Monday, November 5, 2012
Podcast for Learning and Teaching
This summer, I decided to ask my doctoral students to prepare a podcast about different topics about teacher leaders, school leaders, and assessments as part of the major assignment. I asked them to research the topic, and use research and experience to discuss the topic in a podcast style. Some of them added to "case studies" and other creative things, like background music to their podcast. The final product was posted in Dowling Leadership sitehttp://www.dowling.edu/library/leadership/leadership.asp?id=97.
It was a learning experience for my students and for me. I had one day to learn how to use Audacity - a free software for podcast, and how to edit it. My students learned by themselves reviewing the manual and some youtube videos.
Previously, I participated in a research with a colleague Dr. Beard, analyzing the effects of podcast in learning. We published the article "Using Podcast With Narrative Pedagogy: Are Learning Objectives Met?" published in the Journal of Nursing Education Perspectives. I can say, podcast are effective. I use at least once in the semester in my classes. Sometimes I ask the students to listen a already prepared podcast, or sometimes I prepared it myself. I have to admit, some of students are not familiar with my accent. They take some time to get familiar with it!!...but sure they have a big laugh of it!...Did she said that? I always joke that I am helping them to developed more their left side of the brain. The effect is always good. Because they will remember the material.
I am currently using other people voices in my podcast. Do you see yourself using podcast in your lessons? or while you learning something?
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I have similar feelings concerning podcasts and their effective use in the classroom as I did with flipped classrooms. I think in certain situations podcasts can help students to increase their understanding of particular concepts. I feel that certain subjects/grade levels lend themselves more to podcasts than others. Depending on the topic, it may be difficult to use podcasts in the place of traditional lectures/lessons and expect the same level of comprehension from the students. If visuals are necessary, whether it is a useful diagram or a mathematical problem being solved, I think a podcast will be ineffective (unless the podcast contains a video of course). In addition, there is always the uncertainty of students actually utilizing them, whether it is before or after class, but I think this will always be an issue no matter what the teaching approach is.
ReplyDeleteIf the discussion is more concept-based, I think podcasts may become valuable. I think they are especially useful as a supplement to a lecture. Students having access to these podcasts from anywhere they choose, and being able to listen to them as much as they would like, is something that this type of technology can offer that traditional approaches to learning cannot. In the future, I could see possibly using podcasts to support my lessons, but not in place of them. At this point, I don’t see myself asking my students to prepare one of their own in a chemistry class. However, I do think it would be useful for teachers to receive training in creating and using podcasts because it does open up more options for delivering instruction. Just because it may not be used all of the time does not mean that it will not be beneficial at all. In my opinion, it is a good idea to have an understanding of many teaching methods, so the option to change and adapt to different learning styles is always a possibility.
Yes, it can be used complement a lecture or to follow up one lesson. It can be heart in chemistry, but not impossible.
DeleteAs any pedagogical technique we used it when we feel is appropriate. And of course it depends of the lesson or topic. Some of the lessons require visualizations of the content, some of the lessons can go on without it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that offering instruction in a variety of formats ensures that an educator meets the needs of all students regardless of their preferred learning style. By integrating podcasts into your repertoire of teaching strategies those who are auditory learners have an opportunity to listen to the course content rather than having to rely solely on reading passages or notes. With a podcast the material comes to life, as the speaker can emphasize key ideas with the tones and sounds in their voice. For those who are struggling readers a podcast can change the way they approach materials and make them enthusiastic rather than reluctant to complete assignments.
ReplyDeleteIntroducing podcasts also allows students to access course content from their mobile devices. The students in my high school use their cell phones and iPods every chance they get. If they can play podcasts from class on these devices then they could be learning during their bus ride home, before soccer practice or while sitting in the waiting room at the dentist’s office. Podcasts take advantage of the technology that is available and eliminate some of the constraints that accompany having to lug around a textbook. I also like that podcasts can be listened to multiple times and give the listener the ability to fast forward to just the information that is needed to be heard again.
