Changing the Classroom, One Podcast at a TIme

I must admit, I did not know a whole lot about podcasting until reading the articles posted in this forum. Every once in a while, I would catch an advertisement on a newscast to “visit our website and watch the podcast”. I have used podcasts in my Grade 9 Geography classroom, mostly relevant stories that I had found on CBC News, however I also had the perception that podcasts usually included video. I now know that this is not the case, and that there is an immense collection of podcasts including audio only, audio with images, and of course videos.

So, in the spirit of integrating this technology in the classroom, I made a list of the benefits that I feel have the most impact.

1. Podcasts can “change student perceptions of audience.” (Fryer, p. 1)
One of teachers’ favourite questions is the same question that students’ despise. I’m speaking of: “Explain your thinking.” When posting information on the internet for everyone to hear (and see applicable), students are not only communicating to the teacher, but their peers as well, and potentially a global audience. This encourages them to be aware of different varying degrees of knowledge and perspectives of their audience. They are motivated to explain their points more thoroughly, opposed to assuming audience (being normally the teacher) knows what they mean.

2. Time/place choice
Podcasts have the power to change the classroom from a fixed location in space and time to a flexible location, giving more control to the learner. At the high school level, there has been much discussion about the time at which school should begin. You may recall the Toronto District School Board delaying the start time of one of their high schools to 10:00 a.m. to maximize student alertness during school time. (See Toronto Star Article, and CP24 Article)

Another benefit is that podcasts extend learning beyond the classroom walls. Students have the opportunity to create their own learning environment.

3. “No-frills communication” (Fryer, p. 3)
Audio podcasting forces students to communicate effectively without the use of visual aids. This encourages them to explain their ideas and/or understanding of concepts thoroughly. In Math, this would also be a useful method for encouraging students to learn and use the proper vocabulary related to the subject.

In conclusion, I have realized that I have underestimated the power of explicit audio learning. Podcasts offer a new and novel way to incorporate this learning style into my teaching. Upon further research and collaboration with colleagues, I hope the post a list of fun and interesting ways of incorporating technology for the audio learner.

Stay tuned☺

Marcia

Source:
Fryer, Wesley A. Tools for the Teks: Integrating Technology in the Classroom.