Simply defined, podcasting is the making and use of a podcast. Now to define the definition: a podcast is an audio file that can be downloaded and stored as an MP3 file. Many churches nowadays are utilizing the podcasting technology and are posting podcasts of sermons on their websites. Podcasting is another mode of storing and/or sharing audio in a way that facilitates easy access.
Someday in my very own classroom I plan on using podcasts in many different ways. First of all, podcasts will be useful to students who are audio learners. If I teach a mostly visual lesson than I could instruct audio learners to listen to a podcast on the very same topic to reinforce what they learned in the initial lesson. Secondly, I could post a podcast on the class website that accompanies a worksheet and ask the students to listen to the podcast and fill out the worksheet as homework. My third idea was that I could post a podcast on the class website as an alternative communication option with my student's parents.
Pros:
1) Podcasts are an advantage in the classroom because they appeal to the audio learners.
2) Podcasts are handy because they can be accessed from any location.
3)Podcasts can be based on any subject.
Cons:
1)When used as a step-by-step/how-to instructive aid, the help is only auditory and there are no visuals to further explain the process. That means that the words must be thorough and well thought out so that they transmit exactly what they are meant to.
2)In order to podcast or listen to a podcast, one must have access to a computer.
3) Podcasting is solely visual and opens the door for students to get distracted, having nothing to occupy their hands with.
The podcasts we created in class are only auditory. However, podcasts can also be visual. The methods available of producing video podcasts are not the same as the auditory-only type. Both have their places.
ReplyDeleteI like your plans for using podcasts in the classroom!