Web.+2.0+-+Podcasts+in+the+Classroom

Apple Computers have transformed the world and have revolutionized the world of education. With the creation of Itunes and the Ipod, Apple has made thier company a household name. Podcasts are one creation that Apple introduced that are used by educators across the world on a daily basis. Podcasts are audio and video broadcasts that can be played on an iPod. ( [] ) These broadcasts are used in many classrooms to introduce material or serve as a supplement to traditional classroom instruction. Podcasts in Use: This PodCast was found on YouTube and shows how a group of 4 graders created a PodCast to correspond with their reading assignment. "This project is based on a book read in the classroom: "Seesaw Girl" written by Linda Sue Park. Each group of students were assigned a chapter or two, that they would be illustrated, using selected pictures imported in KidPix, then interpreted and narrated using GarageBand as a podcast project." ([|http://www.youtube.com]) @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG33oX14p7I Pros and Cons of Podcasts  I believe that podcasts have many pros and cons which teachers must consider when deciding if they should implement them into their classroom lessons. If we look at the cons first, which are greatly out weighed by the pros, we see that the use of podcasts require a good deal of technology which is not often available to teachers due to budget constraints. A second con which may keep teachers from intergrating this technology is if they are teaching with a podcastthey have to have space in which to record and produce those podcasts.([]) A third con to using podcasts are that the listener does not get to see the words instead, they can only hear the words. This could cause problems for teachers whose students are visual learners and need to see the words to retain meanings and imporve comprehension. There are numerous pros to using podcasts in the classroom. The first being students can upload the video to their iPods and then can carry the lesson with them to any place they go providing them with continuous opportunities to improve their reading. A second pro of Podcasts is that when used in the classroom the lesson can offer some differntation from the teacher being the sole individual to introduce the story. A third and final pro to Podcasts in the classroom is it gets the learner away from the computer. This is important in that students are not confined to certain areas all day and do not have a chance to move and to see something different throughout their day. ‍ Uses of Podcasts

 Podcasts have many possible uses in the classroom. The first benefit I would see to them is to use them in differenitated instruction. If you have a class full of mixed ablilty student being able to give them assignments customized to their learning ability would allow you to work with small groups of students at a time. A second use could to supplement reading for students who do not like to follow along with their books. Using a Podcast would allow you to combine technology and reading together.