Week 2 Blog 3 Podcasting

The extended discussion board assignment inspired me to further research podcasting. In conducting my research I came across the follow articles that not only better explained podcasting, but how it can be used in the classroom:

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/sites/sites074.shtml
In the article “Sites to See: Podcasting”, author Lorrie Jackson, provides readers with a great set of links to help bring podcasting in their classroom. What is so great about Jackson’s article is the tools she provides to help get people started. Her article is set up in a way to easily help educators create and incorporate podcasts into their classroom. The article includes links to great sites, such as Apple and Podomatic, both of which provide amazing tools for guiding the reader in not only becoming comfortable with what podcasting is, but also the ability to actually create a podcast of their own. Jackson places emphasis on the fact that, “knowing just what you need to podcast and how to create a podcast can be challenging” (2006). The tools Jacksons provides in this article would be excellent for any teacher new to podcasting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/technology/techspecial2/25podcast.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1248375694-YZ0FspNglR7U4BNxRR5kuw
In the article, “Students and Teachers, From K to 12, Hit the Podcasts,” author Jeffery Selingo discusses how the students at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse, Wis., are producing Podcasts and sharing them on iTunes (2006). In the article Selingo touches on the fact that although there is still some hesitation by teachers out there to begin using podcasts in the classroom, students love them and they have been proven effective. Instructional technology specialist Daniel J. Schmit, points out that Podcasting, “teaches them to do research, to communicate in print, to speak effectively and grab attention with sound" (qtd in Selingo, 2006). Aside from appealing to their senses using podcasts gives students a sense of accomplishment. Seventh grader, Megan Wichelt, pointed out that "It's better than learning out of a textbook because you're actually doing something with what you learn and I know other people are listening, so it's very fun to do" (qtd. In Selingo 2006). Selingo’s article provides great insight into why podcasts are so successful.

http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/podcasting/whatIsIt/index.html
This is a great website created by the University of Wisconsin. The website contains information regarding not only what podcasting is, but how to create a podcast, provides some examples of podcasts, and some additional resources that might be beneficial in using podcasts in the classroom. The University of Wisconsin recommends using Podcasts in the classroom for, “course audio files, mini audio presentations, audio case studies, and student presentations” (2007). What I really think would be of benefit to any user, no matter what the skill level is the copyrighted material section in the additional sources tab. This provides great information and helps you ensure that your podcasts avoid copyright violation. Definitely a source that could be shared with your students!

http://recap.ltd.uk/articles/podguide.html
Dave Jobbings created this website specifically to share with teachers and team leaders information about what podcasting is and how to make use of it in the classroom. The article is broken down into five sections: overview of podcasting, creating and listening to podcasts, podcasts in school, copyright issues, and further resources (2005). As an educator what I really found to be of key importance was the fact that Jobbings took adequate time to pinpoint ways in which podcasts can be used in the classroom. Jobbings points out that in order to better our classrooms we can use podcasts in the following ways, “Devising a cross-curricular activity, providing alternate teaching approaches, and promoting/using personalized learning” (2005). I would highly recommend this article to any educator, as well any trainer to find new and exciting ways to incorporate podcasting, as well as to gain better insight on what exactly podcasting is.

http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/blankenship-podcasting
The article “Podcasting in Education: A Perspective from Bryn Mawr College” by author Laura Blakenship focuses on how three professors at Bryn Mawr College have incorporated podcasting into the classroom. Michelle Francl, chemistry professor, used podcasting as a way to record her lectures but removed any announcements and homework reminders, as a means to keep her attendance up. (2007). One of the ideas Francl had that I found to be quite intriguing was to record lectures and to assign them as homework instead of readings for her students. The other professors at the university hope to in the future use podcasts in the following ways, “pre-lab demonstrations and student demonstrations” (2007). This article is a great look at first hand experience of someone who has been there and done that in the world of podcasting.

Currently I do not use many podcasts in my classroom, but it is definitely something I hope to have more time to research and bring into the classroom. The few podcasts I found for the extended discussion will be a great resource for my classroom. Below is an excellent video on how a podcast works:




References:
neovita. (2007, September 27). Podgrunt: What a Podcast is and How it Works [Video File]. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPyoJisyO2o4