Include in your post the name of at least one podcast to which you subscribed. Describe your experience using the various search tools. Which do you prefer and why?
I subscribed to several NPR programs but one in particular I was very happy to find ... NPR's Fresh Air podcast. I used to listen to Fresh Air on my way home from work but schedule changes at our local Public Radio station makes it impossible for me to hear this program. So I was delighted to find it as a podcast!
I also subscribed to the podcast titled " Today's Middle Level Educator". Some of the individual podcast titles in this series that deal with technology include "Wikis in the Classroom" & "Bridge Building with Skype". The most current session is titled "Podcasts and the Science Classroom". This series is exciting because it presents real educators who are using technology but the series also deals with important issues in middle school such as advisory programs and new teacher tips. This is a really useful podcast for any middle school educator who can pick and choose those individual sessions that are most applicable to themselves.
I tried both The Education Podcast Network & Podcast Alley. I found both to be rather difficult to use and I ended up using iTunes instead. The Ed. Podcast Network had a lot of compelling listings, but four out of five of the individual podcasts I looked at were unavailable ... OR I just couldn't figure out how to access them. It was frustrating. Many of the others were also woefully out of date.
In comparison, iTunes was relatively easy to use to find podcasts on particular subjects. Plus, iTunes had some groupings like most popular podcasts of 2008 which was a good place to start browsing. All in all, iTunes just has the other search tools beat and the integrated interface allowing you to download and listen immediately AND save it as a listing in your iTunes is just incredibly convenient.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thing 19
Which podcasts did you find interesting? Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your teaching.
One podcast I found interesting was "Booktalks quick and simple" by Nancy Keane (http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/podcast_list.htm)
This podcast features short booktalks on elementary and middle school titles. The production is simple with a music selection (the same one for each podcast) at the beginning of the booktalk. Nancy Keane always gives the title, author, and year of publication for the title at the end of the podcast. There are additional resources at her website (http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/) dealing with the creation of booktalks as well as a number of written booktalks by librarians, teachers, and students. Overall this is a gold mine of a site and the booktalks are thoughtful, entertaining, and brief introductions to many, many books.
I am really excited about the possibility of having students create podcasts. As a library media specialist the obvious use that comes to mind is to do booktalks but there are many other applications that students could produce. Having podcast announcements that parents could subscribe to would be very useful. Numerous classes could record in-class presentations and events for later listening and/or viewing. The possibilities are really endless. I am hopeful that my district will see the value in allowing students (and teachers!) to use this technology that is so relatively inexpensive and easy to integrate.
One podcast I found interesting was "Booktalks quick and simple" by Nancy Keane (http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/podcast_list.htm)
This podcast features short booktalks on elementary and middle school titles. The production is simple with a music selection (the same one for each podcast) at the beginning of the booktalk. Nancy Keane always gives the title, author, and year of publication for the title at the end of the podcast. There are additional resources at her website (http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/) dealing with the creation of booktalks as well as a number of written booktalks by librarians, teachers, and students. Overall this is a gold mine of a site and the booktalks are thoughtful, entertaining, and brief introductions to many, many books.
I am really excited about the possibility of having students create podcasts. As a library media specialist the obvious use that comes to mind is to do booktalks but there are many other applications that students could produce. Having podcast announcements that parents could subscribe to would be very useful. Numerous classes could record in-class presentations and events for later listening and/or viewing. The possibilities are really endless. I am hopeful that my district will see the value in allowing students (and teachers!) to use this technology that is so relatively inexpensive and easy to integrate.
Thing 18
What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? out of the classroom?
The slide show I embedded to my blog addressed the issue of holding technology hostage in schools. I have come to realize more and more during the last few weeks that schools, through their outdated policies and somewhat irrational fears, are in danger of totally losing relevance with students. If we cannot embrace technology - where it makes sense and improves the quality of education for students - our classrooms will continue to look no different than they did 50 years ago. We, as educators, need to embrace technology instead of asking students to check their technology at the door. Again, where it makes sense ... not just for glitz and to entertain ... but rather to really bring MORE to the classroom and thereby make the educational process more dynamic and realistic for the world our students will and do face.
The slide show I embedded to my blog addressed the issue of holding technology hostage in schools. I have come to realize more and more during the last few weeks that schools, through their outdated policies and somewhat irrational fears, are in danger of totally losing relevance with students. If we cannot embrace technology - where it makes sense and improves the quality of education for students - our classrooms will continue to look no different than they did 50 years ago. We, as educators, need to embrace technology instead of asking students to check their technology at the door. Again, where it makes sense ... not just for glitz and to entertain ... but rather to really bring MORE to the classroom and thereby make the educational process more dynamic and realistic for the world our students will and do face.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thing 17
Give a review of the tool you explored - what worked, what didn't work, how might it be used either in or out of the classroom?
I looked at several of the online applications and played around with them. I found that most would be useful in varied situations in school or out. 30 Boxes was particularly easy to use. I set up an account and was entering information into a calendar within just a few minutes. I have some prior experience with a couple of calendar programs so that might have played some role in how easy it was for me.
Library Thing is similar to Shelfari where I already have an account so I didn't spend a lot of time with that app. TrailFire looked very interesting although I thought it duplicated other means I use to present a group of web sites for colleagues or students. I thought as an exploration exercise it would be valuable.
There seems to be a lot of applications out there that all do useful things. I'm sure there are more than those presented in this 23 Things course. My problem now is simply keeping up with all of the applications I'd like to use!
I looked at several of the online applications and played around with them. I found that most would be useful in varied situations in school or out. 30 Boxes was particularly easy to use. I set up an account and was entering information into a calendar within just a few minutes. I have some prior experience with a couple of calendar programs so that might have played some role in how easy it was for me.
Library Thing is similar to Shelfari where I already have an account so I didn't spend a lot of time with that app. TrailFire looked very interesting although I thought it duplicated other means I use to present a group of web sites for colleagues or students. I thought as an exploration exercise it would be valuable.
There seems to be a lot of applications out there that all do useful things. I'm sure there are more than those presented in this 23 Things course. My problem now is simply keeping up with all of the applications I'd like to use!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)