Week 10

Podcasts

This week I used the programs Audoacity, Windows Movie Maker, and iTunes, to make a audio/video podcast of a third grade lesson on homophones. I made the Video Podcast with Windows Movie Maker and Microsoft Powerpoint. I made the Audio Podcast with Audoacity and then imported it as an mp3 file to Window Movie Maker. The grade level expectation for the lesson was from the GLCE's. The expectation was:

R.WS.03.08 in context, determine the meaning of words and phrases including synonyms, homonyms, multiple meaning words, content vocabulary, and literary terms using strategies and resources including context clues, concept mapping, and the dictionary.

Teachers can use podcasts in their classroom to help improve the content and environments of the classroom in many ways. Podcasts also allow accessibility for all students because they are free to use as long as you have a computer and iTunes. With podcasts, teachers can post lectures or important notes for students to listen to at home. They also can post video as well which allows basically a virtual classroom where the teacher uses visual and audio combinations to teach classroom material or even facilitate classroom agenda.

Besides being a good source for teachers, students can also benefit from podcasts. Students will not only be more in touch with their classroom outside of school, but can also make and contribute their own podcasts for class projects. Any involvement with the internet with kids is always a good thing as well since they live on the internet. Depending on your teaching and your technology skills, you can use podcasts to enrich the type of learning takes place not only inside your classroom, but outside the classroom as well.