Thinking about podcasts

I haven't really embraced podcasting for my own use or student use in the classroom because I'm more interested in making writing the focus, especially for students. It's not that I don't think podcasts could have many uses. I do. I just find it hard to make time to listen to them. I'd rather browse through multiple blogs that lead me to all kinds of interesting learning. I can take more paths. I have more choices. Even so I've decided I need to explore the use of podcasts a bit more.

I have a feeling that they just might have a lot of appeal to the guys in the "at-risk group". The teacher and I have had some great conversations with them that have not been captured in their writing. Would podcasts work? I don't know but it's worth taking a deeper look. We'll see where it leads.

So last month, I  made an equipment request for a tool that would let me record on the spot. I didn't want to plug up to a computer and I wanted something small so I could easily carry it to the schools. Something that could be used right then and it would not be dependent on anything else to work - not on electricity, any special gear, or magic words!  We bought the MicroTrack 24/96 Audio-M   for $300 and spent an additional $70 for a 1 gig card. Here's a review on the MicroTrack:

It was so simple! Now I did not find the manual simple, all the terminology that I have no understandings of throws me. But once I figured out that generally it's a simple click to record, another one to stop recording and then all you have to do is drag it from the card to the computer. I can handle that. Today I've been busy using Audacity to make it smaller and learn what else I can do. I need help on places to go for free music that would be good for simple beginnings and endings.  I still would like to have a deeper understanding  of the terminology but I'm letting that go for now. I figure I will learn pros and cons as I go.

Now I did the recording in MP3s. It will also do WAV files. I did MP3s based on the advice of Tim, my co-worker. I wanted to cut off part of one recording. That should be a simple process but apparently Audacity does not edit MP3s. I got it all working but as I said I'm learning as I go.

I'll  be working  in a U.S. history class with this group  of guys so  if any of you have suggestions for podcasts in that area , fire away! Here's the table of contents  for the book we'll be using:
Download ushistorytoc.pdf
We're starting on  chapters 4, 5 & 6.

Comments

[Bronwyn G]

Audacity is a wonderful piece of software. First, it is Open Source. It's especially relevant for people who are recording Wikipedia Spoken Articles. I'm sure you could find some appropriate History resources for your students there if you could look.

I would probably record THE YOUNG NATION GOES TO WAR (chapter 9) and THE SLAVERY PROBLEM GROWS. Also THE CIVIL WAR and RECONSTRUCTION. And POSTWAR UNITED STATES is fascinating, especially the Civil Rights Movement which I am sure would be important to many of your students. (If we're talking the Getting Heard people, then I ought not to speak of such an uncounted mass). Something fairly close to the present, like about the end of the Cold War, would be relevant. (To think your boys don't even remember it!)

[S. Lister]

Hi Anne,
I'm with you on the difficulty in making time to listening podcasts...I wrote a small piece about this here: http://newmediaworkshops.com/telblog/?p=64 where I suggested podcasts are great for commuters but I only have a 7 minute drive to work!

I thought I'd share with you a history podcast project I worked on with a Grade 6 class that didn't quite get to the true 'podcast' stage but it was a rich learning experience nonetheless. I explained the idea here:
http://teacherintraining.edublogs.org/2005/11/28/student-podcast-interviewing-the-past/

You can listen to my podcast about the experience here:
http://newmediaworkshops.com/telblog/podcast/TELpod1_121405.mp3 (if you can find the time! It's 13 minutes long)with show notes available here:
http://newmediaworkshops.com/telblog/?p=68

Good luck with your project! I'm looking forward to learning about it through your blog!
sue

[Anne Davis]

Hi Sue,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, especially the history podcast. I listened to all of your links. It was great! Now I am still learning and I really liked the short comment sessions from the fifth graders that I did. If I can be content with just posting the vocal part I might use podcasting more but the learning curve for mixing and adding and editing is slow for me. Still not sure where this journey will take me but I plan to keep posting.