Ok, so I have heard of a podcast but never actually made or used one. Or have I?
I didn't really know what a podcast was so the first question I had to answer was - 'What is a podcast'. After lots of internet searching, I finally came up with a simple answer.
A podcast is an audio or visual file available on the internet for us to listen to or watch. These files can be downloaded onto our personal players (MP3, IPOD etc) in order to access these files anytime, anywhere!
The word Podcast is a merging of two words - POD meaning Playable On Demand and CAST being short for Broadcasting (Internet).
Podcasts are like a magazine subscription where we can use an RSS to keep us updated on any newly released podcasts. You only receive the podcasts that you are subscribed to and can unsubscribe at any time.
'Anyone can create a podcast. All over the world, people are creating podcasts on subjects ranging from movies, to technology, to music, to politics and whatever else you can think of. This is new original content made by passionate people who want to share their creativity with the world.' (Van Orden, 2008)
With all this information being made available, it would be silly for us, as Learning Managers, not to capitalise on the opportunity to use this in the classroom. I can see lots of ways that these could be used as a tool for learning. There are two ways to look at the benefits - for the teacher and the learner.
As the teacher, we could make and upload podcasts on class content, revision, homework, extension materials etc in order to create a mobile classroom in a sense. Giving students the opportunity to access the information at any time would be of great benefit.
The students could use podcasts as a way to introduce themselves to online collaborative learning tools (such as WIKI's) or use as a way to showcase, practice and perfect their public speaking skills.
Due to time constraints, I have not yet had the opportunity of making my own Podcast but hope to be able to do it soon and use this tool within the classrooms at my Prac school.
References
Van Orden, J. (2008). How to podcast tutorial.
Retrieved 8 August, 2010 from
http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/what-is-a-podcast.htm
Hi Tonita.
ReplyDeleteI too was a little unsure about pod casts. But after looking into it I also found a whole new range of teaching opportunities and resources. I never thought of your idea of using pod casts for learners to introduce themselves. I saw pod casts as a resource for learners to find information on topics they are studying. For example a BBC podcast on the First World War. I also thought that pod casts could be used as an option for learners to present findings or to present speeches electronically. I too have not yet had time to create my own pod cast, but look forward to using it in the classroom in the not too distant future.
Cheers, Anna.