by Blake Turner
Podcasting is a term that has been making its way to the forefront of the English technology lexicon since 2004. It is now a widely understood term that essentially refers to an electronic means of delivering information via audio streaming or video streaming. In essence, the term podcast refers to audio or video electronic packets of information that are created by individual users and are posted to various electronic platforms. Podcasts allow any user of the internet or other electronic delivery systems to view, listen, or download presentations in audio or video formats.
The extent of its popularity and applications are obvious in The Diffusion Group’s (June 15, 2005) statement that a “study predicted that nearly 60 million listeners by 2010” would by utilizing podcast technology. Obviously, because of its widespread use, educators can be sure that many of their students are quite familiar with this format and probably have used it more than once. As educators look for new and innovative ways to deliver instruction and increase understanding, podcasts provide a delivery system that is novel and engaging.
So, the question is posed: How can media specialists harness this information delivery method in such a way as to assist educators in their endeavors and, in turn, help make media specialists relevant resources for classroom teachers? Well, in a sense, the possibilities are limitless.
As a media specialist, I would collaborate with teachers on integrating podcasts into their classrooms as an alternative to the tired old poster and diorama projects. I would show them how podcasts really encourage the students to become actively engaged in the learning process while allowing them to incorporate their own personalities into them. I could provide a quick mini seminar on how to utilize i-movie and other software to produce the video podcasts. I could also perform a mini seminar on how to create simple audio podcasts. The beauty of using podcasts is that the students are gaining understanding in a variety of areas and are satisfying state standards associated with content areas and the use of technology.
Projects such as book presentations, character comparisons, musical arrangements and more done in video or audio or both would encourage the students to become more involved in the content of their subject and learn relevant technology skills. A great idea for a podcast is to have your class create a weekly review of what the class did that week and what skills were learned. These reviews could be posted by the students and utilized as review resources by the whole class. Teachers can also post podcasts in the form of lectures or notes for students that may need help with specific areas. Like I said, the possibilities are endless.
I found a great site that gives some excellent
ideas for teachers wanting to use podcasts in
their classes.
Check it out:
Check it out:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=11531
References
The Diffusion Group. (June 15, 2005). Podcasting users to approach 60 million US consumers
Richards, Emily. (2011). 10 podcasts for teachers and kids. Scholastic. Retrieved from
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=11531
Blake,
ReplyDeleteIf you do a podcast explaining how to use iMovie and other software for podcast creations please share. I am swamped with iPad training I am providing and could use some other things to infuse into my teacher training. The website you found was good. You had so many great ideas, I especially liked having the students review what they had learned for the week. Have you ever checked out the podcast Grammar Girl http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ it’s great, but some schools will have it filtered because of the url keywords. Just ask for it to be unblocked. It’s a great audio podcast that is updated almost daily.
Thanks again for the tips.
Leigh Anne
Blake, you have some really good ideas. I agree with you, you need to educate the teachers and teach them how to create podcast and use them in the classroom. Podcast are a great way to add a little spice to everyday teaching. I do monthly book reports in my classroom; I might take your suggestion and do a book report podcast instead! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBlake, this is a great article on blogging. I like the suggestion regarding the use of blogging for weekly student reviews. This is a great way to help students take ownership in their learning. The scholastic article is an added resouces as well!
ReplyDeleteYou did an excellent job at defining a podcast. I think that anyone reading this post would immediately understand what it is. I like the way you provided examples of how podcasts could be used to replace the old "paper and pencil" methods of completing book projects. I know that students really enjoy using technology and so the projects produced are often far more creative than if they just had to draw a picture or make a model. Finally, I really like your idea of a weekly recap of the week's learning. This is a fun way to document all the significant events of the year. The teacher could even make cds at the end of the year highlighting the podcasts that the students liked best.
ReplyDelete-Michelle H.
I was really impressed by how widespread podcasting is becoming. I'm sure many high schools use it, although you don't see it being utilized in the middle school levels as much (at least not at my school). I have seen our challenge classes use it, but I'd really like to see it become more mainstreamed in the classrooms (atleast in our school). I would be very interested to see how it is being utilized in other schools and districts! I think, as a media specialist, we can be very influential in helping popularize their use in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe examples you gave such as book report presentations, character comparisons, weekly reviews, tutorials, etc. are all innovative ways to incorporate podcasts in the classroom. So often we get bogged down in paper and pencil teaching with a simple project thrown in here and there. The student weekly reviews I think would be a much better way to really make the learning stick.
I can't help thinking about your musical arrangement example too because it brings to mind how my high school band director used to tape our performances and play it back for the entire band to listen and learn from.
It would be great if those taped performances could be put into an audio streaming format which could be posted on the school's website for all to enjoy, as well as archived for use in the classroom.
Great job! I like your idea about the mini-seminars showing teachers how to use the technology as well as giving them ideas on how to utilize it. There are so many things that teachers have to keep up with now and many of them do not have time to explore new technologies. I think the lack of time and 'know-how' are the biggest restrictions on incorporating more technology into lessons. Students will love to watch their teacher on a fun podcast and even more - they will love to do them and watch their classmates. Watch an engaging way to learn!
ReplyDelete