Someone mentioned that they wanted to know if it was possible to set up an "Instant Messaging" box on their blog. The answer is, "yes!" I haven't tried it myself, but I know that you can use any number of services, like: (http://www.plugoo.com/, or http://www.meebome.com/learnmore.html )
If somone has some success, then please let the rest of us hear about it.
This session brings us to a new category, "PODCASTING." I have found that teachers' experiences and exposure to podcasts vary widely, so I built in some 'Differentiated Instruction' into this session. For those of you new to the term you will be enlightened, and if you want more detail there will be hyperlinks from most slides that will give you that extra support you may need or want. Here is a video to give you a brief overview if you're a 'newbie.'
If somone has some success, then please let the rest of us hear about it.
This session brings us to a new category, "PODCASTING." I have found that teachers' experiences and exposure to podcasts vary widely, so I built in some 'Differentiated Instruction' into this session. For those of you new to the term you will be enlightened, and if you want more detail there will be hyperlinks from most slides that will give you that extra support you may need or want. Here is a video to give you a brief overview if you're a 'newbie.'
For those of you with more experience, I have integrated into the session the opportunity to bring yourself to the next stage in your 'podcasting evolution.' You will find video tutorials, and dozens of resources, that will help you rise to the next level of 'podcasting sophistication,' so you may create your own if you are so inclined. Here is a more 'research-based' video for those of you interested in that aspect:
For others, you may not have any desire to learn or use podcasts at this point in your career, so if that is the case you may skim through this section and focus upon your Deliverable #2. It is due by next Tuesday, so please post it under Session 4 when you are completed.
Good luck and podcast away!
Dave
32 comments:
I am finding this week's lesson on podcasting to be a challenge. I've read the slide show all the way through, and checked out several sights, but still feel like I need to go back and reread the it again.I think I get the idea of what a podcast is,from the many examples, but terms are so foreign to me this week. "Syndication feeds", "reads RSS"... am I the only one who is not feeling comfortable with all of this?
Viewing Podcasts really isn't that confusing Carol, just a bit intimidating if you are unfamiliar with the terminology. It is just a different name for any type of down loadable file that you can save on your computer or MP3 player. I don't own an IPOD and do not plan to buy one. Windows media will play the files on your desktop though.
I have begun using RSS feeds since taking this class and if you have have Vista you can have your favorite news sites posting on your desktop on the right side where the Vista Gadgets are.
MAKING the podcasts is something I haven't tried yet.
I actually made and posted an audio podcast using Audacity (free software), a mike connected to my computer(Cyberacoustics, about $14.00) and free access to Internet Archive where you can post your file. You also needed a LAME file but I was prompted by Audacity to do this download and can't recall the exact name. Creating the MP3 file was very easy. I found a great tutorial for Audacity that I'll be glad to share if you are interested. I do have a feeling there might be an easier place to post than internet Archive. I plan to check out Blogger for details. When I find it, I'll let you know.
I'm still investigating the "video podcast!!"
I'm not sure what I think about podcasts. Certainly they can be a great tool- a fun, innovative way for kids to "show what they know." I wonder if they'd get old quickly? My guess is that my kids would think they are fun at first, but then prefer blogging or Power Point. Maybe it's me.... I've known about podcasts since they appeared on iTunes, but I've never been tempted to listen. I prefer to read or watch instead. Still it would be fun to have a school iPod and I know plenty of students who would love to record their voice on it! I need to think more on this...
Trish
I have been out of the loop for a bit with a family emergency, but I have been trying to digest all the information on Podcasts. I really want to do this and have sought the help of my media specialist to make it happen. She happens to be the keeper of the equipment, so it is in my best interest to get her involved! We have been trying to record the kids and their poetry for my blog and I have been back and 4th to the power point trying to figure out how to get it all on the blog. I am determined to figure this all out. The blog itself is going strong. We are well into our poetry unit and they are still happily blogging to me about poetry, writing their own, getting ready for a poetry slam, and hopefully getting ready to broadcast! I will master this, that is just my type A personality (for better or worse). I do feel a little overwhelmed with the information out there. I have also been searching for some podcasts that may fit my curriculum to share with the kids. It takes a lot of screen time to get it all done. With two little ones at home sometimes the screen time is limited.
