Go online and find a novel use of a new technology for the classroom. A repurposing of an existing technology. ie.. some teachers use Twitter to send homework assignments to parents every day. What other general use technology might you repurpose for classroom use.
(suggestion: go to google.com and search for more.. there is a blog search) and search for a name of a technology and the word classroom.. Discuss if you think this is a good idea or come up with an idea of your own.
The technology that I choose to repurpose for my class is/are podcasts. (Check out this link for a list of sites that have podcasts or ideas for how to utilize podcasts in the classroom.) The class could be middle school, high school, or higher ed. There are several benefits of podcasts over blogs. First, a podcast may reach parents who are illiterate. Second, it can be downloaded and played during times in which reading is difficult (think in the car, walking, etc.). Third, it caters to those students who may not want to read. A 1-minute podcast can cover a lot of information about the class without feeling overwhelming. Fourth, it can have sound effects. Who doesn't like some entertainment? Fifth, a lecture can be recorded for students to use for studying and/or for e-learning days. Finally, students can set up the podcast to download updates automatically.
There are so many uses for podcasts, such as the following:
- Giving daily homework assignments
- Telling parents classroom news
- Recording lectures
- Having students make their own podcast
- Recording interviews
- Creating e-learning days
- Giving supplemental content
- Providing guided studying (teacher guides students through notes)
- Giving informal home assessments
- Giving ELL or foreign language students access to a native voice
- Providing educational media to elementary school students
- And, I'm sure, so much more.
What other ideas can you come up with to add to this list?
Before this course, i was totally unfamiliar with podcasts. I had seen the button on my iTunes toolbar, but had never bothered to click it. Now, however, I completely agree, and I think podcasts can certainly have an important place in the classroom. I liked that you mentioned the ability to reach students who may not necessarily like to read, because presenting information in various modalities is extremely important in engaging all types of learners.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of other possible ideas, you could use podcasts as an alternative way for sick or absent students to turn in their work while they are away from school. Teachers could also use news-related podcasts to provide first-hand accounts of current events. Hope these help add to your already impressive list!
Podcasts were an anomaly to me before this class. I have finally found one use: two of my students were suspended for 30 days, and I have posted a test review on my wiki that we are building and linked it to the review powerpoint that the rest of the class saw. I can continue to add podcasts with instructions for the next three weeks of assignments while they are out.
ReplyDeleteYou have quite an extensive list of uses for podcasts already, so adding podcasts for students who are suspended due to disciplinary issues would blend in with recording lectures and providing guided studying, yet all students would have access.
What a wonderful idea! I was also unfamiliar with podcasts and I am excited to now have the knowledge to apply to ehnance learning of students and parents via podcasts! I agree that there are so many different uses for podcasts that the limit appears to be only the teacher's imagination!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good idea. Isn't it amazing the things we can accomplish now. I know that it is a problem for students to remember their homework. A good way of communication.
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