Podcasts

I am relatively new to podcasting, but intrigued by how easy they are to create and the endless possibilities. Last year, I began bringing my class to the media center each week to use the Promethean board. We soon discovered a classroom blog from a school in New Zealand of "1/2 to first year" children, who were about the same age as my PreK'ers. Around 3-4 children would be selected each week to create a short podcast to talk about anything from the weather to what they did over the weekend. They would even take flip cameras home over the weekend, take pictures around their house and create a podcast to go with a slideshow. I found that my children were fascinated by this and the fact that there were kids on the internet just like them that talked a little differently. We loved to hear about their interests and what they would do with their families (they lived in a fishing village) and were able to expand on this into many other mini-lessons.

Just recently, we read Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis in my PreK class. As an extended activity from the book, I made an ebook by taking pictures of the children making the expression of their choice (happy, mad, scared, sad, surprised, or disgusted) and recorded dictation from them about what makes them feel that way.

Podcasts are easy and fairly inexpensive to make. The only special attachment you need for making a podcast is a microphone or headset with microphone, which can be purchased for as low as $10. Windows movie maker will make a quick and easy podcast, or you can download free software from the internet such as gabcast and audacity.

Children are using real-life application skills and technology to make a product that can be heard by a much larger audience. Stage fright? Not a problem. Risk-taking is minimized because you can record as many times as necessary until you like your end product. Possible assignments might include creating fictional newscasts or interviews with historical topics or a cumulative classroom cd of student writing or research. Podcasts can also be used as an aid for students who might record assignment instructions in place of writing them or listen to tests on an IPOD. Students can practice foreign languages by listening to a track while recording their responses on a second track.

Authors and media specialists can create their own "library" of podcast booktalks. Nancy Keane has a website where she creates a daily podcast booktalk of a selection of children's literature. Her list of booktalks can be found here: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/podcast_list.htm
Having booktalk podcasts online might appeal to a media specialist who wants to share new or current themed books on a media center website or it might entice children into looking at a new author or series of books. Either way, as technology is allowing books to become more accommodating to our auditory learners, this is another way to share quality literature.

While reading articles, I came across the term "digital storytelling", which is using technology available on computers to tell or retell stories. Here is a sample lesson plan for grades 6-12, which could easily be adapted for younger children. http://www.pbs.org/americanfamily/teacher3.html With digital storytelling, the rule "less is more" seems to pervade. Pictures should be kept few and simple with little panning and zooming. Also, your voice should be steady and slow. Here is a site which gave good tips for presenting a good digital story: http://www.techlearning.com/printableArticle.aspx?articleID=196604788 Digital stories can be created by a teacher to present to a class or keep in a digital library or by students as a final product in their writing. Here are a few student samples: http://www.dtc.scott.k12.ky.us/technology/digitalstorytelling/studentstories.html

I am completely sold on using podcasts in the classroom. Students love to work with technology, and it is an easy, inexpensive way for them to use higher level thinking skills to create an end product that everyone can enjoy.