This was the first exposure I have had to learning about podcasts. I have an MP3 player I listen to on a daily basis while working out but have never given much thought to how it works, etc. After doing the assigned reading I was still confused. The powerpoint helped me gain a better understanding of podcasts and podcasting thanks to all the helpful links but I am still not convinced I truly understand how they work. The language is what is throwing me off I think because podcasting seems like it could be easy to do. It amazed me that one of the first of tens of thousands of podcasters was a thirteen year old boy!
I can see how useful podcasts could be in education, especially in foreign language as was discussed in the powerpoint. Once again, the possibilities are endless which just continues to boggle my mind. Honestly, I find the thought of it a bit overwhelming and at this point am not comfortable diving into the world of podcasting. I should say though that if I could use this as an evaluation tool and the student had the technological skills then I would certainly allow them to produce something and would publish it on the classroom blog. This could be a nice alternative to the written book report or the brochure that they recently made to discuss a global issue. In the process of their creation they could probably teach me a thing or two.
I have enjoyed visiting fellow classmate’s blogs. All look good and it seems as if some have had some great success with getting people to blog along with them. My students have gotten quite comfortable with our classroom blog. We use it religiously to make predictions for each upcoming chapter in the book we are currently reading. I am still trying to figure out how to post student Global Issue brochures.
I've been trying to get a podcast on to my blog with little success: I bought a cheap microphone; I downloaded Audacity and lame files -- no problem. Then I recorded the introduction to my blog. No problem. I registered w/ Ourmedia.org and then w/ Internet archives and have tried many times to upload my audio onto Ourmedia but it doesn't let me. I hit "submit" and it says it can't access the page -- like the server is down? I'll try again later, but I'm also searching for a new web host.
Mary O'Neill
Session 5 Comments
I can see the value of Podcasting at the classroom level. The examples shown in Session 5 prove that students and teachers can ‘spice up” classes and expand the teaching and learning opportunities of all involved. Although Podcasting can enhance all subjects, I see real potential for its use and student growth in the World Languages arena. It is apparent to me that many students are “into” MP3 players, IPods, etc. (I take them away from them every day for using them during school hours.).
Adding podcasts to my blog would only serve to enhance the ultimate product, as I am sure it would to the classroom teachers employing them. However, I need to think on it more for my “administrative” level. Perhaps, I could stream in pertinent videos from outside sources (national news, newspapers, etc.). I could also voice over certain articles I have put onto my blog. In any event, I am a long way from utilizing the podcast capabilities in my blog. I am comfortable at this time in envisioning a blog which contains mostly Word documents, articles from various sources, and even Power Point presentations. Any Podcasting would have to be added at a later date as I grow more experienced and confident in my abilities.
John Lalli
First, I apologize for publishing these comments late, but I appreciated reading each of your
comments. I was really impressed with Donna's use of Audacity to record a podcast of her own, so
I investigated this myself. I was using a big brand name program at home, but I wanted a open-source program that could handle the load and convert (with the help of the LAME plugin) to mp3 for my students.
My students are actually excited about podcasts because many of their favorite shows (Scrubs, to name one) and bands offer weekly podcasts to keep in touch with the cast or artists. Many of told
me that they post them on their Facebook accounts (the blog software we've mentioned in previous sessions) and they have expressed an interest in using them for more class projects.
For my culminating project, I offered podcasts on my menu of items for oral presentations. I was pleased that two of my reading groups decided to use this technology. They split up the direction of the podcast into a faux interview with the characters for one group, and the other group
interviewed the actual author. The results, which I will share in my project, where very impressive to me. The students had such a great hold on the audio aspect of this task. They understood how to transition with music and how to make the entire piece flow like a real interview. The author in fact, wanted to use the two sessions of her interview on her book website, which was a tremendous honor for them. Furthermore, the students in the class went home and downloaded the podcast themselves to continue listening.
