Saturday, September 22, 2012

Blog Assignment #4

Sanera
The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

Joe Dale's video, The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom explains the benefits of podcasting in the classroom. I have heard of podcasting before, but I never knew what it really was until this class. I can definitely see how podcasting in the classroom can be fun and rewarding. I especially like the idea of teachers recording lessons for sick students. Whenever I had the miss school because of an illness, I dreaded all of the make up work that would be waiting for me when I got back. I also like the idea of using podcasting for project based learning. Students can make up their own scripts and record role plays with characters to make a more creative learning experience. I will absolutely use podcasting in my classroom once I become a teacher. How fun!

Flat Stanley
Langwitches- Flat Stanley Podcast

I really enjoyed reading this post on Langwitches blog. The post called, Flat Stanley Podcast gives readers a great idea for a creative in class project. My younger brother read Flat Stanley in elementary school and his class sent paper Flat Stanleys to family members all over the country. Cool enough, but add a podcasting project into the mix, and I am sold! This is a creative and collaborative activity that all the students in the class can work on together. Not only do the students get to make Flat Stanleys and send them all over the country, they get to create a podcast, as well.

In order to successfully record their podcast, the students had to pick a storyline that they could each contribute to. They, of course, picked Flat Stanley. Once they had picked the storyline, they each had to choose a location and research that location, as a homework assignment. With their parents, the students wrote a short script including location, transportation, what they did at that location, and how they got home. The students loved the idea of being "flattened" by their SmartBoard and mailed all over the world.

I have always loved the activity involving the book, Flat Stanley and I think this activity is even better! I am learning more and more about podcasting, and how even children are finding it fun and easy to use. I plan on remembering this fun activity to use with my students.

Open Culture
Langwitches 1st Graders Create their Own Read-Along Audiobook

The post, 1st Graders Create their Own Read-Along Audiobook shares a great idea for students creating their own audiobooks. I found this idea to be brilliant. Instead of the traditional read-along in class, the teacher took students out of the classroom to record their own version of the chapters. The students could re record until they were satisfied with how they sound. The teacher observed the students experiment with pitches, emotions, speed, and fluency, to name a few. This method had the students more engaged in what they were reading. They get to decide how the characters in the book will sound. Imagine how creative and unique that audiobook sounds now!

After each student had a turn to record, the whole class got to listen and read-along to the podcast they helped create. So, while the students got to create a more interesting way to read, they also got to experiment with technology and learn how it's used. I will tell you that whenever I had to read-along to an audiobook, I became increasingly distracted, or bored. If I could of helped record an audiobook in class, I would have been more interested and proud of my work.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Elizabeth,
    I loved reading your blog post on podcasting. I totally agree on using podcasting in my classroom as well. Although only one error stuck on to me in sentence 5 when you used the instead of to, your blog post was still a great read! Keep up the good work

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  2. Hey Elizabeth,

    Great job on your post!

    I'm glad you learned some new things about podcasting! Podcasting is a great project for any age of students. There are so many ways that this could improve on students' reading comprehension if the students are reviewing a book.

    Keep up the good work!

    Stephen Akins

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