Blog 1 - Podcasting with Pamela Hurst

According to William Washington, of Walden University “In order to help our students develop these skills {21^st Century skills}to a high level, we must incorporate modalities that are relevant to present times (e.g. social networking, mobile technologies, digital computing, gaming,) and also engage the student with instruction techniques that facilitate learning (e.g. pinwheel discussion, group collaboration, projects).  In other words, we need to put the student at the center of the learning and allow them to create their own meaning from experiences.” (Washington).

By providing an engaging learning experience for students that is relevant to their lives today, I think Podcasting does just that. Podcasting is an inexpensive way to “touch” and engage students. Moreover, it can be used in a number of creative ways and can be used to reach different audiences. In this blog, I will discuss three meaningful ways to utilize podcasting in the Media Center; they are: Podcasting to Reinforce Classroom Learning, Podcasting to Engaging Special Needs Students and Podcasting to Promote Collaborations with Teachers.

Podcasting in ALL classes

Some of the most unique ways of using Podcasts in the classroom are found in elective class such as Art and Band. The same skills development that apply when using a Podcast cast in a Writing or Literature class apply in an elective class. For instance, a Podcast class could be used in an Art class by helping students record a Podcast discussing how they came up with an art project and walking the audience through their process from conception to completion. Other podcast ideas might be to have students record their reactions to other students Art work, or have teachers record their critique of students work. Each of these Podcasting ideas provides opportunities for students to engage in nontraditional yet meaningful learning. Students are called upon to develop and use critical thinking skills, be expressive, thoughtful, process ideas and problem solve.

Maya Payne Smarts’ article, “Listening to themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom” shows a teacher utilizing Podcasts is a creative way. http://www.edutopia.org/podcasting-student-broadcasts

Postcast and the Special Needs Students

I have personally seen the benefit of Podcast with my niece, Autumn who is a junior at Georgia State University. Though a good student, Autumn has always struggled with keeping up in class. She carries a Smartpen which helps students with disabilities record lectures. However, Autumn does her best work and is most confident in classes where the teacher has a podcast available after the class. By downloading and listening to the podcast, she can stop, restart, and listen as many times as she likes. The use of podcast with learning disabilities students is great for students who struggle with comprehension or have difficulty taking notes. While the use of this technique is great with students who have minor learning disabilities; it is just as useful to those students who have severe learning disabilities. Check out this Podcasting with Autistic Students video at http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/zelebration-vid-private/

Podcasting to Promote Teacher Collaborations

Media Specialists (LMS) often struggle to finds ways to collaborate with teachers. Many teachers say that they are just too busy, and many don’t seem to see the value in collaborating. Podcasting that features successful LMS/Teachers collaborating are a great way to promote the idea. Asking a teacher who is currently partnering with the LMS or even a school administrator (particularly the school principal) to take part in a podcast is a great way to draw in more teachers. A short yet insightful podcast where both LMS and teachers discuss their experience during collaborations or a podcast with the LMS and principal discussing the benefits of collaboration could be very the way to “hook” other teachers.

Indeed, podcasting is 21^st Century way to engage students, invigorant classrooms, assist special needs students, and promote LMS/teacher collaborations. Try Podcasting Today!

References

Washington, W. (2013). 21^st Learning is Not a Program. TeachThought. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/learning/21st-century-learning-is-not-a-program/

Smart, M. (2008). Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom. eduTopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/podcasting-student-broadcasts

Teacher Tube (2008). Podcasting with Autistic Students. Retrieved from (video file).  http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/zelebration-vid-private/