Podcasting in the classroom

The podcast activity, whilst time consuming, was beneficial.  I can see how one podcast can get kids interested in learning about a topic.  By using some carefully chosen words – in this case “Poo”, I hope to get my grade 5/6/7 kids interested in Science, Arts and English.

I have chosen a podcast from the ABC’s New Inventors Program.   

Click here for the ABC new Inventors Program Podcast

I only plan to show the first invention which is a ‘poo catcher’.  It was invented by a man who hurt his shoulder and could no longer pick up horse manure using a shovel.

The focus of the program is getting a good idea, inventing a product to satisfy a consumer need and then and perhaps most importantly, marketing the product. The following activities could follow this podcast viewing.

1. Coming up with an idea for a product we need
2. Inventing the product,
3. Create a marketing campaign.

We as teachers may need to put some boundaries around the invention otherwise we could be doing the unit all year. Alternatively you could just have your students do one component of the above eg, the marketing campaign for the poo catcher or designing modifications to the product based on science. These could include making it lighter, better manoeuvrability etc.

Podcasts can also be used in other ways, not just to introduce a topic. Some ideas might include:-

1. Assess students and train teachers in literacy development
2. Assess students speaking abilities in Languages Other Than English (Japanese students can upload their speaking test into a wiki for the teacher to mark)
3. Record the students homework activities as a podcast for them to listen to on their ipods or laptops.
4. Create a group song or story, that students need to research and collaborate on together.
5. Encourage students to work as news reporters in radio media (as per Robyn’s example in the discussion forum this week).

Of course I can see some issues with the podcasting. Perhaps not all students will have access to ipods or laptops and technology can let us down at the best of times.