Podcasting in the Classroom

This week we looked at the world of podcasting in the classroom.  I must admit that I am not new to podcasting.  I have several friends who actually do the Mugglenet podcast which is one of the more popular Harry Potter podcasts.  I have participated in live events that were podcasts as well.  However I will admit I didn't think much of using them in the classroom. Most of my podcast experience has been focused on entertainment purposes.  Now after this week I can see many practical classroom uses.

I think it they are a very useful tool for students who have difficulty with public speaking.  It is much easier for a student to present the work when no is staring at them.  Podcasts could be made part of a project and the students would have to create the podcast as their presentation.

Podcasts would also be a great way for students to create content they are interested in. Students could be separated into groups and create weekly news reports based on the events happening in school and in the world. These reports could be shared with the school as well as parents, keeping everyone informed on the latest information.  It is just one more way to keep students actively involved in their education.

On the flip side podcasts also have a great deal of content and can be used as educational supplements to certain aspects of lessons.  For instance using podcasts about books or art would be a good way to get discussions started.  There are also informational podcasts about history and science that could be used.

Overall I think there is a place for podcasting in the classroom whether is be in the form of students learning how to use the technology to create podcasts or using podcasts to enhance knowledge base.