Module 5

Podcasts
I enjoy podcasting.  I frequently podcast Hamish and Andy’s radio show if I miss it.  I have also listened to many audio books through podcasting while driving.  I enjoyed the Podcasting in plain English clip.   I like the definition of podcasting -Personal, On, Demand CASTING.  Learning in hand (http://learninginhand.com/listening-to-podcasts ) explained podcasting in simple and easy to understand terms.  The benefits of podcasting include:

• anyone can podcast
• it is reasonably cheap
• Podcasts are available on a wide range of topics
• It is easy to subscribe to podcasts
• It is easy to download to my ipod

When to use:
There seems to be three ways podcasts can be used in the classroom.

1.     Using already available podcasts.  There is a huge range of podcasts that have already been created.  The possibilities for using these podcasts are endless.  Sites like learning out loud (http://www.learnoutloud.com/ ) have thousands of free podcasts for any subject.  You could play a story or novel and have it on in the background while students are doing an activity eg and audio book.  Teachers could also use available podcasts for learning about topics before teaching it.  For example if I was teaching a unit on China I could listen to podcasts about China or Chinese culture.  Furthermore students could also listen to these podcasts as a listening activity.  Students could listen to students in China describe their life.   

2.     Using teacher created podcasts. Teachers could create podcasts as another way of presenting information to their students.    Or they could record instructions for students for assignments.  Teacher created podcasts would be beneficial for independent or self directed learning.  

3.     Using student create podcasts.  Podcasting could be used as a teaching and learning or assessment activity.  It would be a great opportunity for English as a Second Language students to practice their English speaking skills.  Students could create podcasts for their teacher or classmates to listen to.  Students could also interact with people in other states or countries by exchanging podcasts.  

Podcasts would be extremely beneficial for students with special needs or disabilities.  Teachers could podcast components of lessons.  Students could listen to an audio version of the book the class is listening to.  Students with writing difficulties could podcast their classwork.... The possibilities are endless.  

However, a major difficulty of podcasting is ensuring the students have access to working technology.  Students would need to access the Internet, a computer with software like audacity,  a microphone and a device to listen to podcasts.  As the technology hopeful comes more accessible in classrooms (eg with high school students having laptops), podcasting will hopefully be very user friendly.

Vodcasts

It is hard to know where to begin with youtube!  I think it is an extremely valuable learning resource.  I find when I play a youtube clip at the begining of a lesson it captures the students’ attention.  It is equally useful to use when working one on one with students to give both the student and myself background information about the topic.  A fantastic youtube video that shows erosion is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChEHQUMEkXw&feature=related the year six class I showed it to really engaged with the video and the content.  This video shows a coastline in England and explores how it is eroded by the ocean during a period of one year.  It is a fantastic and almost scary video.  I highly recommend that you check it out!  

While not youtube another great video resource is BrainPop.  BrainPop have animated videos that explore a huge range of educational topics across a variety of subjects.  BrainPop uses two characters Tim and Moby to answer questions.  There is also BrainPop UK and BrainPop Junior.  It costs to sign up to the Brain Pop site but they do have free videos available.  

TeacherTube is also a great resource to find more educational videos.  Set up like youtube members of the public can upload their videos.  However, like its name suggests TeacherTube has a range of educational videos.  

Vodcasts are a great teaching and learning resource.  Shown to students they capture the students’ attention and show the material in another way- catering for your visual, auditory learners.  Resources like Photostory and Movie Maker means that it is relatively easy for teachers and students alike to create their own vodcasts.  Like podcasts their is a huge range of possibilities for the application in the classroom!

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