Podcasts gives us the ability to allow several people to share information and interact with each other online. All that is required is an internet connection. Podcasts are especially convenient for those who have hand held devices, in that they could download and watch podcasts, while on the go. The big advantage of a podcast is that it is available for download and viewing at anytime. This is a great resource for teachers to use for recording activities, lectures or instructions that could be viewed by students and/or parents at their convenience and repeated times. This is a great tool for the student who perhaps was absent from a class or needs to revisit information about and assignment or project instructions. Podcasts could be useful for students who are easily distracted in the classroom, to revisit the lesson when they are in a place that would allow for better concentration.
While podcasts are similar to Web 2.0 applications, such as blogs and wikis in that they enable multiple people to interact and respond online, they would also appeal to learners that prefer an auditory delivery of information, as well as a visual. With a blog a student can read about a lesson, read instruction for an assignment or a project and interact by typing reponses. However, with a podcast a student could not just read the information but see and hear the recorded version. I would think that most students would find this to be a more entertaining way of obtaining the information. The best part of podcast is it is available to everyone worldwide for viewing, free of charge. The ability to perhaps communicate with another classroom across the world using podcasting, is lesson in itself and would be very enlightening to students.
I personally don't own an iPod or a MP3 player (of course all my children have them) but I have seen them utilized in the classrooms for instructional use. Both seem to be effective methods for instructing students in a way they appeals to their interests and learning styles. The students are using the technology in their personal life, why not use it in their academic life?
The disadvantage of using technology is that it tends to take away form the personal connections that students make when they work face to face with other students. While technological advances may allow students the ability to communicate with multiple people at various times of the day , it doesn't allow students to practice interpersonal skills such as working face to face with a partner or team. This could contribute to poor social skills, lack of communication skills and the inabilty to learn to work with others.
I am also concerned about the disadvantages of using too much technology. I am always telling my boys to get off the computer and come join the family. I believe in balance and hope to teach students to have that in their lives. I agree that social and communication skills are extremely important to our students success in their adult lives and hope to be able to teach the teamwork concept using technology while modeling it use too.
ReplyDeleteKimberly Graf
I do like the idea of using podcasting to communicate to class rooms around the world. With the different time zones, children in England could communicate and see the students here (and visa versa). This would bring a new twist on "pen-pal" class rooms. After a few weeks of e-mailing back and forth, asking questions, they could begin a visual communication. Show the look of the school, the class room, play ground, and students. What an exciting time we live.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very fine balance, I agree, and to find that balance is a challenge. In the school I work I see some teachers refuse to branch out and use the technology available and I see other over use it. We can NOT allow ourselves to depend on technology to do all the work. We are there to teach our students and should only be using technology to enhance that effort, not replace it.