It made me think of my professors who used to post their PowerPoint lectures online and how students would go back (or read for the first time, when they skipped class) to review them later. I wondered how many teachers might consider this for some of their history classes, science labs, or my friend who teaches electronic music with focus on the history of
synthesizers. I can imagine listen to Rick Wakeman tracks or mock interview with King Henry VIII
in a Reader's Theatre style for enrichment or a preview to a future lesson. Simply put, I think
podcasting is a great resource for all learners and will be enjoyable technology for many years to come, especially with the video podcast features.
Lisa Casey - Deliverable 2
Lesson : Responding to a topic on the 6th grade blog
Selected Standards from the National and State Standards for Information literacy (from the RIEMA website at riema.org): (Social responsibility and the ability to locate, access, retrieve and synthesize information are the standards I chose. National is in blue.)
Rhode Island Standard 4: Students will demonstrate an ability to organize and evaluate information in all formats.
Rhode Island Standard 5: Students will demonstrate an ability to communicate ideas and information through the use of various media.
Rhode Island Standard 6: Students will communicate an understanding of responsible and ethical practices related to the use of ideas and information.
Standard 7: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.
Standard 8: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.
Standard 9: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.
INTRODUCTION: Each of the 6th grade classes will create a blog. Each class may create an independent blog, that is, not simultaneously answer the identical prompts/news stories/writing assignments as the other sixth grade classes. Topics of interest will be discussed, agreed upon, and students will also visit news sites, websites, view media and respond in various formats to the given assignment. These will be posted on the blog homepage for student access.
GOALS: I goals I want the students to achieve are delineated by the site you posted for student comments, at http://www.masters.ab.ca/bdyck/Blog/. I hope there is critical thinking, especially since I want the students to remember that postings are forever, and this is a shared forum for thought, not comedy.
I want the students to post in a timely manner, as our shared viewing of blogs has made evident the importance of time and date in the blog format, as opposed to the website format.
I want them to exercise their writing skills and view the blog piece the same way as if they were doing a report, not an I.M. site where U R A Q T is an acceptable sentence.
If applicable, they can use personal examples but here I would caution them against writing something they may have cause to regret revealing.
Lesson Plan for the 6th grade blog (one class only)
Preblog prep:
I will be sending a letter home to the parents explaining that their children will be blogging on a number of subjects on a bi-weekly (actually to be determined) basis and I would like them to accept or decline their children's participation. I will also let them know that I will be a comment moderator and that nothing gets posted to the blog that hasn't first passed muster by me.
We will view an I-Safe module about on-line safety. In this non-fiction piece we learn about inernet predators and how one young girl kept a secret relationship with an older man that led to her death. Then we will read an article at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/06/eveningnews/main1286130.shtml
the online article is MySpace: Your Kids' Danger?
Popular Social Networking Site Can Be Grounds For Sexual Predators
I will give you some questions that will help you to provide answers. Remember the student comments site and make sure that your answers are thoughtful, to the point, show that you understand the article, support your opinion (and you are free to have your own opinion, not what you think "the teacher wants". Speak in full sentences if you are doing an audioclip, a video, and if writing, that your responses are grammatically correct. If you need filming help see me and we can arrange a time to film your piece or skit.
QUESTIONS: Do think that it's OK for kids to keep some things private? Why/why not? What kinds of things might people want to keep private? What kinds of things to you think you should share with a friend? Or with a parent? Do you think that this story should be covered in a national newspaper? Why/why not? What does it mean for something to be national news? What impact does a news story like this have on yourself? Your parents? How old should you be before you get a my space page? Enter a chatroom?
For classroom discussion or online, if you want to add more to your assignment: When you are online you should practice ethical behavior. What is the definition of “ethical”? Use www.dictionary.com and look up the meaning under Dictionary.com Unabridged (v.1.1). Look at the synonyms. Is keeping secrets online an “ethical” thing to do? Give your opinion.
Differentiation: you may respond to the article by writing an opinion, by shooting a video or yourself responding to the piece (think newsreporter or grieving friend), or creating an audioclip that we can add to the blog. You can use an alphasmart or have someone scribe for you if writing is difficult. Perform a skit with another student.
I might use some of the pieces from masters.ab.ca/bdyck/Blog for assessment on the assignment part but how do you assess the impact on their behavior long term? Hopefully it will help change or prevent risky behavior on my student’s part.
