Podcasts and Vidcasts

What?

Today we learned about pod casts and vidcasts. It was interesting to realize how quickly technology changes and how ipods continue to upgrade and change. We also learned to shop around when purchasing these items, because there is an enormous difference in prices, and to shop wisely you really need to check several retail stores and sites on the Internet. I enjoyed talking about the various ways vidcasts and pod casts could be used in the classroom and in education. I believe they are amazing and are a great tool to help keep students informed and stay informed about the class when they are absent.

Then What?

I hope that I will be able to use the vidcasts to help in working with my students. I think it would be such a great experience for my students to be able to collaborate and make an educational video or podcast that can be used in our classroom. I feel that by being involved in making a project the students will feel good about their contribution and they will have ownership in the project. I also feel that by making pod casts for my absent students they will be able to understand difficult subjects without having to take class time to repeat --for students who missed the initial lesson. Post casts and vidcasts give more options to the educator on how they want to present information to their students. I enjoyed being able to work together to think of an educational vidcast. It was interesting and amazing to be able to make a film and submit it to YouTube. Very fun to see the end result and learn this technology--it will be very useful in my class.


Now What?

As a teacher I will be actively working to engage my students and find out what they are interested in--and encourage them to explore the unknown. I feel that by allowing my students to create their own vidcasts/pod casts they will open a whole new world up. They can help in creating projects that will help enrich our lessons and help them learn in hands on experiences. I will definitely film some lessons so if students struggle or are gone, they will be able to watch the podcast or vidcast and hopefully be able to have another opportunity to understand and learn. I think it is such a great tool, I have actually used vidcasts on YouTube to learn algebra this semester in my college algebra course. It doesn't replace a great teacher who is engaged in teaching, but it does give you opportunities for additional learning time outside of the classroom. All in all I feel that any additional educational pod casts and vidcasts are a great option for students and teachers.


Video Reflection

"Why let kids blog?"
This was a good video to help you see all of the benefits of giving students the opportunity to blog in school. It highlighted the benefits of allowing students to blog, such as giving students ownership of their work, collaboration with other students and helping them learn to share ideas with other students. In addition to these points it also stated that when students are given the opportunity to blog they also are given the opportunity to expand their creativity, and be engaged in a project --which in turn helps them learn to work and reflect on what they are writing and have written, and have a more global way of thinking. As a future teacher I feel it is so important to give students every opportunity to try new technology and expand their knowledge and become efficient at it. By giving students these learning experiences we are helping them expand their learning and prepare for the future--in a digital world.