Thing #22 - Podcasts

I have heard of podcasts before, but didn't get to make my own until this class. I like podcasts for a couple of reasons.

1. allows you to be creative.
2. it's not boring.

With the assignment we had, creating our own podcast, I got to see some other podcasts, but there were a lot that I didn't like. They seemed boring and useless. I think educational podcasts should serve a purpose and make whatever lesson more interesting and educational. Today's students need that hook and podcasts can definitely accomplish that when used properly. I've been thinking about how I would use a podcasting in my class and came up with an idea that might work if the students were enthusiastic enough. When doing the section on poems I would have my students:

1. create their own poem or obtain an already written one
2. have them read it
3. add music

Or take it to the next level and put a bunch of poems that each student reads and put it on a CD. Each student reads 10 and then make a CD. It's very similar to the podcast I did for this class. I took a poem about 9/11, read it, and added music from the movie Gladiator. It made the poem that more intense and powerful. Then my students could see the impact the poems are suppose to have.

I did explore the directories and didn't really like any of them. I'm the type of person who wants it to be easy to locate and quick. I had to keep clicking and clicking before I go the actual podcast. I like the website http://www.epnweb.org/index.php?request_id=344&openpod=4#anchor4

because it lists everything on the left, I click it, and then listen. That's exactly what I want. By the time I was done with the other websites I had lost interest in what I was doing and became frustrated. I don't want my students to feel that way because than they'll miss out.

There isn't a podcast that I would subscribe to (at least not yet). To be honest, it more about time than anything else. I really don't have the time to sit in front of the computer and listen to someone. Maybe if there was a great podcast I came across that really captured my attention, but until than I don't see myself subscribing to one.