Before embarking on this weeks blog postings, I had no idea what podcasting was though I am pleased to find out that it could be a wonderful teaching tool! Not only could it help save the teacher's voice, it could also be used to educate students about selected topics in an auditory way. A podcast that I found to be particularly interesting is called Empty Nest, a part of the Podcast collection called Cumbrian Ospreys. Click here to listen to the Podcast. I believe that this could be a useful educational podcast for students learning about lifecycles and animal instincts. If the teacher were to subscribe to all of the podcasts in this collection, they would have a series of updates about the Cumbrian Ospreys and the progress of their chicks being born, growing and then leaving the nest. According to Langwitches Blog (2010), podcasting is not solely about learning to use the technology. Rather, it is learning through the technology and engaging in skills and actions such as speaking, writing, fluency and literacy. In response to this, the teacher is not the only one who can benefit from podcasting with students being able to extend their technological knowledge and also learn lifelong skills in the process.
Cebeci and Tekdal (2006, p. 49) highlight that one of the benefits of podcasting is for students who may be visually challenged. They also state that podcasting, like other ICTs, can be accessed anywhere at any time and relies on the skill of listening rather than writing. Having read this article, podcasting seems to possess many strengths and opportunities including its mode of communication and its easy accessibility. One of the weaknesses that I believe podcasting could have is in proving a daunting task for educators to begin creating and implenting podcasts in their classrooms. To overcome this, there are a multitude of programs and tutorials available to familiarise people with this tool. Overal, podcasting seems like a terrific learning tool and could provide a refreshing way of educating learners.
I am truely beginning to see the benefits of this university course now. Seeing that it is a requirement of the course to become familiar with a repertoire of digital tools, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone but in doing this, I have expanded my horizons and now believe that I will be a much more informed and technologically savvy learning manager.
Cumbian Osprey podcast courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/
References
Cebeci, Z., & Tekdal, M. (2006). Using podcasts as audio learning objects. Interdisciplinary Journal of Knowledge and Learning Objects. 2, 49 – 55, Retrieved from http://ijklo.org/Volume2/v2p047-057Cebeci.pdf
Langwitches Blog. (2010, January 9). It’s not about the tools. It’s about the skills. Retrieved from http://langwitches.org/blog/2010/01/09/its-not-about-the-tools-its-about-the-skills/
Hi Jasmine,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post as I feel it reinforces some of my concerns that I had previously regarding the use of podcasting. I like it encourages the use of listening, rather than the traditional style learning of chalk and talk. In my classroom for prac, I have seen my learners using earphone jacks called 'Rockstars'. They enable students to plug up to six earphone into one listening device and work together in small groups. With tools like this in the classroom, I feel that podcasting could be a real advantage to meeting learners' needs.
Also, in addition, I have come across another aspect of podcasting I found to be new and fun. As an assessment tool, podcasting could be used as a way of communicating knowledge and understanding. At my school, we have just received these new microphone devices that are wireless and allow for voice recording anywhere, anytime. This would allow learners to express their knowledge and present it in a new fun and engaging way.
By doing this, students would be creating a plan and script for their podcast. They would have to consider audience, use of sound effects, rehearsing, editing and sharing. It would be more effective in upper primary, but the opportunities it provides is amazing.
What do you think?