So, I have explored podcasts, and even created one myself!
First, I trolled the internet in search of podcasts relevant to my teaching context. I must admit, I had my doubts as to how much I would find. However, as was suggested, I simply googled the topic (Mem Fox) and podcast - and viola! I found quite a few. Admittedly, the ones I found were interviews with Mem Fox, which while useful for me to get a better understanding of her as an author, they are probably less suitable for the learner cohort (i.e. Grade 3). I found it more difficult to find a podcast appropriate for the learners. In the end, I decided to create one.
In creating my own podcast, I chose not to use Podomatic, simply because I did not want to sign up for an account, and I wanted to be able to post the podcast I created directly into my Blog. I think Windows Movie Maker worked well.
Ok, so having had a play with podcasts, I am now considering how they could be used eLearning...
Reflections:
My learning: It was eye opening to discover just how many podcast resources are out there. I am sure I will be returning to the EdPod site in the future in search of potential teaching resources. I have previously created and used digital audio recordings, though only for inserting into Powerpoint presentations. I didn't mind the exercise of creating my own podcast, though I must admit I hate the sound of my own voice in that recording. Surely, I don't really sound like that!
Potential applications in eLearning: Podcasts are of course yet another digital media that can be integrated into blogs, wikis and websites. There are a large number of education podcasts available free online. If the right one exists, let's not reinvent the wheel, rather let's use what already exists. However, it might be difficult to find exactly what you need, you might have a specific message to get across, or you might be creating something completely new and unique. Therefore an understanding of how to create your own podcasts is useful. Podcasts, whether created by learners, myself or obtained from an online source, could have many applications in eLearning.
Example 1: In groups, learners participate in a Readers' Theatre activity with different children's books. The audio of this activity is recorded as a podcast, and then all groups' podcasts are posted to the class blog/wiki/website to share with fellow learners, parents and the wider school community. Learners can then discuss the differences in their books, and the way in which they read them aloud.
Example 1: In groups, learners participate in a Readers' Theatre activity with different children's books. The audio of this activity is recorded as a podcast, and then all groups' podcasts are posted to the class blog/wiki/website to share with fellow learners, parents and the wider school community. Learners can then discuss the differences in their books, and the way in which they read them aloud.
Example 2: As a whole class activity, learners listen to a collection of songs in a certain topic. Discuss with learners the tones of these songs, what messages do they have? Then, learners compose a song or poem on a particular topic. This would involve brainstorming the major themes of a topic, what message the class wants to send and what kind of tone the song/poem will have (eg. happy, serious, exciting). The whole class then performs the song/poem, the teacher records and edits it, and posts a final version to the class blog/wiki/website.
Potential benefits for my learners: Podcasts offer another way to demonstrate learning, beyond the traditional paper-pencil methods. This is likely to create more interest in learners. Furthermore, where learners understand that the individual tasks and activities they are doing are part of a larger, meaningful and authentic tasks, they should be more engaged in the learning. In addition, making use of podcasts as an eLearning tool has the potential to lead to higher order thinking for learners. See Example 2 for example, which offers opportunities for learners to engage in Analysing, Evaluating and Creating stages of Bloom's Taxonomy.
- Listen to a collection of songs in a certain topic and discuss with learners the tones of these songs, what messages do they have? - Anlaysing & Evaluating
- Learners compose a song or poem on a particular topic, considering the major themes of a topic, what message the class wants to send and what kind of tone the song/poem will have - Creating
Another potential benefit I can see of using podcasts and audio recordings in general, is that there is an audio record of learners' activities. Referring to the two example provided earlier, these could be placed on a CD or sent home as mp3 files as a record for learners and their parents in years to come of what they did in class in Year 3.
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