Podcasting can be very useful in the media center in many ways. Book talks, storytimes, news, displaying work, and much more can be spotlighted using podcasts. The beauty of podcasts is that they can be saved to a blog, staff drive or website and accessed at a time that is convenient for the user.
Often, teachers are not aware of new books in the media center. They may not always be aware of items that are available on a specific subject or standard that is being covered. Book talks are a great way for students and teachers to learn about new books, or about books on a specific subject. The media specialist could use podcasts as a medium for book talks to create interest in new or specific books.
Getting to the media center for stories can be difficult for some teachers. Media specialists could create a storytime podcast for younger students. Creating a storytime in the format of a podcast can allow the teacher to access the story when it fits her schedule, rather than attempting to schedule time in the media center.
Podcasts can be a great learning tool. Students love to use technology and it can sometimes inspire even the most reluctant learners. Teachers and media specialists can collaborate and create podcasts to help students to further develop their reading fluency skills, writing fluency skills, and knowledge of other content areas. Students can share their writing or other products on the podcast with the school.
In schools, students often display their work in the media center or in the halls of the schools. Providing a podcast about the projects can help students to show off what they have learned. It can also generate interest from other students. Podcasts could also be used to give information about displays and exhibits that are at, or soon coming to, the media center.
Many media specialists are charged with the task of organizing the morning news (or announcements) in schools. Using podcasts during the morning news can be a great way to share upcoming events. Details about PTA meetings, fund raisers, family events and much more can all be shared through a podcast. Then podcasts can relate information about an event that has recently occurred. Students could even conduct interviews with staff and students for the podcast.
Podcasts could be a great way for media specialists to participate in professional development. They could also create podcasts to help staff learn about new resources available through the media center.
The two main factors that I think make a podcast useful, is that they are convenient and accessible for teachers, media specialists, students and other staff. They can inspire interest in students and be a great vehicle for relaying information.
In reply to Stephanie Warmoth
ReplyDeleteThere are two prevailing themes in this post about podcasts:
1. the convenience they afford to podcast users and those who create them
2. the limitless possibilities for the dissemination of educational subject matter through podcasts
Making a podcast for others is a convenient way to make information accessible. A podcast can be edited and remade before publication to ensure that it is effective for communicating its intended message. Morning newscasts are a problem at my school because they are broadcast live from the studio. We have only five minutes for the morning news and announcements, and frequently there is so much flubbing and giggling during the broadcast that the message is lost.
Podcasts can be prerecorded so that the announcements come across more effectively. If the students mess up a podcast recording, they can do it over until it is in its best possible form
I think it is very important to respect the users’ precious time and schedules by having information available that they can access at their convenience. It is time for inservice meetings and time consuming review sessions to give way to more user-friendly and accessible self-paced learning.
Teachers can post mini podcast lessons and reviews to their blogs for students have missed classes and those who need a review for whatever reason. The media center blog should have a podcast section for information literacy tutorials, i.e., virtual library use, finding a book, the Dewey Decimal System, PowerPoint tips, book talks, etc. Teachers, media specialists, and administrators can post a podcast to the staff drive or email them to the staff so they can learn or review skills, i.e., using equipment, collaboration techniques, accessing the OPAC, etc.