Posted by David Wetzel
Like everything dealing with education technology in the classroom there are always tricks and tips to ensure success – this includes Podcasting!
Tips: Preliminary Steps before Jumping In
First Tip – for podcasting is to simply listen to other educational podcasts, if you have not already used them in your classroom. This will give you an idea of what other teachers are doing with their students.
The best place to visit is iTunes education. This service is free and worth the preliminary effort before jumping into the process.
Second Tip – is the first few podcasts typically take 3 – 4 weeks to produce. So you should aim to make one podcast a month to start. Once you and your students are more familiar with the process, the production time is much shorter.
It is always best to hold a couple of workshops with students to practice making podcasts and to test the production process.
Third Tip – is to prepare podcast planning sheets for you and your students to use when preparing podcasts. A good planning sheet includes the podcast number, title, and outline or script.
Fourth Tip – is to limit podcasts to less than 10 minutes, preferably 5 – 6 minutes, to avoid student loss of attention.
The following are the tricks to success.
Planning: A Three Step Process
There are three major steps you need to focus on in podcasting to ensure desired learning outcomes.
Step One – is the Pre-Production stage and involves:
- Determine the purpose of the podcast.
- Have students work in groups.
- Brainstorm ideas with students.
Step Two – is the Production stage and involves:
- You or your students create rough scripts for use during the Podcast. You or your students can improvise and change the script during the recording process.
- Hold recording session to produce the Podcast.
- Edit audio content as desired.
Step Three – is the Post Production stage and involves:
- Post audio file content to web server for publication.
- Use RSS to publish Podcast information to Podcasting directory.
- Use iTunes to subscribe to and download Podcast.
- Let other science or math teachers in your school or school district know about you and your students’ podcasts.
Recording: Additional Tricks to Podcast Success
The following are tricks to ensure recording success for both teacher and student.
- Use a Clear Chat USB Microphone Headset by Logic Tech ($40.00).
- Know your segment VERY well or memorized.
- Speak slowly and clearly so your audience can understand you.
- Do not touch or move the microphone. You will hear it on the recording.
- Be quiet if you are not the speaker. The microphone is sensitive and will pick up any little noises in the background.
- Avoid rustling your papers when at the microphone. Put the paper on the table if you need to read from it.
- Be interested in what you are saying – your voice will show it if you’re not!
- Do not move around when speaking into the microphone- plant your feet!
- Don’t get too close to the microphone. It will distort your voice and your audience won’t be able to understand you.
Podcast Software: Programs for Creating a Podcast
The following are software programs designed for creating podcasts.
GarageBand – select New Project and then Podcast. This program provides for easy integration music and images.
Audacity – is a free program designed for recording and editing audio files.
Next Blog Post: Tricks and Tips for Podcasting Part 2
Additional Resources
How to Integrate Podcasting into Science and Math Classes
Podcasting in Science and Math Classes
Posted by David Wetzel
Most of today’s students either own or use iPods, iPod Touches, MP3 Players, and computers everyday. These digital tools provide a natural strategy to support student learning - Podcasts!
Integrating podcasts in science and math classes is a good way to support student learning, because it leverages the fact today’s students are digital citizens.
In a recent survey, Forbes.com found K-12 students spend more time during the week on the Internet and using digital tools (cell phones, computers, iPods, etc.) than watching TV. This is why today’s students are considered digital citizens.
Teaching: Strategies for Using Podcasts
The following are teaching strategies for podcasts in science or math.
- Audio and/or video reviews for tests - accomplished by providing a downloadable podcasts on the class web page or wiki.
- Audio recordings of science lectures in MS and HS - accomplished by teacher wearing wireless microphone during lectures. Then editing and converting the recording into a podcast for students to listen to later as a review.
- Video recording of math lectures and reviews in MS and HS - accomplished by teacher wearing wireless microphone and video taping lectures or saving interactive white board slides. Then editing and converting the video into a podcast for students to refer to later when completing homework assignments or as a review.
- Audio class newsletter - for parents to access on the class web page or wiki. This does two things - saves paper and keeps newsletters out lockers and trash cans. The newsletters have a greater chance of being read by parents.
- Audio/Video Sub Plans - entire or partial lessons are recorded for subs to use in class. This also does two things - it is just like your are there and it forces subs to follow your teaching plan. The reality is we all know when it comes to subs - “…it is like opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get!”
Learning: Ways Students Use Podcasts
The following are ways students use podcasts to support their learning science or math concepts.
- Student groups create a specific potion of a unit studied in class. These podcasts provide a downloadable review for students to use when studying for a unit test. The podcasts are posted on the class web page or wiki. Each podcast should be limited to 5 - 6 minutes to promote clear and concise summary of key concepts.
- Students create a podcast to supplement their research and findings during science or math project based learning activities.
- Students use a podcast to complete science or math case studies using information provided in a podcast to help them solve a problem.
- Students create a class newsletter related to concepts learned in class. Accomplishes two things - students must apply concepts to real world applications in newsletter stories and parents have better understanding of what their kids are learning science or math.
- Students create a virtual tour related to a science or math unit. For example - rainforests, landfills, geometry found on the playground, algebra applications in a skate park, etc.
- Students create mnemonic rap songs to help learn concepts. For example - ROYGBIV.
Benefits of Podcasts
So what are the benefits of podcasting (audio and/or video) in science and math classes?
- Reinforces concepts studied in class for both auditory and visual learners.
- Reinforces writing and reading skills as students prepare their own podcast scripts.
- Increasing parent communication, since parents have access to the class web page or wiki.
- Provides another teaching and learning strategy for helping students in being successful in science or math.
Why Use Podcasts?
It is time to take advantage of our students’ status as digital citizens. Students use iPods, iPod Touches, MP3 players, and computers everyday; use these digital tools to create podcasts to support teaching and learning.
Additional Resources
Tips and Tricks for Podcasting
Podcasting in Science and Math Class
Posted by David Wetzel
This has been the best month every for the Teach Science and Math Blog. Unique visitors have exceeded 2,700 and page views have exceeded 5,400.
I want to thank all those who visited and ask you share this blog with others. Hopefully you and others will keep returning as the blog becomes a valuable resource for educators, parents, students, and those who are just interested in science and math.
Top Posts for March
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10 Math Applications for the iPod Touch
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Project Based Learning - Math Activities
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Podcasting in Science and Math Classes
See How Easily You Can Create a Project Based Learning Activity
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