My blog for my classroom has started to take off. I’m very excited that the students are participating. I decided to just try it with my college class for now. The class talked about it on Thursday. Some of them feel that it will be helpful to discuss the book we are reading in class.
I’m not sure that I’m reading for podcasting yet. I am just starting to feel comfortable with the way the blog is right now. Maybe in the futher. I also agree with one of the comments from a student last semester, some of the information seem overwhelming right now.
I've been contemplating how I can use podcasts in the classroom - especially for booktalks. Many of our teachers have the students get up in front of the class to do a booktalk, this would be a fun way to do them and of course to preserve the talks and share it with classmates.
OTOH, I think I need to pick and choose which technology I'm going to implement.
Finally, I didn't see anything dealing with parental permission. How are educators handling that?
I’ve decided to plunge head-first into podcasting. Ipods are ubiquitous in our high school. I’ve rounded up a couple of teachers that are willing to create new lessons using podcasting or to integrate the technology into existing projects in the curriculum. Our ecology class is working on producing “podguides” to the nature trails that run behind our school. I’m also hoping to convert the 20th Century History class project of “A radio broadcast during WWII” to podcasts instead of powerpoint aided class presentations. I participated in a half-day seminar on podcasting with the IT director from Stonington, CT public schools. For those of you (locals) interested - I believe Clint Kennedy will be presenting again at the RIEMA annual conference in April 08.
At this point I am looking at podcasting as an alternative to the Powerpoint presentation. Students seem excited to use a technology that is widely banned by the administration (the means I need to do some explaining to the VP). I have several students with music production skills, so I imagine that they will be doing some peer teaching when it comes to using Audacity software (which I am muddling through learning). I am making a very small monetary investment of about $40 for an ipod recording attachment. Students have volunteered to use their own ipod/mp3 players to use with the recorders. I’ve talked some publication issues out with my building computer person (who is also the ecology teacher). We’ve agreed that our school’s AUP that both students and parents have signed will cover what we are going to do with podcasts. We certainly will not provide first and last names of students in the podcasts.
Our hope is that each season, or even year, the ecology class can add additional episodes based on the ecology of the season. This would be a nice way to connect the community with what is going on at the high school. The trick here, as with using any technology in education is the percentage of time spent on the actual subject matter research as compared with time spent to use said technology!
-Terri Spisso
Right now, I'm trying to focus on getting my colleagues to use my blog. This has been a very SLOW process. With some people very tech saavy and used to using these technologies in their everyday lives and others who basically just use e-mails and browsers to surf the web, I am finding that it is not very easy to get everyone "on board" with blogging.
For my deliverable (posted on the class wiki), I envisioned my blog as a "meeting place" for my librarian colleagues to discuss issues, ideas, share book reviews, etc. I cannot say that I have been all that successful in doing that at this point. Only two of my colleagues have left comments, and a few have expressed interest to me through e-mails but feel that they lack the know-how to participate in blogging. I've decided that I need to show them how this technology can be helpful in our jobs and show them how easy blogging is to do. We have many PD's that we are required to attend in our district, so I've got some opportunity to work on them some more.
My goals for my blog are the same, even after a less than adequate first assessment of its use or purpose. I hope the blogging idea catches on with more of my colleagues as it has for some of you in your "classrooms".
Being said, I don't think a podcast is something I can delve into at this point. I do like the idea of using them in the classroom for various projects, lessons, etc. They would be great for my bilingual classes and ESL classes to use as they are learning how to read and write English. This is an idea I intend to share with several of my teachers who would be interested in using this technology in their classrooms. I would also like to use podcasting on my Library blog (which is not up and running yet due to the inability to view it in school) if I am granted access to it in school by the tech dept. I'd need to check our AUP to see if it covers the creation/use of podcasts. I wonder if that is something that needs a separate permission form? I'll have to research that one a little more. I also need to see if we can actually access any sites with podcasts. Most of what we have been asked to view in this course is blocked by my school's server.
Podcasting - Cool!
I coach figure skating as well as teach school, and I have taught myself to edit music for skaters. This was quite an ongoing learning process, but I am good at it now. It is rewarding to see my students (and other coaches' students as well) compete or test, and hear music I have edited at the rink. I had to make sound level changes to accomidate the usually terrible sound system at the rinks, and through trial and error, I have learned many advanced techniques to make seamless transitions in pieces of music that should not go together.
