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.
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