Podcasting

Podcasting

This was one of my first experiences with podcasts. Prior to this time I had listened to a few Disney podcasts about vacationing at Walt Disney World. Other than those podcasts this was the first time I had taken the time to look at what else might be available to me as a teacher. These are the podcasts that I listened to:

Connect Learning
Smart Board Lessons
KidCast
EdTechTalk
MacBreak Weekly
This Week in Photography

I noticed that most of the podcasts were in the same type of format. All the podcasts had an introduction. Most all started with a little music specific to that program, the introduction of the speakers name, and the date of the podcast. Some of the podcasts had sponsor information and advertising. In general the speaker or speaker would give you a little information about themselves, or make conversation with the other speaker on the podcast. They usually didn't start with spouting out information, they tried to bring the listener in with the background information or personal conversation.

Once the backgound information is laid out, the information from the podcast starts to flow. The presenter(s) start to set the format for the podcast. Some are just people conversing on certain subjects. Some seem to be set up in a town hall type format such as the podcast with the 9,000 librarians. One thing I learned was that some podcasts are referred to as "vodcasts", they actually include video. I was always under the impression that podcasts were strictly audio. Those that are in a video format held my attention slightly better. Maybe that says something about my learning style!

Each of the podcasts seem to start closing comments with adding other resources for you to continue on with on that subject. The would offer other podcast #'s, email addresses, or blog spots for you to follow up with. Most of the podcasts closed with the same music they opened with. Some closed with more small talk being made between the speakers. It reminded me of watching the news when you see the broadcasters turn to each other while the program closes and act like they are chatting with each other. I think all these things are done to humanize the speakers you are listening to.

Aside from the format of the podcasts, these are some of the important points that I picked up from listening to each podcast. KidCast reminded me, as a teacher implements podcasting in their classroom, they need to remember to be concerned about privacy issues and children. Children need to understand that they don't want to give out too much personal information while podcasting. Be clear with children about what type of information is ok, and what is not. As teachers we need to allow the children to do the work themselves. Allow them to research and review the information and really work on the project themselves without doing it for them. Sometimes that is hard for parents and teachers to do. The children will learn more if left to do the work for themselves. Start simple and work your way up. One point made by one of the librarians in the Connect Learning video that I thought was such a great thought. At times we aren't the best person to teach on a certain subject. Maybe a child just doesn't "get it" from us. Podcasting is a great alternative for that child. Maybe someone else can present the same subject in a way that makes sense for that child. There is also the aspect of repetition. Maybe the child just needs the reinforcement of hearing a message again.

I think podcasting can be a wonderful resource for the classroom. Most all the edcuational podcasts that I viewed were available for free. It's not often that we have free resources at our disposal. You don't have to be a professional to participate in podcasting. People from all walks of life make podcasts. That in itself is great lesson for children to learn.