I say all this, because to me, Podcasting is another challenge I would like to take on.
I have had this idea to create an ongoing collection on current events articles produced by my students. At first, I thought maybe a video format, which could be student written, produced and published to DVD and presented to our school library - a look back at the past school year.
As my classroom computers get older, however, it seems as though video editing will really be out of the question. Podcasting, may be "do-able." The kids could still choose the events to be included, write and record the script.
I already maintain a website - this could be something we could add.
I clearly need more "how-to" information. I don't own an I-Pod, but I do own a Zune - Microsoft's video/mp3 player. I wonder if this equiptment will do the trick? Even my oldest computers in my classroom have microphones and can record voices.
The whole idea interested me greatly!
THIS ENDS THE COMMENTS FROM EDC921 FALL '07 PARTICIPANTS.
I am also finding the terminology difficult. I am finding a lot of things difficult, just about everything except actually using my blog to communicate with students about their writing. This part os fun and exciting. They are talking about writing like writers. I also wanted to offer an article I read in EdWeekly online. Here is the link. I hope it works!:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/02/27/25biz.h27.html?tmp=1743390080
Oh, and my lesson plan is forthcoming. I know I am a little behind and I will have time this weeekend to catch up. Thanks for everyone's patience.
Diane Feole
To Diane Feole,
I checked out your student's comments on your blog; it's so great to see them commenting on writing. This is my goal as well! Congratulations! One of my biggest problems is that I can't access any blog from school, so everything has to be done from home.
I've just added most of my students on as authors, so I'm hoping that they will start posting sometime tonight and tomorrow.
--Stephanie Zannella
Johanna K
I just wanted to get back to you about Library Thing on my blog.
http://www.librarything.com . Library Thing is an online cataloging service and connects others who are reading the same books. It's really easy to use. Give it a try.
I found the Podcasting session this week interesting. I don't think I will be podcasting right now. I really want to work on blogs and wikis. I also did not seem to find any Podcast on Information Literacy or Researching topics.
I wonder if podcasting will take off in schools, since most schools have restrictions on using IPods and administrators don't really understand the technology or its use in education.
I've asked my adminstration if I could make an exception in the Media Center and allow IPods. Some students work better and more quietly when they can tune out those around them. So far, my request has been denied. I will keep trying.
I emailed the staff about my blog. So far, I've had a few visitors and a couple of comments, but no one has actually posted a comment on the blog. I did speak to a English teacher about creating a blog for his class. I told him I would help him with it and he seemed really interested. It's a start.
I'm with Donna in that I think I'd like to focus my energy more on blogs right now as opposed to podcasts....not to mention the fact that there are strict rules against all electronic devices in my building. Nevertheless, I can absolutely see the benefits in creating my own podcasts. For example, one of the most common question a student asks me after they have missed a class is, "Can I have a copy of the notes I missed?" I don't teach from notes, so it's their responsibility to get the notes from a classmate. It would be great to have podcasts of lectures posted on the blog for students to download, so even if they aren't in class, they can hear the lecture they missed.
On another note, I've officially begun using my blog with my Algebra 2 classes. I started them off with a simple exercise to get them used to submitting comments, but next week I will give them their first "real" writing prompt. Some of the comments they've left so far are interesting. Please feel free to take a look!
I just spent an hour writing my thoughts for this week and then deleted what I wrote. I was ranting about what wasn't working rather than what might. I did save it in Word; I have it to read over and (hopefully) laugh about when things are going better.
Here I go on a more positive note:
I am intrigued with the idea of getting my students podcasting and videocasting. I have been talking with the 7th grade LA teacher about filming the dramatized book reports they recently did. I am also going to have my 8th graders create their own short movies. Both of these could be uploaded onto our server and accessed through our school website. What great PR for our school and what a great way for families to see what their children do in school.
Now all I have to do is see if my budget can afford a few more video cameras:-)
Okay. I looked at/listened to lots of podcasts this weekend. I'm lovin' it. I think I'll begin by finding podcasts to listen to in school before attempting to creat a podcast. I'm a hands on learner and need to actually do something in order for it to sink in. So, I'm planning on looking for podcasts that I'm interested in and listening to them. Then, perhaps taking the next step.
