Podcasting

Cross-posted on my blog, expintech.blogspot.com

One thing I am really going to try and fit in the rest of the year, on a regular basis, is a podcast. I just can't seem to figure out where to begin. There are some stellar examples out there, Mathew Needleman's most recent post on his Creating Lifelong Learners blog provides some, plus information on how to fit it in. And then there is always Willowdale Elementary from Omaha, NE. That's right, Omaha. Their Willowcast is pretty amazing. As usual, I have sent word out to them via email to try and figure out how they have made such an awesome podcast. And as usual, I am waiting to hear back...

I guess I want my homeroom students to represent all subjects. Let me see, that's math, reading, writing, science, social studies, PE, music, art, etc. That seems like lot to cover. I wonder what would be more effective, having everyone develop some bit of each podcast or only letting a few at a time. It seems to me a few at a time would help generate some enthusiasm about it all. Maybe the same enthusiasm wouldn't come about if they were required to do it. Then, what should be covered. Everything or just some. Or should the kids decide? No matter what happens, you can keep up to date with our podcast here.

I do, I need feedback from fellow podcasters. Which way should I go, all or few? What should each epsiode cover, all or some? Who should decide the content?

I know how to make them and post them, I just don't know what to put in them.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin H. on March 22, 2008 at 6:09pm

I would start small. Give one student a voice recorder and have them interview other students while working on some project. Let the kids interview kids. Then, as that works, go bigger. Get the kids involved in the production and then slowly ramp it up.
I often podcast my students reading writing projects. We don't have a "show" as the Willow Kids have -- more like a podcasting entry into the classroom. The parents love it. The kids love it. The administrators love it. So, love all around. :)
But seriously, go slow but steady, and you will figure things out.

This is one blog that I developed for collaborative podcasting among elementary kids: http://youthradio.wordpress.com/

This is my classroom blog site: http://epencil.edublogs.org/

And this is a workshop that I developed for teachers on podcasting: http://masswp.org/workshop/

I hope some of it helps you get started.

By the way, you can also podcast from such sites as PodcastPeople (just need a microphone and a computer and that's about it) if the idea of recording and then posting on a blog or somewhere else is too daunting for you.

Podcast People: http://www.podcastpeople.com/

Good luck!
Kevin

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Permalink Reply by JoNelle on March 22, 2008 at 8:22pm

As a beginner, I can tell you what you what has helped us. http://learninginhand.com/podcasting/RadioWillowWeb.pdf
We started with the handouts from RadioWillow Web. It helped to have a guide that worked for someone else. We tweeked the handouts as needed (grade levels, topics....). Students listened to published podcasts and our own recordings. We critiqued out own recordings and came up with our own rubric as to what we considered a "good podcast" . Very simply we say -introduction of students, -tell the topic, -tell details/examples of topic, then -a good ending.
Homeroom teachers were very pleased that the rubric that our technology classes came up with is very similar to their guide to a "good paragraph".
Student partners choose from a range of topics, write their script with guided help, and then practice,record/edit. The classes listen to each other to critique, from there I choose what gets published. (I have many classes, so everyone does not get published.)
A few recordings been chosen to be the voice for video animations, Crazy
Talk5 an added bonus that is an exciting brand new tool for us.
I understand the decisions of who and how many to publish especially since I have multiple classes. Just decide on a focus, go with it and then know that you can adjust your decision. Start small like Kevin says, then decide how to proceed from there. Two with a microphone makes a "show" - this has worked well.
As to what to put in them, I use curriculum standards as a guide. What do students need to know? What do they seem to need more help in understanding (from test results from present or previous years...)? Which standards can be supported with research/podcasting? Start simply and grow with your students. You'll be surprised who comes out of their shell.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on July 14, 2008 at 7:40am

I thought podcasts might be a good idea so I read about them, listened to student podcasts, and hemmed and hawed for 6 months. I'd had Audacity downloaded but that was about the only forward motion I'd made. We were working on a huge project on the Titanic and as a small portion of the project I wanted the students to record podcasts as passengers/crew but didn't have the time to get things going. I halfheartedly said to two 6th grade girls..."Hey, will you two figure out how to do podcasts?" In 5 minutes they said, "Hey, Mrs. B. we're done, now what?"!!!! Out of the mouth of babes---we ended up doing 48 podcasts and uploaded them to our Titanic website.

Here's my humble thought on podcasts--they serve a purpose but reading reports and blathering on about daily reflections is not it. Stick to topics that are worth the effort (both by student and listener). Don't get wrapped up in the "newness" and forget the substance. We don't need to fill the airwaves with fog. N.