I definitely think teachers should see podcasts as a tool to assist in student learning. One teacher that I worked with created a podcast for every chapter that she assigned students to read for homework. I think it was advantageous for her students to hear these chapters read by her, as they were already familiar with her voice and style of teaching. It also allowed them to sit back and listen without being intimidated or overwhelmed by the words on the page. She easily uploaded them to her eBoard and both the students and their parents could click, download and listen to the podcast.
I also feel that there are quite a few teachers who are unaware of podcasts but who would readily embrace them especially if they knew about resources like iTunes U where they could access premade podcasts on a topic that they needed. While it may be a little more time consuming I think it is beneficial to create your own podcasts to clearly demonstrate an idea, in a way that a diagram, graph, or text can’t.
However, I believe it is important that teachers introduce students to podcasts during class time and not solely assign them for homework in order for the successful inclusion of podcasts into their curriculum. Without this introduction, it will be the responsibility of students to access the podcasts without fully knowing how they work or how helpful they can be. If they know what to expect I think the likelihood of them actually listening to them outside of the classroom will increase exponentially.
I am excited to start exploring podcast creating software and helping the teachers I work with incorporate podcasts into their lesson plans.
Yes, It is a great tool and easy to use once you become familiar with the software. You can even do it by phone.As teachers we have to explore different ways to engage our students.
DeleteAs we all know, students learn at different paces and different ways. No one learner is the same. I look at technology as a tool to help students learn. For those students who can sit and listen to a lecture and retain the information, great! But think of those students who struggle listening, focusing and paying attention. Podcast is a great tool for students are audio learners. It may not work for visual learners. It all depends on the situation.
ReplyDeleteIntroducing podcast to students would give them opportunities to use different types of technology and enable teachers to help students find tools to help in learning. Most of our students were born in the age of technology and they are so willing to use and learn everything about this techno world we live in.
I like the podcast for ELA. Listening to a audio book is another way of learning to read. My first podcast maybe reading a book.
I think the podcast ELA is the most popular nowadays. It is a great instrument to learn new languages also or hearing conferences.
DeleteI find podcasts to be a great tool for students. If you use a podcast to introduce new ideas for students, they are being exposed to a topic in general before delving into the details of a topic. This can benefit most students by providing them background information. Podcasts can also provide a tool for students to return to throughout a unit. I could see using a podcast in the beginning of a unit to have students gain an early understanding of the topic. Then, at the end of the unit, I would have students listen to the podcast again and see what else they can understand from the podcast which they may not have fully understood during the first listen. Podcasts can also allow students to pause, and revisit sections that may be more confusing then others. Students are able to learn at their own pace.
ReplyDeleteWhen assigning students a podcast, I would have them complete a chart similar to a KWL chart. Before they listen they would fill in the Know section. They would write down any background information they have on the main topic of the podcast. After they listen to the podcast, students would fill in a Learn column. They must fill in any information they now understand because of the podcast. Lastly, they would fill in a Want to know section where they write down any questions they have after listening to the podcast. This would provide for direction when students return to class the next day and will make sure all students are gaining a true understanding of the topic. I would first do this as an in class assignment in the beginning of the year. Modeling what I expect of students and completing a chart as a class. After we have done this, I would expect my students to be able to complete this assignment at home and come to class prepared to discuss the podcast.
what a great idea! using the Know Write Learn chart!...I think that fits perfectly to evaluate the uses of the podcasts!.
DeleteI found 'Podcast' as one of the effective strategies we can use to enhance students' learning in the classroom. Children always need a change in the monotonous way of teaching and that's why there is a need to bring change in the classrooms through innovative teaching-learning strategies. I am sure Podcast will definitely enhance students learning by catering their individual differences, where students will have a chance to listen to the podcast more than once, till they understand. Definitely an effective strategy - I would defintely use depending on the need of my students at university level!
ReplyDeleteGreat, take a close look to Itunes University, they have several podcast that are useful for university level lectures.