My daughter informed me that her Spanish teacher in her high school assigns podcasts for students to listen to for homework. Great use of podcasts I think.
I actually did listen to the Wilco concert podcast from the NPR site.
It was great.
Joanna Knott
Conewago Valley Int. Sch.
4-6 grade, Librarian
New Oxford, PA
I find it fascinating that an entire Read/Write Web community has grown from a little new-fangled walkman called an iPod. Blows my mind!
Truthfully, I'm not sure if the powerpoint took some mystery away from podcasting or added to it. Up until now, I imagined that a podcast could be created using a simple (and free!) program like Audcacity and then just uploaded to the web. Hmm....Podcatchers and directories? Now it has become something a bit more intimidating.
I searched through some podcasts, particularly ones revolving around libraries and stories. I got some ideas on how to use podcasts on my site, but after going to a (wonderful!) conference on writing AUP's, I'm now hesitant to put anything questionable on the web.
I listened to some of the podcasts linked from the powerpoint, and was surprised to hear full-text stories put on the web. Copyright issues, anyone? Plus, the issues with intellectual property also make me hesitant to even put booktalks up to the web! It's a narrow path to tread, and I confess that sometimes even I (yes, the librarian) get confused about copyright, fair use, and intellectual property! It's almost as if it leaves me in an "all or nothing" state with Web 2.0 tools.
For now, like a few of my classmates, I will stick with Wikis and Blogs and wait to make my podcasting debut.
Joan O'Halloran
Andrea - I visited your blog and I think that you did a great job setting it up and I like the survey - can't wait to see the results and see what your students write when they blog. I must confess that I am jealous - no blogging in my district!
Every time that I finish a session my fascination with this technology increases. Podcasting and screencasting would add alot to my science classes. I frequently differentiate my assignments by offering students a choice - write a story or compose a song, etc. Each year at least 2 or 3 students write plays and/or compose songs. I have a great play about the history of the solar system and an awesome rap about food chains. The opportunity to perform these for an audience would make the learning more powerful. These works also make great preview or review tools.
The idea of hosting a radio broadcast intrigues me. After listening to 'Kickass Science' I think that this would be an engaging way to get students to read, write and learn about current events (we'd have to come up with another name!), but the format would appeal to most students. It would make a great extension for excelling students or for students who need motivating.
Even if I can't podcast, I am very interested in using other people's podcasts to supplement my classroom resources. For now I probably should focus on the direction for my blog.
Wow! This session has left me very excited, yet a bit overwhelmed! I had some trouble getting through the technical "stuff" in our text, but I see so many possibilities for using this technology in my classroom.
Our librarian is currently using podcasts, and my students have recorded some for our library website. We have the Scholastic Book Challenge in school, where students take quizzes after reading books. The list (over 1,000 titles) is on our library webpage, and Connie asked me to have some students record a brief audio clip to accompany the listing on the website. Books with an audio icon allow students to hear a brief summary and review of the book. She uses her cell phone to record the kids messages. I never quite understood exactly how she did it, but now I do!
I have begun literature circles in my classroom and students are going to be using a wiki space to have some discussion. Adding audio summaries of their books or allowing them to upload a podcast of their discussion instead of using text is a possibility I would like to offer. Another idea I have is for poetry reading. We could have a "poetry slam" of sorts. I'm also thinking of possibly using it to record lines from Shakespeare as we read "Midsummer" in May. In this way, students could hear the pronunciation and rhythm of the language.
Without going on forever, I wish I had known more about the different podcasts out there about two weeks ago when students were researching for persuasive essays. I listened to one of the science podcasts on stem cell research; this would have greatly benefited the student who chose this topic as he is one who struggles with written output and synthesizing information; yet, he communicates well and is an auditory learner. This pc could have helped. Now I know.
I also share Joanna's concern about copyright. It is a blurry line, and I'm sure someone in the legal field will come up with a way to muddle through all of this.
