So, here is the truth…I know little about podcasting. I have become very knowledgeable about finding and listening to podcasts but know little about creating one. The very idea of creating something like Radio WilloWeb is extremely exciting. The students creating podcasts on Radio WilloWeb had spectacular oral communication skills. In order for podcasting to be productive for students and an effective teaching tool, there must be a great deal of planning and organization on the teacher’s part. Along with oral communication, the students learn about the writing process and how to edit to provide greater detail in the information being shared with others.
As the media specialist, I would refer the teacher to Podcasting 101, an excellent resource for beginning podcasters. This outlines what a podcast is, how to access them, and how to create a podcast. Also, I, as the media specialist, would take advantage of ways to incorporate podcasts into the media center. This would allow the teacher and me to learn about effective ways to use the podcasts in all areas. Another resource for the teacher would be the School Computing Wiki-Podcasting section (http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Podcasts). This outlines the rationale of podcasting and one of the most important to me “increased student motivation”. Student motivation is the driving force behind successful students. So, if the students are feeling empowered and successful then they will typically learn more.
Podcasting could potentially lead to highly effective and useful media centers. The media specialist could create mini-lessons on using various resources including reference books, finding non-fiction and fiction books, looking up resources in OPAC, etc. Podcasts could also be recorded for the news room or even planned for a class in case of an absence. Podcasts could also be useful for the teachers to learn new software or programs the media specialist may find beneficial. Planning staff-development that incorporated podcasts for the teachers to refer to once they return to the classroom. Let’s be honest few teachers pay attention in an afternoon training session on new software or equipment. The podcasts would allow the teacher to access the podcast on his/her own time to learn and practice the new software or equipment.
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"Let’s be honest few teachers pay attention in an afternoon training session on new software or equipment. The podcasts would allow the teacher to access the podcast on his/her own time to learn and practice the new software or equipment." This sounds like a great way to redeliver necessary trainings. I think this could be a useful tool!
ReplyDeleteI also did not know much about Podcasting until this assignment. You did an excellent job portraying great ways to use Podcasting. I 100 percent agree that to teach students how to use and create a Podcast would take a good bit of time to plan it out. Students learning to creating a Podcast would be very beneficial to them with our fast growing technology. I also feel they would enjoy it, and learn a lot from the experience. Reading Podcasting 101 was very helpful to me as well! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Thornton-Media Moms
Andrea, I liked your ideas with podcasting. You mentioned the heavy planning and organizing, but one thing I love about uisng technology tools is that even though the planning steps are harder (especially when first starting) the implementation is usually easier. You can keep your podcast for the next year or multiple classes and life is easier on the flip side (ok, as long as the technology works and doesn't have glitches!). You also mentioned collaboration. Podcasts would be a great area to collaborate with classroom teachers on research, book reports, classroom websites, etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree that podcasts would motivate my students. I had not considered podcasts as a possible motivating device for teachers as well. Anything to make life easier for the teachers is a bonus and completing in-services/tech-training at my leisure sounds motivating to me!
I think that podcasting could benefit those students who are shy and who don't ask for help. having the equipment for podcasting available for check out from the media center would be excellent. I could create a couple of research podcasts to share with teachers for when they conduct research in the media center. I think some teachers will find podcasts easy to use and to incorporate in their classrooms. :O)
ReplyDeleteYou have made many truthful points about podcasting. I believe that all of the ways podcasting was intended for will better student achievement if used in the classroom. Another way of using podcasting that I have found very inticing was use it to capture sweet memories of Kindergarten students for their parents. I loved the idea that Margaret shared about the Kindergarter's reading poetry to help develop their oral language! They would also love this :)
ReplyDeleteYour insights and information about podcasting make it very accessible for newbies like myself. I like the idea of podcast subplans for when you're absent. Mini lessons podcasts also are a great way to communicate information to both students and teachers. I don't think I would recommend sending students to a website first though. I think sharing and showing them how podcasts can be used would a great first step.
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