By Alex WiggsBy Alex Wiggs

•“Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Schools”•By Rhea R. Borja

•“iPod! uLearn?”•By C. Laing, A. Wootton, and A. Irons

•“Lectures on the Go”•By Brock Read

““Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Schools”Schools”Article focuses on

Gunston Middle School in Washington. They have a student-led weekly podcast called “Buzzwords.”

Borja claims the use of podcasting in schools promotes better understanding of: vocabulary, writing, editing, public speaking, and presentation skills.

““Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Schools”Schools”Instructional

technology specialist Dan J. Schmit says podcasting also promotes skills “such as communication, time management, and problem-solving.”

There is a learning curve, however, for teachers wanting to use podcasting because most teachers aren’t as tech-savvy as others.

““Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Schools”Schools”A-HA!

Another term for podcasting is “audioblog,” which helps divide the connection between podcasting and the belief of only using iPods.

There are around 1000 education-related podcasts on iTunes alone

A podcasting seminar was in such high demand at a Philadelphia conference that a second seminar had to be given for the 200 teachers that couldn’t get into the first.

Interesting quote:The articles states that

“a $1,200 Arlington County grant paid for three iPods and microphones…” It’s obvious that while this emerging technology is becoming more and more relevant, it is still a long way from being an affordable way to get students interested in school.

• Borja, R. R. (n.d.). Podcasting Craze Comes to K-12 Schools. Google. Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:CYHSl-jgN7sJ:scholar.google.com/+podcasting+in+education&hl=en&as_sdt=2000

““iPod! uLearn?”iPod! uLearn?”This article touched on some

of the more basic aspects of podcasting, like the use of bandwidth.

Offered the University of Wisconsin’s strategy for creating effective educational podcasts (detail in next slide).

Apple came up with iTunes U to help educators have a simple place to upload podcasts.

Different uses for educational podcasts suggested: Regular lectures that can be

viewed again later- great response from students

New, additional material introduced with podcasts- students were opposed and desired a more personal touch with new information

““iPod! uLearn?”iPod! uLearn?”University of Wisconsin’s

proposed plan for educational podcasting:

1. Select appropriate content

2. Determine the goal of the podcast

3. Design the content of the podcast

4. Produce the podcast (preferably with no script)

5. Integrate the podcast into the curriculum (as a requirement)

““iPod! uLearn?”iPod! uLearn?”A-HA!

This was the first article I read that suggested podcasting for use in “independent learning” for students, much like the way this course is set up.

I had heard the term “bandwidth” but never knew before this article that it referred to the space a file uses.

This article suggests using podcasting, not as a replacement for normal teaching methods, but as an added enhancement to the course.

Interesting quote: The article states that

“audio podcasts will discriminate against those who are deaf or have impaired hearing.”

I had never even considered this notion. Audio podcasting cannot reach an important demographic of students. There are multiple hearing-impaired students in some of my classes but throughout all of this, I never considered that there were limitations with certain students. This was an important point made in the article.

• Laing, C., Wootton, A., & Irons, A. (n.d.). iPod! uLearn?. Google. Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:yAdZxrsHhJ0J:scholar.google.com/+podcasting+in+education&hl=en&num=100&as_sdt=2000

““Lectures on the Go”Lectures on the Go”

This article offers a new term for educational podcasting: “coursecasting”

It also offers a new point of view from those who oppose “coursecasting.” Opponents say this attributes to empty classrooms and nurtures those students that often sleep in late.

““Lectures on the Go”Lectures on the Go”Patrick Thaddeus

Jackson spearheaded the “coursecasting” program at American University. He points out that:“Coursecasting” helps

professors to assimilate into students’ culture.

Podcasts of lectures help students to know what the class will be about, so they are able to more easily participate in classroom discussions over the various topics covered.

““Lectures on the Go”Lectures on the Go” A-HA!

This article pointed out that podcasting lectures is beneficial to students to whom English is a second language. Those students can individually dissect the lecture for better understanding.

All other articles talked about how podcasting is good for students, but this article pointed out that it’s also good for professors. Professors can critique the way they teach their lessons so future classes can better benefit.

Apparently Purdue has one of the largest “coursecasting” programs. It’s called “BoilerCast” and has enjoyed great success since its inception.

Interesting quote: The article stated that Mr.

Jackson said that “The technology, he suggested, could help them turn the entire campus into a classroom.”

I agree… to a certain extent. The fact is that with podcasting, you not only turn the campus into a classroom, but the entire world! You could be anywhere on Earth and grab your mp3 player and start listening to a lecture. A student could be on a class trip to Japan and listen to a lecture in a class he may be missing. The possibilities are endless, they aren’t bound by the area of a college campus.

Read, B. (n.d.). Print: The Chronicle: 10/28/2005: Lectures on the Go. Google. Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:TbJutVDOL4YJ:scholar.google.com/+podcasting+in+education&hl=en&num=100&as_sdt=2000

In conclusion…All three of these

articles I read spoke to the potential effectiveness of integrating the use of podcasting in multiple levels of education. It is a technology evolving to feed our ever-expanding desire of instant satisfaction.

I’d like to thank Google scholar and Easybib.com whose services greatly assisted me on this project.