Podcasting, booktalks……What does all this mean?
Podcasting is an audio file that can be recorded on a
computer, or other device and is later shared with other people. The term podcast derived from Ipods and a
broadcast. Podcasting can be just a recording of a voice or it can be spruced
up with the music or sound effects over the narration. You can record a podcast
using programs such as audacity or Garage Bands.
A book talk is a short review to kids excited about the
book. It also can be used as an assessment after the students have read the
book. Often times they will get excited about the book after you have completed
a book talk but then later they will forget.
If you combine the podcast and book talk together you can
have something that can be used over and over again as well as be referred back
to if the student forgets. Again this
would create a great assessment tool for the kids to actually create a podcast
book talk after they have completed an assignment and use web 2.0 tools in the
classroom as well as the media center
There are many other ways in which a podcast can be used in
the media center. It could be used to give directions on how to locate specific
books in the media center. If a kid needs a reminder they can jump over to the
Ipods and play the podcast on how to locate a book or how to access certain
files in the media center.
One of my favorite uses of the podcast would be to spread
news about what is happening in the library. Maybe there is a special
presentation on Christmas books or the book fair is coming. This would be a
great way to present that information to the students.
Podcasting is also a great way to help students who struggle
when writing down the information that they have learned. I have come across
many students who can just not produce the information on paper but can tell me
all about it. This would be a great resource for those students.
There are so many great uses for podcasting in the school
and in the media center. It is very simple and students as well as teachers
will pick up on it right away. It may even help the students retain the
different information due to a different approach of learning.
The podcast and book review combination is an excellent way to use a podcast. As you stated, it can be used for assessment purposes and can be used over and over again. It also gives students a way to listen multiple times to retain the information in a different learning format. Students can also make their own podcasts about books they love or are required to read for various subjects.
ReplyDeleteHaving podcasts of specific library procedures is another excellent way for the students to be resourceful and figure out what they are doing without always having to ask for help from the media specialist! Very informative and I plan on using this as a media specialist one day!
Marilyn Richardson
Podcasting is not a technology I’ve used previously, but after reading more about it, I feel that it is one of the most accessible and easiest technologies available. Using programs such as Audacity, users can record audio or even video and audio (in a Vodcast) to share ideas, responses, and/or reflections. I love your idea of using a podcast to promote special events in the media center, Jennifer! A media specialist could easily record a quick audio clip (with or without a few images) promoting new books, a book fair, book clubs, or even a new resource available. The podcast could be aimed for teachers or students (depending on the promotion).
ReplyDeleteUsing this idea to promote books, I thought about using a podcast in my room to promote books I’ve read (almost like a quick book trailer). Because I teach second grade, the books would have to be an appropriate age level, but I could promote new books in our classroom as well as model a way to respond to literature (which is one of our standards). I would love my students to eventually create their own podcasts to respond to books, but I’ll take one step at a time and try posting them first. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Podcasting is a great tool...when you have perfected it! Sometimes it can be hard to get all the different technologies to work together. I really liked you comment about helping students who struggle writing down information. I had never thought about using podcasts that way. Also, it would be a good way for students who cannot stay focused to go back and get their notes-if you did a podcast of your lecture. I also like the idea of podcasting a book talk. I really want to get an author in to speak, even through Skype and then we could record and let the students watch the podcast. It would be a book talk/author talk/podcast all in one!
ReplyDeletePodcasting: ORIGINAL POST
ReplyDeletePodcasting can have a variety of useful applications in educational settings. Teachers can use it in their classrooms as a media format for students to complete reports, skits, etc. Another way that teachers can use podcasting in their classroom is by performing demonstrations on video and then playing them for their students. These types of demonstrations may be particularly useful in a science classroom where a teacher may go “on location” to record something that they cannot bring into the classroom to the students. A third way that podcasting can be utilized in the classroom is by directly linking podcast resources to the curriculum. For example, when a teacher is teaching a unit on The Periodic Table, they have access to may chemistry related podcasts on the internet which may be played for students to supplement the other class activities and enrich their understanding. Podcasts are an engaging format for most students and offer an alternative format to the paper and pencil activities that we include in our daily lessons.
As media specialists, one of our responsibilities is to keep a selection of resources available and easily accessible of multi-media curricular enhancing resources for teachers to use to support their lessons. There are many podcasts available on the internet on a variety of subjects. Some of the more obviously useful ones are in the subject of history and science. For example, The History Channel has a regular podcast feed that can be subscribed to by teachers, or by media specialists who can then make them available to teachers. Scientific American has a similar podcast feed. Scientific American covers current events in science and the podcasts can be used to include current events or enrichment activities by utilizing the feed in the classroom. Media specialists should make a list of available podcasts that are relevant to what the teachers in their school are teaching. They may also need to show teachers how to utilize the technology. Media specialists should include relevant podcasts on their “pathfinder” type sites that they make available to teachers for online resources.
Lesa,
DeleteRight after I read Jennifer's post and replied, your ideas gave me a little more that I was looking for about further applications of the podcast/vodcast. This aspect focuses more on bringing in what is already out on the web to the students. (So many curriculum connections to be had.)
This give me an idea of how a media specialist can collaborate with classroom teachers, posting podcasts to the her site to support instruction, and posting a listing of available ones as well.
Response to Jennifer's post:
ReplyDeleteThis course was also my first experience doing a podcast or vodcast. I the students would really like doing a show with pictures they have collected online or of themselves, combined with their own reflections in audio.
I teach first grade, so I really prefer a vodcast to a podcast. We all get bored hearing someone talk, but if there is some visual stimulation as well, I think it's more meaningful and engaging.
This would also be true for book talks. I am in the process of completing my book talk for Media Program right now. I don't think a book talk would be complete without some pictures from within the book, or some props and acting, so again, I prefer Vodcast to Podcast.
I do agree with you about the potential for Podcast to be a tool for assessing students who don't write well...especially since speaking standards are more emphasized in the new Common Core.
I think that as a media specialist, I can find more opportunities for Podcasts with older students as well. For the younger ones, I like images and sound together, though.