DeletePodcasts can be a great tool to use within the classrooms to introduce new topics or ideas. It is extremely beneficial to those auditory learners, however, the visual learners, not so much. By using podcasts sporadically will help break up the traditional teaching methods and allow for a new technological approach to teaching the students. All students learn at different paces, so bringing as much technology into the classroom as possible could be a great way to help different students learn. I think all teachers should become familiar with podcasts and begin to incorporate them into their lessons and notice that it can be used as a tool to aid students in their learning.
ReplyDeleteYes, As any pedagogical technique it should be used it when it needed. Students need to be exposed to several pedagogical techniques, podcasts, flipped lessons, and others
DeleteI think Podcasting is an interesting form of media. All kinds of students learn in a variety of ways, and for the auditory learner, Podcasting and/ or lecturing seems to be the best bet. As somewhat of an auditory learner myself, I found it a bit of a challenge to listen and follow intently to the Pod cast.
ReplyDeleteIn your article, you speak to the fact that only a small percentage of the students actually listened to the podcast. I believe that could a big hurdle for teacher to get over if they choose to use podcasts in their teaching. I suppose the same thing can be said for reading assignments as well, but appears that this could present a greater obstacle.
Listening to podcasts about humor, books, and other leisure activities seem to be the more popular uses currently for podcasts. I believe that it will take some time before podcasts are used in the mainstream educational setting.
Podcasts are actually being used more and more in some of the areas such as learning languages. I learn from a colleague that it is using flipped lesson in her classes, that students who do not watch the lessons are the same students who don't do their homework. I think that would be the same in the case of podcast assignments.
DeleteA Podcast is a great tool to get students to learn. Many students are auditory learners and process more information through listening. It is a phenomenal way to differentiate your classroom and introduce technology to your students. We can use these technology tools to extend learning both in the classroom and at home. Technology is here and it only going to get better. I believe teachers, once properly trained will see the benefit in using technology tools like a Podcast. They will be able to enhance their teaching skills, better meet student learning needs and learning standards. Teachers need to leave their comfort zone and embrace these new technological advances in the classroom. By doing so, they can better assist their students in reaching educational goals.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the key word "differentiate". Podcast is one alternative more to help differentiate instruction.
DeletePodcasting can be very beneficial to the student. It allows an individual to repeat a lecture or to clarify areas that they may have been misinterpreted the first time. It also accommodates a wide variety of learning strategies for students. Some students learn most effectively by taking notes during a lecture and reviewing on their own study time, others learn more effectively by active listening, without taking notes. Podcasting, however, has been argued to lead to passive learning with students focusing on the audio facility rather than actively engaging with the lecture content.
ReplyDeleteyes, another advantage to use a podcast is the act of repetition. Student will fell free to repeat a section as many times the wish!
DeletePodcasts, when done effectively I think can be used appropriately in the classroom. One of the limiting things linked to the use of podcasts is whether or not your school has the monetary funding to support this within the classrooms. Also, I think it takes a while to set one of these up, but the benefits of it would be that you have it forever. Either way it is a good thing to integrate in your classroom and can be useful in the future knowing this information.
ReplyDeletePodcasts are excellent teaching aids and are particularly important if teachers wish to flip their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteStudents are allowed to download lessons that they may use more than once, and archive them for future reference. This allows them to review and study material at will which may allow them to properly grasp content in their own time outside the classroom.
It reduces the need for note taking and may be more efficient in that it can cover content that was missed in class, and can help to clarify concepts that were not stressed in class.
These two reasons will allow the teacher to effortlessly flip their classroom, while allowing them to analyze how well they are teaching their lessons. The teacher can watch and review their podcasts and detect any gaps in the content they are delivering, and make the necessary corrections.
Teachers will in future adapt the podcast phenomena, as this will help to reduce the work load they have in the classroom. Constructivism is being championed by many educational institutions and the use of podcasts and their effectiveness will soon become a part of most curricula.
Art education is an important aspect of the overall education of children. It makes parents more involved in their children’s schoolwork by providing an area where parents do not feel a handicapped in assisting their children because of a lack of basic knowledge.
ReplyDeleteEducation Blog