Podcasts: I never really considered them to be a ‘resource’ until our ELA class discussed their use as an educational tool. The realm of podcasting is an area of the internet that I’ve never really explored before. I’ve listened to the occasional podcast here and there, but I’ve never actively sought them out. They were always this thing on the internet that I knew was there, but never really had the time or inclination to seek out. The idea of using them as a tool to develop oracy skills in my classroom had never really occurred to me.
Our class discussion on the use of podcasts in the classroom awakened me to their potential in the classroom. Podcasts bring relevance into the classroom in a way that tape recordings and radio may not. Today’s ELA learners live in a technological world that I could not even imagine when I was their age. They don’t know what the world was like before the internet. iphones and iPads top their ‘I want’ lists. They may listen to the radio, but not the CBC, or any other station that actually has relevant educational content. They want the ‘top 40’ artists. Podcasts, particularly ones with educational value such as those by David Suzuki http://castroller.com/Podcasts/DavidSuzukiFoundation, or on http://education.podcast.com/, can help students realize that not everything that they hear has to be the latest single from Lady Gaga or Justin Beber. Podcasts help students learn information by making it relevant in their world. The sheer number of podcasts available on any topic imaginable provides a huge opportunity for learning.
Not only is podcasting a useful tool for learning information, it is also an amazing tool that can be used to develop oracy skills in the classroom. Speaking out loud on a topic is often very difficult for children and adults alike. Voice recording allows for the development of the skills required without feeling like you’re ‘on the spot’. The ability to listen to what you’ve recorded and retry it also provides a level of security that is not present when you are speaking directly to a group of people.
Students can create individual, group or class podcasts on pretty much any topic in the curriculum at any age. Learners could do a ‘speakers corner’, interviews with characters from a book or an informational podcast on a topic that they are studying. Commercials could be created, stories could be told, voice threads could be created (http://voicethread.com), or older students could help younger students master the technology. Students could even publish their podcasts on a website such as http://www.kid-cast.com/ so that other kids could listen to their creations. The possibilities for incorporating this technology into the classroom are truly endless.
As wonderful as technology is as a tool for classroom learning, caution must be taken to insure that students are not placed at risk by its use. Before posting any podcasts or voice threads to the internet, parents and administration must be consulted and the anonymity of the students must be protected. Students must be taught that the internet is not always a safe place and should be instructed on the importance of keeping personal details private.
Thanks for your thoughts on Podcasts, Ashley! I like the idea of commercials - which reminded me of a project where students created Book Trailers (like movie trailers).
ReplyDeleteWise to include the safety component - we need to model best practices for our students when it comes to on-line activity.