Podcasts are
digital media files that can be listened to online, on a smart phone, or any
device that has internet connection. They are a great way to communicate with
others and share your material. People who listen to podcasts want to have the
freedom of choosing exactly what they want to hear.
Subscribing
to podcasts is easy! And, you can listen to your favorite authors, motivational
speakers, comedians, or experts. Your choices are unlimited. Podcasts also have
their place in education and three popular podcasting sites have made it easier
for educators to incorporate them in their classrooms: Soundcloud.com,
Podomatic.com, and Podbean.com. Keep in mind, that you may have to purchase a
microphone for your recordings. You do not have to stress too much about
purchasing a fancy one. An economical mic will do the job!
Soundcloud.com
Soundcloud.com
is a pretty neat site because it hosts music by different artists, but you can
also upload your own tracks or create podcasts. If you have a Google or
Facebook account, you can instantly create an account by using one or the
other. Recording a podcast is easy and the steps you must follow are not
confusing at all. Once you have created your podcast, you must remember to keep
it public, so others can access it. In order to share it with others, all you
have to do is copy the link and share! A big plus for soundcloud.com is their
app! Just go to the App Store or Google Play, and download it. Now, you do not
need your computer to create a podcast. You can start recording straight from
your device. Unfortunately, I like free; after your free trial is over, you
will have to pay $9.99 a month (okay...10 bucks!).
Podomatic.com
Podomatic.com
is another great site for podcasting. Signing up is very simple. I chose to log
in with Facebook because it is faster, and I love having the profile picture of
the hubbster and I on my homepage or feed. Back to podcasting! On the top right
corner, it says, "Create a Podcast." You can then add a file or
record a new one. You can even add an image to go with your podcast. Before
publishing any recording, make sure to review it. Podomatic.com has a Facebook
kind of look. And to be honest, I like that! On the left side, there is a
section titled Trending Posts that you can follow or listen to. And, if you are very popular and have lots of
friends, you can see what they are listening to. And if you do not have lots of
friends, you can request me! So, hey! Just have fun with it! Podomatic.com has
an app, but it does not provide that feature that allows you to create a
podcast using your smart phone (sad face).
Podbean.com
Podbean.com
was not my favorite podcasting site, because it is not as easy to use as
Podomatic.com (nor it was a cool looking). But then, I learned that there was a
Podbean app. IT HAS AN APP! Spending big bucks on a mic is not necessary since
I can create a podcast using my smart phone (jumping up and down!). So, I gave it a try and was so impressed
because it was so easy to use. This is my motto: Why complicate things? I
figured, if I can create an account for my students and download the app to
their Ipads, they can do amazing things! They can conquer the world! All you
have to do is click on the little red microphone icon, record, and save! Voila!
It uploads it to the site and you have an amazing podcast in a matter of
seconds (okay...I do not know how long you are going to take, but I am pretty
fast now!)
Podcasting
can be not only fun but very educational. There a millions of things you can do
with your students and podcasting. I have not made a list that long, but I am
sure there are many ways you can use it in the classroom. Scholastic has
published an article titled 9 Podcasts
for Teachers and Kids. They provide nine fun and interactive ways to use
podcasts in your classroom. They include podcasts from National Geographic to
help your kids learn about animals to ways to help your ESL students practice
English in an entertaining way. Erin
Macpherson, author of 10 Podcasting
Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom, does a phenomenal job in
listing ways teachers and librarians can use podcasts. So, if you are not very
comfortable with using podcasts now, this article can give you 10 awesome ideas
on what to do and let podcasting add a new twist in learning! Out of the 10
items listed, my three favorite are the following: Current Events Newscasts,
Reading Radio, and Bring Your Teacher Home. I plan to use those in my library!
Current Events Newscasts can help me get the word out to all students and staff
about what is happening in our library or the world around us. Reading Radio is
definitely one that I will enjoy doing. My students can read new titles and can
summarize them for me. That way, other students can hear their recommendations
and may decide to read the new books. This one gave me an idea! There are many
children reading below level, and audio books is a great way for them to
improve their fluency. So, I invited two good readers to read a book that many
will like. They can grab an Ipad, put on their headphones, and listen to the
book recorded by their very own classmate or friend! Bring Your Teacher Home is
great to help your students remember what important parts of the lesson they
should focus on to help them do their homework. So, go ahead, and have fun with
podcasts. But, please have a script ready before you start recording. No
pressure! If you come up with more ideas on how to use podcasts in the
classroom, don't forget to comment below!
Check out these podcasts recorded by two awesome students!
Citations:
Bertucci B.
(2016, September 12). Ever Wondered About Podcasting? Get the Basics! Retrieved
November 13, 2016, from http://podcasting.about.com/od/basics101/a/whatis.htm
9 Podcasts for
Teachers and Kids | Scholastic.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016, from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/9-podcasts-teachers-and-kids
Macpherson, E.
(2014, August 7). 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom.
Retrieved November 13, 2016, from
http://www.weareteachers.com/10-podcasting-projects-teachers-should-try-in-the-classroom-2/
I like the idea of doing read alouds. Students can play it back and hear themselves read or like you said, enjoy their friends and classmates reading. I've been looking into purchasing more audio books and this is a great suggestion to utilize in the meantime!
ReplyDeleteI loved your idea of students being reporters and interviewing others about the books they have read. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of having students create podcasts for fluency. Podcasts are a great way to keep students engaged while having fun.
ReplyDeleteGreat podcast! Read alouds are a wonderful way to integrate technology with the students.
ReplyDelete