Podcasts are a series of digital media files, typically digital audio or video that can be downloading using Web syndication. The method of syndication makes podcasting unique and different from other methods of downloading. Podcasting utilizes special software that is able to immediately identify and retrieve new files, associated with the podcast, the moment they become available. The user’s computer is able to store the files and the files can also be stored on other devices for offline use.
Podcasts and podcasting have many educational purposes in the classroom. Because podcasting allows the listener to decide the time and place to retrieve information, education and classroom lessons can be made available to students at any time. Teachers can use audacity to make recordings of lessons and upload them as documents. Students that were not present for the lesson can still easily access the information by downloading from his/her home computer. One teacher created a Book Review Podcasting Project. She had her students write book reviews and scripts and make recordings using pod casts. These recordings were posted on a website and a database was eventually created. This project could be used in an elementary or middle school classroom. Another teacher used Avanti Podcasting to create classroom blog. For one assignment, the students subscribed to three podcasting RSS feeds and made weekly posts on their blogs. These same students also researched what makes a good podcast and posted a top ten list to the classroom blog.
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It's great to finally gain some insight into what Podcasting is...thanks. I guess it seemed a little scary to me at first (which is why I didn't choose it for my journal #8)...but after reading your journal entry I realize I come across podcasting all the time...it's not so scary anymore :)
ReplyDeleteNice description of podcasting. There seems to be a podcast about every subject imaginable! You made some good suggestions as to how podcasting can be used in the classroom by teachers and students.
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