Instructional Technology Ponderings

Archive for March, 2008

Mar 19 2008

Podcasting

Published by teresacoffman under podcasting

This semester, I am beginning to introduce more Web2.0 tools to my teacher educators. Many of these tools provide simple ways to integrate technology into a K12 classroom without a lot of stress and more important - a low learning curve. As all teachers know, more time needs to be spent planning instructional strategies and ensuring that students are learning and achieving in a class - not spending a lot of time trying to get something to work or to figure something out. As a result, another tool that my instructional technologies course explored was a Web-based podcasting.

Podcasting allows recordings to be distributed via the internet. Users can subscribe to a cast, through a syndication feed (RSS), which will inform users of new episodes. Podcasts can be listened to on a computer or a portable device such as an MP3 player.

The possibilities in a classroom setting are as immense as a teacher and a students imagination. My students had a great time with this activity and created some interesting podcasts. They used Pod-O-Matic a free tool that is Web-based.

Here is an example of a student’s podcast

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

For some other examples and ideas take a look at the resources below

Just another tool to get you thinking about integrating technology in your classroom

One response so far

Mar 14 2008

Screencasts

Published by teresacoffman under screencast

My students have created some very interesting tutorial screencasts - on the basics of excel - last week. A screen cast is the process of creating a movie of your computer screen. This simple task can be used for many purposes with your students or even by your students. Jon Udell got screencasting up and running. He has created several meaningful screencasts himself and has some really good tutorials on screencasting to get you up and running.This is there first time my students created a screencast. Each student had a good experience screencasting and shared some possibilities for its use in the classroom. Below is one example of what my students accomplished.