Week 8: Podcasting

Podcasts are audio files that can be downloaded to any computer or MP3 player and listened to anytime, anywhere. They are relatively easy to make and can be about any topic. Many schools in the United States have started using them and they can facilitate contact between people around the world as well. Oftentimes, all you need to do is subscribe to them. You can suscribe to them based on favorite programs, specific creators or even by certain topics. Whenever a new podcast is made, the computer can record it just like a vcr would record specific programs.

Creating podcasts is not very hard, but there are certain factors that peple should keep in mind when creating them. Environment is important. A lot of times, people get used to background noise and forget that it is there when they are making a podcast. It's important to turn cellphones off, make sure fans and air conditioners are not too noisy and tell people when you're recording so that they don't interrupt you. You should also have a script already written, and it's good to keep in mind your tone and who your audience is. After you record something, you can edit and cut things out or change the order of the audio. Another important aspect is to keep in mind copyright laws and make sure that you are taking music or other features legally. Once your podcast is ready you can link it on a blog or website and students or clients can listen to it.

As a future teacher, it is important to know how beneficial podcasts can be in the classroom. They can be extremely useful in ESOL classes and allow students to learn English faster and easier. Kids can listen to them outside of school as well, which is important since foreign students often don't speak English outside of school. Podcasts can also be used to help students review for tests and can help them keep up with work that was done while they were absent.

The advantages are that they are useful for language development, students can access them even when they are absent and they can encourage kids to go more in depth on certain topics that may interest them. Podcasts can allow students to publish their work anywhere and give them a sense of pride, knowing that their work can be used by people around the world. The major issue with podcasts is that they take time to make. Editing programs can be challenging at first and teachers have to learn how to use them so that they can teach their students. Oftentimes, teachers don't have extra time to write scripts, do research and practice before recording. However, those teachers that do take time to create podcasts,can greatly enhance their students' ability to learn.

This is a good video about podcasting. It gave really good examples of the advantages of podcasting in the classroom. It's a little long, but I thought that it was very informative.

Podcasting in the classroom