Podcasts (Jan 28, 2009)
For my Digital Writing podcast, Kristin and I decided we will interview each other about the benefits, disadvantages, and engaging details/experiences of using technology in everyday life as well as in the classroom. A recent home internet collapse sparked this discussion topic. As our dependence on technology as a communication and information tool grows, the danger of a collapse/problems is a potential disaster. Further, the age of instant access (okay, the information age as it is called) has instigated momentous lifestyle changes. For instance, most Americans acknowledge the felt need for cell phones. People NEED to be connected. This creates an interesting overlap of work and home, public and private. As we learn about integrating technology in classrooms, it is vital to examine need vs. want. As teachers, we have the opportunity to influence the lives and learning of our students. Do we want to promote instant access and technology dependence? What has our nation lost in terms of manual skills? These are some of the conversation topics that Kristin and I plan to touch on in our podcast!
I really like the idea of podcasting. I enjoy listening to radio shows, mpr interviews with writers and scholars, through podcasts. As an English teacher, I definitely would capitalize on story (such as Prairie Home Companion); I plan to use podcasts to emphasize important elements like voice, stress, and climax. In this kind of lesson, students will need to compose the script and rehearse before recording. This process affords students writing experience as well as access to a technological tool.
Family interviews is another activity I would use podcasts for. Again, this activity would require planning ahead; students will need to choose a relative, script questions, and decide a focus for the interview. During the interview, students must lead the relative through the set questions, but also expand their questions based on the relative's responses. This a technique of ethnographic interview that we will talk about in class. Students can interview relatives using skype or record in person using garage band.
In general, I think students will enjoy using podcasts. Not only is it fun to listen to your voice, it is also useful for building one's awareness about common slip word use such as "like" and "you know." I also like that successful podcasts call for preparation and planning. Students will practice skills like writing and speaking in order to produce a podcast they are proud of.
I really like the idea of podcasting. I enjoy listening to radio shows, mpr interviews with writers and scholars, through podcasts. As an English teacher, I definitely would capitalize on story (such as Prairie Home Companion); I plan to use podcasts to emphasize important elements like voice, stress, and climax. In this kind of lesson, students will need to compose the script and rehearse before recording. This process affords students writing experience as well as access to a technological tool.
Family interviews is another activity I would use podcasts for. Again, this activity would require planning ahead; students will need to choose a relative, script questions, and decide a focus for the interview. During the interview, students must lead the relative through the set questions, but also expand their questions based on the relative's responses. This a technique of ethnographic interview that we will talk about in class. Students can interview relatives using skype or record in person using garage band.
In general, I think students will enjoy using podcasts. Not only is it fun to listen to your voice, it is also useful for building one's awareness about common slip word use such as "like" and "you know." I also like that successful podcasts call for preparation and planning. Students will practice skills like writing and speaking in order to produce a podcast they are proud of.
You're right! People need to be connected. I continue to be surprised at how closed off some students can be while others can talk, text, chat, and facebook all at the same time!
ReplyDeleteYour ideas with podcasting are great for connecting people. Not only would they have to talk about themselves or to others, they would also have to listen to things about other people. I think I'm going to copy "This American Life" in my class. If only I had a student with a voice as pleasantly nasal is that of Ira Glass. One can dream!
For my crosswinds practicum, we actually did a class called "Radio Crosswinds" and it was based around the idea of having kids create pieces like those heard on MPR, such as "This I Believe", "This American Life", and "A Prarie Home Companion". The kids really enjoyed it, as did I, and their writing was good because of it. At the time, I thought it would get me hired at a job, and at the time, it turns out, I was right! I happened to interview for a job where the other English teacher before me was a "tech whiz" (aka could use the computer) and so they wanted someone to fill her shoes. They found my use of podcasts to be evidence that I could. Anyhow, so not only do the kids love it, but it looks good on a resume, just in case you were wondering.
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