great time exploring what else was out there. I especially love the ones on learning a another language and learning to play the guitar! How does a podcast differ from a Youtube video? Like to hear your thoughts.

andrews3 said...

Communication has changed greatly over the last two decades, thanks to new technologies. We now have the ability to interact with others all over the world, rather than just watching a video or listening to a broadcast over the radio. In addition, we can create our own material and share it with others all over the world instantly. Using podcasts in the classroom is a great way to motivate students to take an active part in their own education. Creating a podcast requires them to work together, research and analyze their research (make sure it's authentic). Knowing that their final product will be broadcast to a world-wide audience gives students purpose and motivation to create a spectacular product and allows them to share learning experiences. Also, teachers can use this technology to provide additional and revision material to students to download and review at a time convenient for them.

Christina L. said...

Podcasting is so cool. It makes it easy for kids to create something unique and fun and as a teacher I could upload assignments or tutorials or whatever as well. Very cool tool to utilize in the classroom :)

Katy said...

I need your help here ... we have 8 iPods that were purchased 4 years ago and are currently locked up. I need help seeing the big picture - students create podcasts in the computer lab, save them to iTunes, then students can use the iPods to view/listen to them?

Mrs. Stewart said...

@Jacobsen
A podcast is purely a feed of audio you can subscribe to. Some YouTube videos do act like vodcasts(video and audio feed). Podcasts are hosted separate from YouTube. It is very different producing just an audio clip compared to the visual video. Two different skills and arts.

Mrs. Stewart said...

@Katy
Yes this is a possibility. I plan on checking them out so they can listen tothe podcasts and to read emags and ebooks. I also plan to have educational games on them so they can Play them. You can even create a podcast to give them a research challenge and they would have to use he iPods to hear it. Lots of possibilities.

Using mine to support math and science. Also plan to do a where in the world podcast connected with google earth. I will give hints about a place and then students can guess where I am using google earth to set pinpoints.

Cool Beans said...

Wow! The world is moving so fast around me. Apparently I have an old fashioned ipod that dosn't have the capability to download podcasts. My son can download them to his MP3 player, but our internet is so slow that it hasn't downloaded successfully. (We live in Samsula) So, podcasts seem to be a bit of a challenge for me and all my friends know even less than I do about them! A little information can be very dangerous. However now I want a new IPOD and an IPAD. I think they both present great opportunities for my classroom. In the past few years, I have noticed I have to work harder to keep the students engaged. However I can do the same presentation on photostory and Boom, I have everyone's attention! Podcasts seem better because they are easier to share with other teachers.

mkj said...

I thought that Blabberize was really funny. In learning the past tenses, I have students create fairy tales. This would be a great way for them to focus on their writing and/or speaking. They don't need to have any artistic skill to speak of because they are using images. I think they are going to love it.

Yes, yes, yes. So many great ideas already on this page.

Late Comer said...

Just finished creating a Weebly. I like the idea of a web site and blogged tied together. This will be a great took for working the multimedia class - post projects and deadlines on the web site and use the blog for students response to questions and for weekly work. Where do we post the URL?

Mrs. Stewart said...

@Late Comer
Post your URL in the Google Form on thing 17 post.
http://technologyjunkiegroup.blogspot.com/2011/05/thing-17-weebly-websites.html

Anonymous said...

A few years ago my 8th grade language arts students created a persuasive campaign using technology. One group used what I now know was a program like blabberize to have images of celebrities ask them questions. It was so cool. The students loved it and now I know how easy it is.

Debra said...

Podcasting looks as though it's an easy way for students to create and share projects. I'm looking forward to promoting this tool with students and teachers.

cathy said...

In the area of guidance, we are concerned about the culture of the school and have the awesome responsibility of "doing something" about bullying. Students are living with the bullying, and they might have more impactful things to share than adults.

cathy said...

Not all of my comment came through. I see podcasting as a possible way for students to share their views about bullying in the schools. Let's give voice to the many students who wish to see the school culture become more welcoming and accepting.

Michelle Deibler said...

Communication has changed so much, just in my lifetime! (I'm 28.) I see podcasts as ways to record your thoughts,and your creations. I like the idea of my students "hearing" themselves read stories they are trying to edit. It is the hardest part for me to get the kids to edit! They say "I did edit", and I know they didn't. Now they can hear the mistakes!