Podcasting

Listening to these different podcasts was very interesting. This is definitely a useful technology tool to use in the classroom. SmartBoard Lessons #149 focused on different ways to use a SmartBoard in the classroom. First of all it helps focus the class’s attention and gets them thinking about the lesson content. Also, the teacher can put notes about the content by using SmartBoard. SmartBoard is also great for group work too because it is a larger area for students to work around. SmartBoard also allows video conferencing outside the class which is a great resource tool. It also allows any file to be uploaded. SmartBoard is a great tool for the classroom.

KidCast #53 is a podcast about field trips. Here it is being discussed how to take field trips to the next level by using podcasting. It is suggested that the teacher asked the students to think about two things – what they know about what they are going to see and what they think they know about what they are going to see. Also the teacher must think about what she wants to teach the students about what they are going to see. These thoughts are recorded. During the field trip students are to record things they experience at different times of the field trip. This is a great way for students to get more out of a field trip than just getting out of the classroom.

Another podcast that was very interesting was Podcast for Teachers (Techpod). This was a discussion about students being tested on their technology ability. This is will apparently go into effect in 2012. Technology has become a huge part of everyday life and it is time to start accessing student’s skills with technology. It is no longer good enough for a student to just be able to read and write but he/she must know basic technology skills. Distance learning is also discussed in this podcast. Distance learning is being used more and more in higher education so K-12 needs to step up using this tool. Students need to be familiar with how this works before going off to college.

Ed Tech Talk is a podcast discussing the creation of virtual worlds. Here students are being encouraged to work with students from other school and create a virtual world of their own. Two students from two different schools decided to work together to create their own virtual school. What a great learning experience for them. Here it is also discussed about how to create a network of people who are interested in discussing different types of technology and ways to use these in the classroom. This would be a much more effect way to develop teams than using professional development days which most teachers hate.

MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Photography are discussions about how technology has changed photography. Again another example of how technology is changing our everyday world. Podcasting is definitely a use tool in the classroom.