Technology In Our Society

Podcasting 101 for K-12 Librarians

Key Findings: This article describes how many librarians are not familiar with the latest technology known as Podcast. Furthermore, the article notes that many librarians do not have access nor have they previously listened to a Podcast.   Podcast as defined by the New Oxford American Dictionary as ?a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player?.  To a lay person the meaning of podcast is simply a digital audio file that is created, shared, and heard any time an individual wants to listen to music. 

Many podcast can range in duration from a few minutes to several hours and usually contains voice, music, sounds, video and photos. Podcast are portable and they can go anywhere and librarians benefit from this tool being portable.  The program Podcast 101 was implemented into several schools to help librarians understand the basics of Podcasting and encourage their usage while integrating information and technology resources within the curriculum.  Students are very effective users of podcast.  Students eagerly engage in their own learning while using podcast. 

As students create podcast, students learn to research, write, develop vocabulary, speak effectively, manage time, solve problems, and grab attention.  Students become very effective in using the podcast; they often become teachers as they assist others during implementation stages.  The author noted several reasons why podcast should be used in the school libraries they are as followers:  promoting the library ? for book reviews, reading incentive programs, and connecting librarians to student achievements; using student products to share learning ? student podcast can include interviews, dramatization of students creative writing, and observation about the learning process; providing professional development ? on demand tutorial, book group discussion guide, presentations from outside professional, and discussion of educational issues.  

The eight steps to creating your own podcast are as follows: gather the required hardware and software, decide on the content, practice, record the podcast, test the podcast, publish the podcast to share your good work, promote the podcast, and evaluate and learn from your mistakes. Podcast are growing in popularity and its technology.

Applying the lesson: This new tool serves as a unique option to opening educational possibilities to young and old alike. Podcast enables learning by allowing students to obtain information beyond the traditional lecturing format. This tool is apart of the current products that are used by today?s generation. They are in the family of products such as iPods, MP3 players, and other digital players. To use Podcast in educational settings transfers the recreational use of technology and opens new options for educators to teach students. In order to tap into the interest of this and future generation of students it will take some outside the box ideas about classrooms, teaching, and learning in the 21st century.  Since students are already familiar with using many of today?s new products and their functionality integrating podcast into the curriculum would be fairly easy.  Using podcast will be an excellent tool to use when students are absent from class and need the class notes; furthermore, podcast would be a great tool for students to reflect on what they learned. The access to playback gives the student a great resource for accurate review of the educational material at anytime.  Posting of Podcast files online allow the ability to retrieve lessons remotely if desired.

Posted at 04:57PM Nov 18, 2006 by ljgladne in General  |  Comments[0]