This week in class we learned about different ways to use podcasts and vidcasts in the classroom. My group created our own vidcast to portray a "lesson of the day". We posted this vidcast on our UEN homepage.
I am a huge fan of podcasts, but I had never thought about using them as a teaching tool. I never realized what a great idea it is to use podcasts and vidcasts in the classroom until we explored this lesson in class. I definitely think that podcasts especially could be a great review tool for kids who have difficulty taking notes or need help going over a subject again. To test this idea, I recorded my daily notes from my Thursday psychology class onto a podcast so I could review them before my quiz on Tuesday. I was able to upload this podcast to my iPod and now I can review my own notes through audio whenever I get a minute. With technology such as iPods and MP3 players becoming so readily available to kids today, I think using them as a learning device could be a great idea for parents and teachers.
While creating our vidcast from a teacher's point of view, I also began to think of the collaboration possibilities of this technology. For example, among an elementary school's second grade staff, each teacher could create a two or three minute vidcast on a science topic. Then the teachers could email them to one another and show them in the classrooms. It would be fun for the kids to see other teachers explaining science besides their own. By doing this, it would cut down on work for teachers and also give a great opening activity for a new topic to be presented in class.
I also began to think of ways using podcasts could help the teacher. Each student could record a one minute "all about me" summary and then the teacher could listen to them in order to get to know the students better. It would also be a great way for the kids to get to know each other at the beginning of the school year. You could also complete the same activity with vidcasts. This would help the teacher learn names quickly as well.
As always, I think the possibilities of using this technology in the classroom is endless. It is a fun idea for showing a quick educational video by vidcast or recording lessons for kids when they miss school. I love the idea of using the podcasts and vidcasts as a tool for myself in order to become a better teacher.
Video Reflection:
I thought the video this week was a great reminder of why letting our students use computers is so valuable. There are so many great benefits kids get from learning to use programs such as blogging. It is such a great communication tool and it also allows the students to post their own individual thoughts. I like the idea of using blogs to collaborate as well.
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