Podcasting

1.   What did you learn about Podcasting? How it can be used in the classroom?                     I have watched personal podcasts for a few years.  I subscribe to a couple of photography ones and our church does podcasts of their messages, so I subscribe to theirs.  However, I have never thought to look up ones for school. I just spent some time on iTunes looking up education stuff.  I found one by Grammar Girl. 

There are several for Elementary Schools.  I would LOVE to create one for our school.  I can see using this for student products like book trailers.  I also have had students who need repeated review and/or reteach of concepts like the steps of long division.  A podcast would be a great way for students to review content that they aren’t quite sure of or missed during class.  I think using podcasts in this way would be extremely beneficial!

2.   How is Podcasting different / similar to other Web 2.0 applications we discussed so far?  Podcasting is more one-sided than some of the Web 2.0 tools.  I definitely think that podcasting has its place in the classroom, but it would better serve as review/reteach, presentation, or product.  Many of the Web 2.0 tools were interactive.  To me, a podcast doesn’t allow this.  It is the kind of thing that you watch, learn, and move on.  It doesn’t allow for collaboration like Voice Thread. 

The way they are similar is that both of them allow the students the freedom to learn and present their information, understanding, or comprehension of content in a unique way.  All of them reach multiple intelligences and encourage higher blooms strategies to create their own products. 

3.  Your reflection: Do you own an iPod or MP3 player? How do you use it? Would you use it in your classroom and how? What do you think about the advantages and disadvantages of online communication tools?

I do own an iPod.  I primarily use it for music, videos, and podcasts.  Now that I have the iPhone and an iPad, my iPod isn’t used as much as it used to be.    I had not thought about taking it to my class, but my thoughts are changing. 

I had a student a few years ago who was Autistic.  He needed the steps to multi-step problems repeated over and over.  As a staff, we talked about making videos for him to watch.  However, we never got them done.  The SPED teacher and I would sit with him, while the rest of the class was working, to go through the steps.  We also taught him pneumonics to help him remember.  However, I wish I had made a podcast station for him to tune in to and watch the videos.  I am challenged to do this for my future students. 

I can imagine that podcasts would benefit a wide variety of students.  The advantages are endless, and I can’t really predict a disadvantage as long as everything was secure and safe.