What's a podcast?

Back from Spring Break, it's so hard to get rolling again!!

Right after I suggest podcasting to a teacher, the most frequent question I get asked is, "what's a podcast?" It's come to be a question I dread because most of the time the person I'm talking with doesn't like my answer. First, I relate it to a radio show, then I give examples of the few I've worked on. I think part of the problem comes when I start explaining about the recording process, which isn't hard! But that seems to be the point where I lose my audience.

It can be frustrating, because I know what a great tool they are! I've seen students get really creative and use their imaginations to their fullest potential. They really get into the process and start watching what they're saying, and then the recording has to be just right, and the music has to be awesome (in their opinion). This all shows me that the student wants to achieve and take the time to learn something new. What kid isn't going to love talking into a microphone? They eat it up!

Here are the benefits to podcasting:

• The students still have to do the writing process
• The student can be as creative as they want
• The student becomes instantly more engaged in the curriculum
• Students learn across curriculums

Some great stuff! So why the initial hesitation? Fear of the unknown? Fear of technology? What would make you use this tool in the classroom?

I use podcasts almost daily, both professionally and personally. I use them to continue my education. Every once in a while I will run into a website that offers a podcast of a seminar that someone did. I download it and listen at lunchtime, or on the way home, or when I'm exercising. I'm recently found out about Conference Connections, a free way to listen to speakers from educational conferences around the globe. In January I had planned to go to FETC, but I couldn't really afford it and I was already going to two others later in the year. But I didn't miss out! I type conference connections into itunes and viola! There are recordings (or podcasts!) of the speaker's presentation. I also use it to keep up on movie news. Did you know Teller of Penn and Teller is directing MacBeth at the Folger Theater in DC? Neither did I until I listened to an interview on my way to New Jersey recently. How cool is that?