Podcasts (and Vodcasts too…)
One of the most enjoyable class projects I did last year was in my Film Studies class. We had just finished a series of lessons on the principles of cinematography and editing, and I was looking for a way for my students to demonstrate what they had learned. I asked the class how many of them had digital cameras and about 7 or 8 hands rose around the room. So the next day, based on who had access to a camera, I assigned them into groups, gave them a digital camera and told them to make a movie, demonstrating what they knew about editing and cinematography. I didn’t want them to use digital video, just the still pictures option. This way, they could tell a story through editing techniques and visual language. I only gave the students a few days to finish this assignment. They took their pictures one day, and edited them together with Windows Movie Maker the next two days. And I told them that I would post some of the best on Youtube for the world to see.
I was honestly surprised with the results. Some groups took a more fun approach, others made serious pieces of art, some slacked off (typical seniors), but I think they all learned something with their videos. Here are a couple of the winners that were posted on Youtube. Each of these videos currently has over 400 views on Youtube…so they haven’t hit the big-time yet…but I’m sure it’ll happen soon. :)
So what does this have to do with you? Your classes aren’t studying film (maybe they are, I don’t know), and you can’t think of any reason to use technology like this in your classroom.
Well, I’m here to set you straight.
Establishing a multimedia presence on the Internet can be as simple and straightforward as writing a blog or publishing a webpage. Many of the tools you need are at your school, or easily acquired, and don’t even have a steep learning curve. If you can use a blog, you are not too far away from establishing your first Podcasts…or even Vodcasts.
How do I start?
The Equipment necessary to create a Podcast is minimal. You need a computer with an internet connection…a microphone…and that’s about it. To make a video, add a digital camera to the list (can be a still or digital video camera, doesn’t matter). For audio, you can use the free software Audacity on a Windows PC, or Garageband for a Mac. For video, you can use Windows Movie Maker for your PC or IMovie for your Mac. There a multiple “Howto” guides on the Web to help you get started. This is one of the best I’ve found.
Once you have your materials, begin!
What do I talk about?
Well, anything really. But it can’t hurt to look around and see what is out there. The Education Podcast Network is a great place to start to see how other educators are using podcasts in their classrooms. Look at LibriVox to see if your class would like to perform a Radio Style reading of a classic piece of literature. Take a course at UC Berkeley without leaving your office. Or spend some time browsing on Youtube, where I’ve seen reenactments of Twelve Angry Men, Macbeth, and Othello. While some of these options seem more performance-oriented than you may wish for, there are many other ways to use Podcasts in your classroom. You could provide recordings of your lectures on your website to students who miss classes or are on homebound or allow stage-shy students to give presentations through a video. Your options are wide-open.
If the idea of podcasting seems a little clearer to you now, what are some of your ideas? How could this be useful in your classroom?
We’re working with movie maker in this class. Your class videos have inspired me to try to use it with my Creative Writing class. They’d love doing something like yours! I’m not sure how to get access to them. If I email you in the next couple weeks, will you explain how?
Comment by Nancy Swanson | March 12, 2007
Scott, your presentation was so very interesting tonight. I wonder if you really understand the scope of difficulty that you present to older teachers like me. It is hard to comprehend. I think what you are doing is wonderful. I know the students learn from this approach. One way I cope with the new technology is to work with student teachers because they can bring the technology into the clasroom and to me. I teach 130 ten year olds each semester. I would have to go at this on the simiplest terms, like one poem..just an idea..and I don’t really have the computers for it…but I could go to the computer lab..it would take some planning. Thanks for sharing with us tonight.
Comment by Elizabeth Finley | March 12, 2007