After attempting my own podcast I began a greater search for how podcasting is used in the classroom.
I managed to find this podcast from Orange Grove Primary School in Western Australia. I thought it was a wonderful example of a really simple podcast aimed at really young kids in the classroom.
http://hw.libsyn.com/p/3/2/c/32cab628963743bc/PP_teeth_podcast.mp3?sid=e538f5ae17c5bad34c394290be434b57&l_sid=21149&l_eid=&l_mid=1970865
It's a really simple podcast without all the bells and whistles but manages to spark a conversation about teeth. I believe it is aimed at the right audience. I can imagine that it was simple to create, informative, and collaborative as many students were able to get involved.
It would have allowed the students to engage with ICT's through researching the topic and then operate the ICT by recording their own podcast. It allowed them to create and collaborate with ICT's and finally it also educated the children about dental health and nutrition.
It certainly can't compete with some of the more professional podcasts produced on larger websites. However I think it is a simple honest example of how you can engage with digital technology and not become bamboozled by having to make it a slick and professional production. For students in Primary Education I think this would hold real appeal.
It also doesn't involve huge expense. Podcasts can be recorded and uploaded on the Internet for free.
This podcast got me to thinking about how to use them in the classroom. I realise that this is the most important part of our reflection, however having not been in a classroom myself for over 20 years I am finding this aspect of the task difficult. What follows are some of my initial ideas. I am hoping that with my eLearning Framework and some more time to reflect I will be able to synthesise all my ideas to better effect in my final analysis.
Students could read from a book or text and record themselves and podcast it. This would cover literacy and fluency. Great for building some students confidence and for other students with issues it could be a good chance to hear themselves back and work on any problems.
They could research a news story about local or international events and podcast it. Interviewees could be real or "made up" according to the topic. This would involve research about the topic, then writing skills to make a script, and literacy to record it, and all the time they are engaging and creating with ICT's.
Write an act out a play about the creatures that live in the pond and how they interact with each other. This could cover content from The Arts and Science.
Peterson (2011) suggests the following applications for podcasts.
- "Literacy rotations
- Reading and comprehension practice (retells, narratives etc )
- Oral presentations
- Record an interview and share via podcast with the school community
- Create your own ebooks".
Here is my SWOT Analysis.
Podcasting
Strengths
· Really simple and easy to use technology.
· Lots of kids have iPods or MP3 players so would be a useful tool for homework or to present readings. Kids could listen to them in the playground or on the bus on the way home.
· Gives children another tool for presenting and receiving information.
· Suits students with verbal/linguistic intelligence and learning preferences.
· Can be listened to at a time and place that suits the learner.
Opportunities
· Worldwide audience for the kids to reach.
· Easy technology to navigate, simple and cost effective.
· Easy to upload and NOT time consuming.
· Caters to a diverse range of students, those that prefer to listen than to read.
· Languages seem appropriate considering you have to HEAR how the words sound.
· Creates a unique opportunity for kids to verbalise what they see rather than relying on pictures. Describing a painting for example or describing what the characteristics of a rainforest or reef are.
· Opens up the whole wide world to a student sitting in a classroom. They can relive important events, visit places they might never be able to go such as the African Savannah or the Arctic and it can also allow them to “see” things in a verbal way such as a tour around the National Art Gallery.
Weaknesses
· Technology may fail you at a crucial time.
· Visual students might struggle with a purely aural method of content delivery.
· Time – learning to use the technology and how to upload it can be a problem
Threats
· Copyright
· Inappropriate content that can be accessed online.
Ideas for Use in the Classroom
· Language classes, very helpful for subjects where you need to hear the words.
· Podcasting to other schools around the world. Exchange of information.
· Creating an opportunity for kids to explain something verbally then present it. Encourages students to think outside the square.
· Students can access professional podcasts on a range of topics… be it a trip through the streets of New York City, going on a Safari In Africa, a tour around the National Art Gallery in Canberra, or listening about students lives in a classroom in Japan.
· Students could podcast about a school excursion. It could become a collaborative project involving interviews with other students and experts on the day. Other students who were unable to attend could still feel like they participated through listening to the podcast. Creates a valuable resource for future students learning about the same topic, and of course, encourages creation, collaboration and engagement with ICT’s.
References
Petersen, R. (2011, March 27). Re: Podcast {Electronic discussion group message}. Retrieved from CQUniversity e-courses, EDED 20491 ICT's For Learning Design, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=148877
Click here and the podcast will start playing automatically.
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