If a teacher approached me about starting up podcasting at our school, I would be excited to help. Since producing the podcast for this class I know a little more than I did before the start of this semester so I would be able to assist the teacher a little. I would suggest to the teacher that we meet together with any other school personnel who are also interested in podcasting and discuss the best course of action. My role as a media specialist is to support the teachers and students in their search for information. Podcasting would definitely fit into the standards set forth in Information Power.
After listening to the podcasts on Radio WilloWeb, I wanted to start podcasting at my school. The only problem is finding the time to begin and continue the program. In Library 2.0 it even discusses what I'm afraid I would let happen--Podfading. Maybe I would have time to start the program, but then other responsiblities would start to get in the way of podcasting. I would want to make sure I had the support of other staff members before beginning podcasting.
Before the experiences in this class, I had a vague idea of podcasting. The term always made me think of iPods. I didn't realize that you could podcast without an iPod. I also didn't realize that there are so many ways to use podcasts. I especially liked that students created the podcasts on Radio Willoweb. Other ideas I liked were using the podcasts for booktalks, library news, and professional learning. Another advantage of a podcasting program is that it does not seem to require much expense.
Some things I would do before podcasting at my school include: talking to other media specialists or technology specialists about podcasting and how they began and use the program at their school, discuss and prepare for legal issues (permission slips for students, etc.), visit a school (if possible) that already has podcasts, and work with a group of staff members who are committed to supporting the program.
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I think that when teachers come to me and ask me to help them with a new way to present information it is a huge compliment. It shows that they are developing trust in me as a media specialist and also as an instructional leader. I feel that it is my responsibility to take the initiative and learn as much as I can about the technology that they are wanting to use. Recently, I have had several teachers that have become interested in podcasting and in the ipods. I did an informal survey of the teachers that helped me to pinpoint which teachers would be interested in beginning some basic podcasts. Once we discovered which teachers were interested we formed a little group that began to research podcasting ideas. We listened to podcasts and talked to others that were already using them. We are still in the planning stages but we have learned a lot of new technology as well as some great ideas. We plan, within the next month, to post some podcasts onto several of the teachers web pages. Some teachers are going to develop podcasts to use in centers to explain the assignments. We are already using the voice memos to create short videos and to develop audio lessons, and audio books. I am hoping to advertise my bookfair this year with a podcast on our web page. Podcasting is fairly simple and inexpensive tool that can be an excellent way to get kids(and teachers) excited about learning.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this post I realize that I have many of the same concerns. I can understand just how easily I could get started and then distracted by completing and working on other tasks within the media center. Additionally, I think the strategies voiced at the end will be helpful in making sure that everyone uses Podcasting in a legal, educational. When I get started in a Media Center, I think I would love to develop a Podcasting workshop to present once or twice during the school year and have available (as a Podcast) for teachers who learn well on their own.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I simply had never heard of the term "Podfading" before, so I went out and did a bit of research, and in my humble opinion, you are right: there is concern that Podcasting may be quite time-consuming for teachers. Here is a website by Steven Friess called "Podfading Takes Its Toll" ( http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/02/70171) that gives a bit of info about podfading. It turns out that it is a term that Scott Fletcher came up with in 2005 after a couple of podcasting failures of his own.
ReplyDeleteWhat to do about this as an effective LMS? Perhaps make sure that it is in the students hands from the very beginning. Perhaps have some sort of incentive program. Perhaps get the PTA involved.
Any other thoughts?
In terms of preventing podfading, one idea could be to make it part of a project done in a particular subject like language arts. The students could create podcasts on a particular topic or book. By making it a required project, students would continue making podcasts and hopefully podfading would not happen. The media specialist would need to create an in-service to instruct teachers how to create a podcast. Teachers could then take that knowledge to the classroom. Another idea would be for students to create booktalks on books they like. These could be shown to the school on the morning tv announcements. This would be a great incentive for students to read and checkout books with their language arts class.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Rhonda. I also found the WillowWeb podcasts very motivating and it opened my eyes and broadened my horizons with regards to using Podcasts. I also had limited experience and knowledge with podcasting before this class and I know feel confident in instituting the use of podcasts into my media program and the services/tools that I can provide, instruct, and work with teachers and students on. Great idea with the booktalks Stacey, and the media specialist would certainly have a great role in guiding teachers and students to maximize the potential of podcasting as both a learning tool and a motivational tool, which certainly go hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rhonda for the information about the possibility of the making a podcast for your group at school. I guess it is like many technology items, they seem great in the beginning until something better comes along. The podcasts can be used even for the most basic items in the media center; shelving instructions, new books and materials, media news.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Rhonda. I really enjoyed your comments. I, like you, had never tried creating a podcast until this class, but I must say, I loved it! The Willoweb podcasts also made me motivated to give it a try when I begin working in the media center. I know that I would certainly try to work with ANY instructor that came to me for help...and I would do that here. I would also like to think that I would try podcasting myself and get very comfortable with it before introducing it to the masses at the school. I think you would need a certain amount of "buy in" to really develop a lasting program. Your list of activities that you would need to consider before getting started was helpful also.
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