How to Use Podcasting in Your Classroom
Whether listening to podcasts, watching podcasts or creating your own podcast, classroom learning is greatly enhanced with the use of podcast technology. A podcast is an online audio file that can be accessed by the public. You can easily make your own podcast with minimal equipment, such as a computer with a built-in or external microphone and some basic recording software. A podcast can accent a lesson and help the students further develop their communication skills.
Instructions
-
Listening to a Podcast
-
1
Determine which type of podcast you want to download. Your choices include short clips or longer lectures. A short clip is good if you are trying to make a quick point backed up with an anecdote from a podcast. A lecture on a podcast offers deeper information from experts in a field, and could be used for a homework assignment. Search for your podcast by subject.
-
2
Go to a website that offers online podcasts such as iTunes or NPR (See Resources 1 and 2). Follow the directions on the website to see if it is something that you should download to your own player, or if you need to listen to the podcast directly from the website. If you need to download the podcast, follow the directions written on the site.
-
-
3
Bookmark the website if you need to listen to the podcast directly from the website. This way, when you are ready to share the podcast with the students, you can easily access the page that you need to without having to surf around.
-
4
Transfer the podcast to an MP3 player if you don't want to use an actual computer during the lesson time. Connect the device to speakers so the students can easily listen to the podcast. If you are using the computer to listen to the podcast, make sure the speakers are connected and the volume is turned up.
-
5
Inform the students that they are about to listen to a podcast, which will supplement the lesson they are learning. Tell them that you will ask questions about it when the podcast is over.
-
6
Play the clip or lecture for the students and gauge their reactions. Keep notes on areas that capture their interest so you can comment on that later when you ask the other related questions to reinforce their learning.
Make a podcast
-
7
Practice communication skills by having the students take on a classroom project in which they make their own podcast. If they are discussing a certain topic in history, they could use their research on the topic to create a podcast. Discuss what topic they want to address. If they are working on creative writing, the students can work on their own poetry and stories then create a podcast highlighting their work and describing the authors who inspired them.
-
8
Research the topic and have the students develop a script to read for their podcast. Let them determine who is going to talk at which point, taking turns so everyone has a chance to speak during the podcast. It might be easier to break the students into small groups, or to create a podcast series so everyone has a turn.
-
9
Use the microphone to record the script. Minimize background noise by using a microphone with buffering capabilities.
-
10
Clean up the sound by using an audio program such as GarageBand. In this step students can use a computer program to eliminate background noises and delete periods of silence. They can also edit sections out if they don't like the flow. Most computers come with some sort of audio program. If you have a question as to what type of program your computer has, contact your school technology specialist.
-
11
Upload the podcast to the school's web server. Ask the school technology specialist for help on this before you attempt it the first time.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add the podcast to popular podcasting sites such as iTunes by using an RSS feed software package, which you can purchase for a nominal fee.