Melissa--I would love to have our students collaborate. Perhaps a book chat on books they would recommend, etc. on a wiki? We're doing lit circles right now, will go to "Farewell to Manzanar," then to Shakespeare. I'd love to hear any ideas.
Sorry for my lengthy post; the more I know, the more I want to do--not enough hours in the day!
Steph Z.
This is also my 1st exposure to Podcasts. I have seen it on ITunes and other sites but never really explored it. After viewing the resources in session 5 I started to wonder how I could integrate the use of podcasts into my classroom. I know my kids would love it but I don’t feel like I know enough about it yet. I am just not comfortable integrating something I don’t know much about. I think I am going to explore and work with it more before I try to integrate it.
This week's lesson on podcasts adds an interesting aspect to material we might use in blogs or lessons. The more interesting, interactinve, and useful our classroom blogs are, the more our students will turn to them. I think that the major problem with podcasts is that you have to have a larger knowledge base regarding additional technology . It could be video, MP3, or whatever the source, it is one more thing to get a handle on.
On the positive side, this would be great for teachers who are creating portfolios, have student teachers, or want to add personality to a sometimes impersonal environment. I wonder if there is way to add a live feed as a podcast so that lessons could be shared by peers during a particular time, or lessons could be watched by absent/sick children at home.
Finally, after looking through some of the sites, it is nice to see apple is finally giving something away for free (ALI)rather than charging for every little add-on or download.
I have used podcasting in my classroom in the past. When I taught third grade I would use podcasting for my weekly newsletter. I would assign students different things that they would need to report on. These things included what we did in each subject area, student of the month, book review, etc. The students would write up a report and then we would podcast it. The parents loved it because they were able to hear what we did that week from the students voice.
I am now at the high school and I am trying to figure out how I might best utilize podcasting into my classes.I think for now I will search for some podcasts that are relevant to my curriculum and have the students listen to them.
Kim Crotty
Fairview High School Library
Grades 9-12
kcrotty@fairview.iu5.org
Like many others, I am not quite ready for this stage of technology implementation. I'm also a bit confused about what can be used with Mac computers and PC's when creating podcasts. I'm not sure what tools work on the different systems. I'm also one of those unfortunate people who loves where they live at home, but does not have high speed internet available. I still have to use the slow dial up which limits what I can do at home. Creating many of these great tools would have to be done after school hours and there are only so many hours you can spend at school before you say I gotta go home! However, that is not an excuse to not include them in lessons. If there is a will, there is a way. My district also has many things filtered which also limits what can be seen and used. However as time goes on, I believe many of these things will be worked out and our filtering will change. A middle school librarian in my area has created book talks using podcasts and they are amazing! And of course as soon as he creates a podcast on a book...the book is instantly checked out! Creating podcasts is one of my goals that I hope to accomplish if not this year, next year for sure!
My goodness! I have to just tell you that I finally, and I mean after HOURS and HOURS of trying to figure the wiki thing out, think I get it! I even created a new wiki page that students from our literary and art magazine can share their submissions for print consideration. This is huge to me. It will mean no more paper mess, no more searching students out to ask if they mind if we switch a title or shorten a poem, or change a font. It means that I will have a record of all that was submitted, of all that is accepted and hopefully will eliminate the need for typists. We can take pieces right from the wikispace and put them into publisher. I am so wild about this technology use.
In addition, I have finished the podcasting and I have ideas but no, and I mean NO technology here at Cranston West to support creating podcasts. What I have done is add links to podcasts to my blog so students can check them out and if they like them find others like them. My students already knew about podcasts and many subscribe to certain ones. A Harry Potter one is popular, as is anything having to do with the presidential nominees (I tech a lot of newly 18 year-old seniors).
I think I will bring the idea of podcasting up with our library media specialists and see if they would be interested in finding a way to create book talks via podcast to post on out scool's website. It would be a great motivator for student to read. I can't imagine ever having the time to organize something like this as a classroom teacher, but with the help of someone with a little more flexibility in his/her schedule, it might be possible. Oh, and I never knew that I could download like NPR podcasts to listen to on my MP3. Cool.
So that's it for now. I am onto Session 6.
It would be fun to have a school iPod and I know plenty of students who would love to record their voice on it!very useful blog.
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