Podcasting is another one of those “tools for everyone,” given that all you need is access to the Internet, a microphone, and a free audio editing program such as Audacity. But like any genre, to learn it, we need good models and ideas for incorporating the tool into the classroom, such as I’ve listed below:
- Colonial Williamsburg - Past and Present Podcasts - Professional actors and historians
- Sugihara Letters - 6th graders in Jim Faires’s class
- YA! Reads - Rob Rozema’s pre-service teachers
Here’s a peek at what podcasting looks like in the classroom:
What are your ideas on how podcasting can help teachers and students?
There are so many exciting ways that podcasting can be used in the classroom. One way is to have students discuss their thoughts on a classroom reading assignment. How powerful for students to be able to write, record, post and then to go back and not only hear what they said, but to also read others comments on their thoughts. I am so excited to take this to my classroom!
In fourth grade we study Japanese American internment as part of our focus on California history. In the past we have had some grandparents come in to talk about their camp experiences with the class. It would be wonderful to have the kids prepare questions ahead of time to ask visitors when they come to our school.
Some grandparents have declined our invitations to come to class to talk, but might be more willing to be recorded by their own grandchild in their own home. These interviews could then be edited, posted to our classroom blog site and classmates could have an opportunity to comment.
I’m eager to learn more about how other teachers are using podcasts in their 4th grade classes.
I’m having a blast at this workshop. Thank you, Gail and Pat!
I have a ton of ideas for podcasting this year. First, there will be the technical aspect of podcasting with students learning to post their own pieces and access the other sites of interest. But more importantly, students will use podcasting to expand their sense of audience and write to people who are interested in what they have to say. I would like to podcast in every subject area this year, with students demonstrating subject matter knowledge through this medium.
Yesterday I was thinking that voice only might not be as interesting as Movie Maker or blogging. I was having a hard time thinking of projects to do with my students. I’m glad you posted examples that I can hear. I don’t have an iPod or MP3 player. I guess if I had, Podcasting would make more sense. I can see my students using it to make radio plays, news interviews and maybe even music mixes to share.
Thank you for the great podcast examples. I’m going to add these links into my blog so my students can look at these examples and get ideas for their future podcasts projects.
Podcasting can be a tremendous teaching tool. It connects learners around the world and allows them a means of sharing information and stories through video. It is also a powerful motivational device to encourage students of all ages to conduct research and write.
I agree that there are many different ways where students can use podcasting. They can use it to express their thoughts, but to express the thoughts of characters or people that they read about. Podcasting can also be used daily for the classroom or school news. Podcasting is valuable that students and teachers can go back, hear what is said, and reflect and make comments on their own as well as other podcasts. How exciting!
Once the main tech bugs are worked out, I can see endless possibilities to use both blogs and podcasting. To send out a prompt and get the students’ ideas and feedback instantly would be a gem in itself. But to have these options for student output would lend to both depth, complexity, and creativity in their academic development. What empowerment!!!
I think that I will use the podcasting quite a bit in my room. I look forward to allowing the students to create classroom news podcasts and when we do specific writings durign the year, such as scary stories in October.
Podcasting is a tool I hope will engage many students in my reading/english, computer and industrial arts classes. I think it can be used to study ie. spelling words, safety test rules and to share classroom info. I am inspired by the projects Gail shared in class. Jim’s class applications of podcasting is outstanding and makes me think of ways to expand usage in my classes.
Glenn