Podcasting in my classroom

Teacher created Podcasts:

Podcasts would be an excellent way to allow students to revisit lectures and class discussions at their own time. Often times, during class, students have difficulty recalling all the information that was discussed during the class time. They can go back to their notes, but often time it is not enough. The advantage of a podcast is that it allows students the opportunity to listen to the information as often as necessary at the student’s own leisure and pace.   In addition, by listening to a series of podcasts created, connections can be made between the topics.

Student created Pod-casts:

However, teacher created podcasts are just the beginning; it is not the only way that podcasts can be used. Students can create their own podcasts to demonstrate mastery of a concept or to use as peer teaching tools for teaching concepts as jigsaw activities or simply for review purposes. For example, rather than having students write a paper demonstrating what they have learned or researched on a topic, they can deliver a podcast. In addition, since podcasts can be created with video or picture illustration, complete and more in depth presentation could be made. Furthermore, podcasts can be used to help students keep weekly “journals” of what they have learned weekly or by unit in class, which could also allow them the opportunity to voice concerns, opposing views, or even bring up points of confusion that may arise, raise questions, etc.  For students who are shy about or feel unable to deliver a class speech or presentation or those who do not like to ask questions during class, podcasts can be used to allow them to participate minus the anxiety or allow students with modifications to feel more at ease by allowing them to practice and record their podcasts.  Also, by having the students create their own podcasts on classroom topics, their peers can listen and either gain something from the material or provide critique or feedback on the information provided.  This incorporates collaboration and peer review on a different level than time-limited classroom discussion can afford.

1.       Podcasts of conceptual topics (lectures)

2.       Researched Presentations

3.       Journals

4.       Peer tutoring