Blog B. Podcasts

For this assignment I found two podcasts that together were 20 minutes long. They are both podcasts from the classroom; one being from a kindergarten class and the other a 7th grade class.

Giving Thanks for the Pilgrims & Wampanoags
This podcast was of a Kindergarten class under the instruction of teacher Kathy Shields. In the podcast the students have created a Thanksgiving story based on history that they have been learning about in the classroom. The students take you in character, from the pilgrims’ voyage over to America to the feast on Thanksgiving .It is obvious that the students have read books and have been taught about the 1620’s and the life of pilgrims. The students have taken all their knowledge and have created a story that conveys all that they have learned. There are pictures that go along with their podcast, and in the pictures students have dressed up as pilgrims, important people of the colony, and Native Americans. They speak in dialect that is true to what the pilgrims would have sounded like.
This podcast was very neat, because it was all student based. It was all the students conveying what they have been working hard at learning. I think it is a great idea to do something like this to assess if the students have really learned what they have been taught. Usually teachers make students write little reports about what they have learned. By making a play and also making a podcast, it allows for the students to actually have a little fun while still using what they have learned.

GIA Realia Museum
This podcast is of 7th grade students creating their own online museum of artifacts. Through the help of their teacher, donations, and visiting exhibits they have collected and photographed various worldly artifacts. They have photographed each artifact and have created a little blurb about what each artifact is. Through the podcast the students show the many artifacts while presenting an excerpt for each one explaining the significance of each artifact. They explain what the artifact is all about, from where it was created to what its significance is. This podcast allows for the students to share these unique artifacts with other students around the world. In the explanation of the podcast they mentioned that their virtual museum would soon turn in to a hardcover book. The students are not only sharing what they have learned with others through the podcast, but they are also creating a tangible piece of work. I think this is a great project for students because not only are they learning about these different worldly artifacts, but they are able to turn around and teach others what they have just learned, which I think is great!

Podcasts in the Classroom/ Literacy Instruction

I think the idea of using podcasts in the classroom is great! I really wish that when I was growing up in school we had the opportunity to make podcasts. Podcasts are really valuable because they are an alternate route to take instead of assessing students just by tests or writing papers. Podcasts allow for students who may not be so great at taking tests or writing papers to really convey all that they have learned. They also allow for the students to do something fun with what they have just studied and learned. Writing papers is not always fun or the most effective way to assess students. Even if you still wanted to make students write papers, then go the extra step and allow them to make podcasts of their papers. Have them read what they have just written on a podcast. It to me is just a change of scenery for the students. I think there is just so much that teachers can do with podcasts which is great! By listening to these podcasts, it just makes me excited to really learn how to use them and use them effectively in my own classroom.
Podcasts could also play a major part in teaching literacy instruction. To make a podcast, students cannot just say whatever they want to the camera. By using podcasts students learn how to speak correctly and also even perfecting their writing skills. The students have to create a correct script almost, for them to follow when reading to the camera. They have to learn how to properly speak as well. You want them to speak clearly and also slowly so that people watching their podcast will understand what they are trying to say.
So ultimately the use of podcasts encourages good reading skills, good writing skills, and lastly good speaking skills. These are all important skills that students need to master or be good at.

Podcasts in my Practicum Classroom:

