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What a fun and easy way to find out what others are doing. On Friday I sent a link to a wall and asked teachers at my four elementary campuses to write a post. It’s a great way to see what they are doing and a place where others can find ideas!
There is an old oak tree in my backyard that I’ve nicknamed “Leo the Late Bloomer”. The reason why is that right now when all of the other foliage is showing typical signs of spring this old tree is still hanging on to dried up leaves from last season. This is case year after year, and it does eventually catch up!
So what does this have to do with technology? Well, I wonder how many of you out there reading this blog post might be “Late Bloomers” or at least know one or two. In this information age, technology resources for teaching, learning, and networking are aplenty! What new technologies have you added to your arsenal of tools, or are you still holding on to the old stuff, like my old oak? Don’t be “Leo the Late Bloomer” and have to catch up later, just pick one tool/application now and start exploring!
Here are a few places to start, all of which are FREE resources…
For Social and Professional Networking: Twitter, Facebook, and Ning.
For Blogs and Wikis: Edublogs, Blogger, Wikispaces, and Wetpaint.
For Creating Media: PhotoStory, Movie Maker, iMovie, Animoto, and 12 Seconds.
More fun tools for learning: Newspaper Clip Generator and Vocaroo.
For as long as I can remember media of some type has been used in the educational setting to impact instruction and help students visualize and create meaning for ideas and concepts being taught. Not too long ago this media was filmstrips and vinyl albums. As the technology advanced we included audio and video cassettes. Today it is very common to see DVD’s, CD’s, and streaming media pouring into our classrooms. No one would argue that these types of media make a difference in helping student gain understanding.
With today’s generation of learners, I would like to suggest that bringing media into the classrooms is not enough.
Students need the opportunity to create and interact with media.
The tools to make this happen are already sitting in many schools today and with the continuous evolution of the web more tools become available daily, with a cost that no one can argue with – FREE!
Learning environments that utilize media are beginning to take shape in many schools today. Students are learning to download and subscribe to podcasts for example, and some are learning to create their own podcasts. By definition, a podcast is a collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet. Tools to create this type of media are easily accessible with little learning curve to implement into instruction. Online tools such as http://www.gcast.com take less than five minutes to register and create an account, and then with a simple phone call you can record an audio podcast that is published world-wide via the web. Free software applications such as http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ can be downloaded and with the simple addition of a $5 microphone you can be well on your way to recording all sorts of podcasts with a variety of curricular connections. More importantly, students at all ages can take an integral role in creating these podcasts thus demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of curricular concepts.
Combining audio with visual elements takes the original idea of podcasting to the next level, video-casting, or vodcasting, as some are calling it. Again, there are both online tools and free software available to create this media. Websites such as http://voicethread.com/allow users to create an account and then upload images, record audio, and publish their stories. Free software applications such as PhotoStory and Movie Maker are available on the PC side, with comparable applications available for Mac users. These wizard driven applications make creating media possible for all levels of technology users. Hardware needed for these types of projects can be a digital camera with movie capabilities, or even an inexpensive video camera such as the RCA Small Wonder. The completed media projects can be published via websites and blogsites to world-wide audiences. These digital stories created by students again demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts and allow students to creatively tell their personal stories.
Learning theory has long suggested that if an individual can teach or demonstrate a concept that true learning has occurred. Involving students in creating podcasts, vodcasts, and digital stories does exactly that – it requires students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding, and often in a way that helps other young learners create meaning in their world.
Making Media does Matter!
Oral and visual language underpins the development of written language and promotes effective listening and speaking alongside reading and writing programs. Purposeful talk should underpin all language activities.
Children solve practical tasks with voice as well as eyes and hands (Vygotsky). Talking is the most natural form of communication and the only one that some will use after they leave school. Oral language is the most important skill to be taught in the classroom. Children with language difficulties achieve lower than peers.
Research from the I Can Talk Series provides evidence that children with persistent language difficulty achieve lower academically. Oral communication is also related to math achievement – vocabulary, sequencing, and concept formation. Poor conversation skills also hinder social development that carries over through adult years. “Oral language is vital; we need to do more.”
Podcasting provides children the opportunity to think, communicate, and it supports literacy.
Developing a podcast includes four basic steps – planning, producing, publishing, and promoting.
- Planning
- Determine the content / curricular application
- Research / gather information
- Write a script / storyboard … plan what you will say; consider the attention span of your audience
- Producing
- Secure tools – microphone, computer, software
- Record and edit (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)
- Publishing with RSS feed capability (www.gcast.com)
- Promoting – let your audience know how to access your podcast
That said,
Podcasting is a tool for our generation of learners that has practical application in the classroom. It is not intended to be the panacea; however, effective and appropriate use engages students and makes a meaningful impact instructionally.
Take advantage of what speaks to this generation of learners and put podcasting into your arsenal of tools.
