I am all in for the use of Podcast in education. A podcast is a popular tool used to incorporate technology in the classroom. It is an audio file that can incorporate music and pictures that can be easily downloaded and easily shared like a music file that most students use on a daily basis. Podcasting is an excellent tool to excite and engage students in learning while incorporating the use of “cool” manipulatives such as an mp3 player, IPOD and IPAD.
Wikipedia defines a Podcast as the following “A Podcast (or non-streamed webcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. The word replaced webcast in common use with the success of the iPod and its role in the rising popularity and innovation of web feeds. The mode of delivery differentiates podcasting from other means of accessing media files over the Internet, such as direct download link, or streamed webcasting. A list of all the audio or video files currently associated with a given series is maintained centrally on the distributor's server as a web feed, and the listener or viewer employs special client application software known as a podcatcher that can access this web feed, check it for updates, and download any new files in the series. This process can be automated so that new files are downloaded automatically. Files are stored locally on the user's computer or other device ready for offline use, giving simple and convenient access to episodic content. Commonly used audio file formats are Ogg Vorbis and MP3.”(Wikipedia, 2011)
Podcasting can be used my media specialist to create tutorials for students on how to conduct proper research in the media center. Podcast can also be created and made available on all computers to teach mini lessons on how to use other material in the media center, as well as how navigate through the most popular search engines. There are numerous ways that a media specialist can create fun opportunities to incorporate the use of a Podcast. Podcasting is a great tool to introduce teachers to information literacy and technology standards.
Not only can a Podcast be used to instruct students, they work just as well on teachers, faculty and parents. Media specialist can create mini in-services on how teachers can incorporate various types and forms of technology in their classroom. The Podcast allows for teachers that are truly busy and sometimes exhausted at the end of the day; to learn at a pace and time that is convenient for them. If made available on the school website or media center page, teachers can easily watch the podcast at home.
This works just as well for parents seeking weekly or monthly updates on the latest news at school. Students as well as teachers can create Podcast to inform parents on what’s going on in the classroom alike. We all know that pictures are worth a thousand words so a Podcast is a great tool to demonstrate that!
Podcasting is such cool technology that is very undersued. I really like the idea of teachers creating a podcast to share with parents whats going on in your classroom. I also like the idea of using podcasts to as a means of giving tutorials to teachers and students. This utilizes the technology and students will enjoy using it. It also save you time.
ReplyDeleteYou state that "media specialist can create mini in-services on how teachers can incorporate various types and forms of technology in their classroom." What better way to advertise technology than by using technology? Each podcast could be a different tip, which could come out once or twice a month, and encourage teachers to give them a try. I love that idea and plan to keep it in my toolbox of ideas for when I have my own media center.
ReplyDeleteIn support of student learning, I found Podcasting useful for delivering instructions to absent students. Students who are absent from school can listen to a recorded lesson. This allows the student to receive the same information as their peers. The student has the option of listening to the recording as many times as needed.
ReplyDeleteI also see a benefit of using Podcasting when a teacher has to be absent. Instead of leaving written lesson plans for the substitute, teachers can leave more detailed lessons using Podcasting.