Podcasting

Apple - Education - Podcasting

http://www.apple.com/au/education/podcasting/

Screen clipping taken: 24/03/2013 2:44 PM

After looking at all the Group 2 digital technologies (images, podcasting and digital video), I chose podcasting as it seemed the simplest and most adaptable of the group. A podcast can be either an audio or a video file that has been uploaded to the Internet so that it can be shared with others. This can be done in a number of ways either using a PC or Apple devices. For a brief overview on the use and history podcasts see this link: Podcasting

Apple devices seem to be ideally suited for creating podcasts.  Using the iSight camera on a Mac and then importing it into iMovie, you can quickly and easily create a video podcast.  Garage Band can be used for audio podcasts. A really simple app for youngers students is Audio Boo and can be used on iPods, iPads and PCs. These files can then be embedded into other applications. Apple (Apple Inc., 2013) offers many uses tips for the creation and acquisition of podcasts.

listen to ‘Bear with no ears!’ on Audioboo

PCs can also be effectively used for creating podcasts.  By downloading Audicity or simply using the computer's built in sound recorder, sound files can easily be created. Files can then be shared by others through school Learning Management Systems such as Moodle, school blogs or websites.  More can be learned about the creation of podcast from tutorials such as Podcasting Basics.

Podcasts can be created by teachers or students from their own original material or existing files made by others can also be shared.  A huge variety of educational podcasts can be found.  There sources include:
ABC National
ABC EdPod
ABC
iTunes U

Podcasting, to me, has particular appeal as it gives the learner a unique opportunity to be in control of their learning, particularly for younger children or those with limited written literacy skills. Most hand held devices such as iPod, iPhones and iPads have voice recording apps already on them or are freely available. As these tools are expensive, classrooms can extend their number of devices by inviting students to bring their own devices. Of course, this depends on school policy as whether or not this is allowed, but this would go a long way to bridging the digital divide in lower socio-economic communities.

For specialty areas with information for both students and teachers, many exciting sites exist.  For example, for history many useful podcasts can be found at:
iTunes Australian History

Here is my PMI analysis of using podcasting in the classroom:

listen to ‘PMI Analysis of Podcasting’ on Audioboo
 

Why use podcasts in the classroom?  By creating their own podcasts, students are given a unique way of sharing their learning experiences, giving them the depth and breadth that can only come from real life applications of knowledge. Having the potential of a much wider audience online has been demonstrated as giving students greater focus as the importance of their own work and offers opportunities to students of lower or limited literacy skills. Correctly scaffolded, a podcast will meet the Metiri Group Report's list of principles (Swisher, 2007). Podcasting can also be effectively used by teachers for feedback and assessment.

 

Bibliography:

Apple Inc. . (2013). Ready Set Podcast! Retrieved March 24, 2013, from Apple in Education: http://www.apple.com/au/education/podcasting/

Stansbury, M. (2008, March 26). Analysis: How multimedia can improve learning. Retrieved March 24, 2013, from eSchool News: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/03/26/analysis-how-multimedia-can-improve-learning/

Swisher, D. (2007). Does Multimedia Truly Enhance Learning? Moving Beyond the Visual Media Bandwagon Toward Instructional Effectiveness. K-State at Salina Professional Day, Kansas State University. Salina: Kansas State University.

Western Australian Dept. of Education . (2013). Podcasts in the Classroom. Retrieved March 24, 2013, from Resourcing the Curriculum: http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/podcasts/#value