Podcasts

My first experience with a podcast was a free one on Itunes about my favorite TV show at the time, the OC. This was also the last podcast experience. I did not really care for it and I did not realize there were a number of other podcasts out there on more meaningful topics. Now, I think using podcasts in the classroom would be a great idea. Student creation of podcasts could allow for whole school collaboration. I loved the idea about the “online radio shows for kids by kids” (Richardson 115) In high school, our morning announcements were done by the kids in the video and media class. It was one of the most popular classes among the students at my school. Podcasts would also be a great way to do classroom presentations, especially for those students who are too shy to stand up in front of the entire class! And, as I keep saying, we need to offer our students a purpose for their learning and creating a podcast that can be shared with others provides just that. Moreover, podcasts provide students with the opportunity to listen to someone speak beside the teacher. I found it interesting that the students with vocabulary instruction with the podcasts performed significantly greater than those who just received classroom instruction (Putnum & Kingsley 2009). With students creating their own vocabulary podcasts, they’re learning the new words in the process.

I have never tried using podcasts in the classroom but it is something I would be interested in trying in the future. I think I would incorporate podcasting as a classroom station. In the past, I have used the classroom set of laptops quiet frequently, but as Labbo, Eakle, & Montero (2002) mention, like other teachers I really was not sure what to do with them. So, I did a lot of web quests. I cannot wait to be back in the classroom again to try all of these things out! I also would like to try to use Skype as a classroom tool. I think it would be interesting to have students collaborate with students from other schools via video chat. What’s really great about using podcasting and Skype is they are FREE! Skype is also a great way to bring guest speakers into the classroom. Everyone in my family uses Skype- including my Grandma and Great Aunt! Facebook and Skype have helped my entire family (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th cousins and so on) stay in touch when we are spread out all over the world. Imagine what students could achieve by having tools like this in the classroom!

Digital storytelling response will be posted soon…