Podcasting

Hi

My name is Lorna Guthrie and I am completeing my masters in education in Integrating Technology in the Classroom. One aspect of our course is to create a pocast. This is something

I have never done before so this was new and a bit challenging to setup.

I learnt about wave files and mp3 files and how they are related to broadcasting.

I also learnt a lot about just three individuals who were interviewed, and the amount of time they spend using computers, iPods and more importantly their cell phones.

To download audacity was very easy and then I had to convert the files from wave file to MP3 files before submitting the podcast. The conversion to MP3 files was a bit tricky but I was able to do it.

If as teachers we are to prepare our students to compete in the 21st century workplace, then we need to realize that this is the age of the computer, iPod, digital camera and cellphnones. Our students are "digital natives," having grown up surrounded and for some immersed in technology (Prensky, 2001). To make learning meaningful teachers need to incorporate some of these technologies and web 2.0 tools into the lesson. As Dr. Thornburg said the "students exposure to technology ouside can change their expectations inside of school," so, the responsibility lies with the teacher to meet and exceed our students expectations. To do this we need to be comfortable and knowledgeable of the web tools needed to enhance their learning experience.

Podcasting will present for the students a great oppertunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and practice their editorial skills (Richardson, 2009). It will be challenging to find meaningful ways to incorporate it into my math program, but I am very open to any ideas that you may have as to how this tool can be utilized in a high school math class (Geometry, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2).

Click to hear the podcast.

Reference

Richardson, W. (2009). Blogs, wikis, podcast, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon. 9(5).

Laureate Education Inc., (Executive Porducer). (2007). Today's Students (DVD). Baltimore: Dr. Thornburg