1. In looking at ideas that I could do to incorporate podcasts into my practicum class, I find that there are so many ideas that I could do. One major idea that I think would work great is the idea of writing stories and then reading them on the podcasts for other students and parents to listen to. My students in my class are all about reading their stories out loud. They love to do it! I think this would be a great project for them. They would write a story and then we would record them. Then they could go home and listen to their story being told on the podcasts with their parents.
2. A second idea I have is, that at my school they do a thing called Tutorial where they go to a different classroom and learn something new. For example one day the class would go down to the kindergarten teacher and they would learn a new board game to play. My idea would be to have the students instead of playing the games themselves, they would create a podcast teaching another grade how to play the game they just learned. The students would split into groups and they would explain what the game was and how to play it. Not only would they teach how to play the game, they would talk about sportsmanship and how winning is not the point of playing board games. Their podcasts would be used as an instruction guide for another class. So instead of the kindergarten teacher teaching another class how to play these board games, the new students would listen to my class’s podcast.
3. Another idea would be, they are beginning a unit on inventors/inventions so I would have them pick a famous inventor. They would have to do research on their inventor. Once the students have all their inventors researched I would have them make a podcast with them pretending to be the inventor. They will explain who they are, why they are famous, and how one of their inventions worked. At the end I would compile all the students ‘podcast together to make one. Other classes/students/parents would be able to listen and learn about many inventors.
4. A simple idea would be for the students to make a podcast of the school’s rules and also the classroom’s rules.
5. Lastly an idea I would use is it would incorporate podcasts with pictures. Seeing how I have two hearing impaired students in my classroom I would create a project working with our interpreter, where the students would create a podcast teaching simple every day words in sign language. They would say their word then they would do the correct sign for the word. This podcast would be helpful to anyone new coming into the classroom(like me!!)..

Integrating Computers into the Classroom

Option 1:
In my second grade class, they are now doing a unit on inventions and famous inventors. I am thinking that I would allow for the students to research famous inventors in Maine on the internet. They would use the internet along with reference books as resources for finding information on their particular inventor. Then individually they would choose one of the inventions that their inventor is famous for, and they would make a model of that particular invention. Then using the I-movie program on the computer, they would make a movie about their inventor and the invention. In the movie they would dress up like the inventor, and would explain a little about the inventor’s life. They would also explain what their invention is and how it works. This activity allows for the students to research on the internet, and also use a creative program within the computer.

Option 2:
An idea for incorporating computers into a writing assignment or unit would be the use of podcasts in the classroom. For this assignment, the students would be working on writing a narrative story about a favorite trip they have taken. The assignment would start off like any writing assignment; they would brainstorm and then they would work on writing their stories. Then, once students were done writing their stories and had met all the requirements, their next step would be to use podcasts. On the podcasts the student would be able to record their story that they had written. Through using the podcasts students are learning about a new tool and also with the posting of the podcasts, family members would be able to go and listen to their students’ work. It encourages students to learn about technology and it also allows for the parents to be involved in their student’s work.

Option 3:
Another option for integrating computers into curriculum would be the simple idea of writing stories on the computer. Instead of having students write in journals or in a notebook, have them sit at a computer and type their story. Their stories do not have to be long, but enough for them to get used to using the computer and word documents. While sitting at a computer doing writing, it just mixes things up for the students. They will think that typing on the computer is super cool; it is just a change of scenery for them. We also talked about websites and programs that allow for students to make webs when first starting writing. They can use programs like Inspiration and create webs that will help them find ideas to write about. Then when it comes time to actually type their story, they can navigate around Word and figure out how things work. They are doing a simple task of writing, yet they are learning another tool using technology.

Option 4:
We had talked about in class the idea of using Wiki Jr. for younger students. For a unit on the rainforests, I would allow the students to pick a particular aspect about rainforests (i.e. animals, plants, climate, food etc). The students would do their own research on the topic (in class). Then they would create a Wiki Jr. page for their particular topic. They would touch upon the most important information about their specific topic. We would post their individual Wiki sites on the internet for all to see. Their parents and other schoolmates would be able to look at all the hard work they had done researching for their topic and also the hard work they had done creating an educational page.

Option 5:
Another simple option for integrating computers into curriculum is allowing students to work on online activities. A subject that kids would think they would not be able to work on the computers with is Math. Instead of having students sit at their desk working on boring math worksheets allow them to work on the computer. There are websites that allow for children to practice mathematical skills. The teacher would have to research ahead of time to find appropriate web pages that allow for the students to still learn and practice their math, but they are out there. Again it is a simple way for kids to get used to using computers and allows them to get away from their desk and have a little fun while still learning.