Blog Assignment #4

Why Podcast? How do we do a podcast?

In The benefits of podcasting in the classroom Click Here by Joe Dale, This clip describes the benefits of podcasting in the classroom. Podcasting is an effective way of interacting with students outside the classroom. I feel this will enhance students desire to not only study and learn new things in the classroom environment, but also when they go home at the end of the day and they still want to learn more and use podcasting as a way of communication for education. Many students today are familiar with podcasting and therefore make it relevant to them. Podcasting not only allows for differentiation and project based learning, it promotes creativity and innovation. Think about the students who become sick for a week or two or even students who can’t come to school all the time because of personal reasons. Podcasting can offer distance learning opportunities for these absent students or even teachers. Also parents can see and hear what their children are doing at school. This will only get parents involved in their children education, which is always a top priority in a higher education.

But first things first, what is podcasting? In Judy Scharf Podcast Collection Click Here,she explains Podcasting and tips on how to do your own. The term “podcast” is a cross between “broadcast” and “iPod.” A podcast is a “radio-style” talk show. It may include music as well. It may be listened to on the computer or an MP3 player, and may be downloaded from iTunes or a podcast hosting service. Podcasting enables information to be shared with millions of people via the internet. It is easy to do, and costs very little. All you need is a microphone, a computer, and software, which can be downloaded for free. She refers you to a link to YouTube, which shows how to make a podcast using Audacity, a free download, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrBbczS9I0. Click Here

In Langwitches - Podcasting With 1st Grade Click Here blog post, it highly recommends and encourages teachers of podcasting with younger elementary school students. After a first grade class listened to the class above them do a podcast and read all of the comments of teachers around the world, they wanted one of their own! They were enthusiastic and eager to record their own voices to get them “into other people’s computers and iPods’” too. The skills these students learn while podcasting are:

• listening
• speaking
• presenting
• comprehension
• storytelling
• performance
• voice acting
• oral fluency
• media
• technology