Podcasts for week of March 6-13

Episode Title: Kidcast: Texas notes, Crowdabout
Episode: # 38
Date: 2-26-2007

I liked Dan Schmidt's new opening - he had high school students from Texas introduce him. He talked about podcasting and professional development and gave a few examples of how different content teachers were integrating podcasts into their classrooms and making them available for others to use.

I learned that he is writing his third book - "Strategies, Ideas, and Activities" - which is a book for implementing podcasting into the classroom. He noted how books are good and a good foundation but some of the information in the books is forever changing and being updated. I also never made the connection between him and Garage Band Mechanics until this episode.

Another interesting idea he had was for educators to enlist the talents of local radio personalities to talk to their students. This would give the students a chance to see how these people developed their radio personalities and might help the students develop their own personalities for their podcasts. By inviting people like radio broadcasters, public speakers,etc.. speak to school kids - this is just another way to help students become more effective communicators and speakers.

He often mentions - ali.apple.com for a site to check out. Also, Dan mentioned crowdabout.us - a site to check for integrating audio and visual comments to your podcasts.


Episode Title: The TechTeascher
Episode: # 24
Date: 10-09-2006

Integrating MP3 Players into the classroom - These devices are easier to use when editing content, storing, and sharing versus traditional tape recorders. There are many uses for these devices. I liked the idea - give kids the latest tech devices and learning turns into fun.

Kids find learning engaging and memorable when using MP3's. Use these devices to record fluency and reading ability of students. Allow the students to take home devices and a book and practice reading. Record notes for students who are sick. Students could record their thoughts and then type up their paper later worrying about grammar, etc... Teachers could record strategies and activities for take home work. He had numerous ideas and uses for integrating MP3 players into the classroom. These and other ideas can be found on his website niessen@cox.net


Episode Title: Teaching with Technology
Episode: # 1 - Educational technology
Date: 10-04-2006

Tina Coffey turned her school newsletter into a Blog because many people, especially teachers multi-task. So she suggested listening while completing some other project. My thought - I have always enjoyed listening to talk shows - people calling in to hosts - two way communication while driving or listening to books on CD - very comparable to podcasts. We also use blogs in numerous classes and it is nice to read other students comments about the same material, because others often point out things you might have missed or look at somethings differently.

Tina made a podcast informing the teachers at her school about the blog site. Tina's Blog letter - a new type of news letter. It is a Blog to keep people informed versus sending out a newsletter. Blogging - a two way form of communication. She talked about how a person could respond to anything written on the blog and other people could possibly benefit from other's comments. She gave several Ideas - Be honest, don't use kids names, visit any time, stay with topic at hand.

She also suggested in her blog letter to make a computer lab seating chart for your class - by assigning computers to students to use from here on out, students learn to take ownership of their work area.

Technology is content versus technology - Teachers when asking for tech help should ask how can I integrate technology into my classroom, instead of will you teach power point, or this program. Example - I'm teaching a lesson on Famous figures, How can I integrate technology into this lesson?