Podcasting is a audio/video broadcasting technology that could be used in education for a variety of things. To teach students it could be used to explain different concepts in depth, discuss authors of literature being read in class, discuss an artists techniques in a specific piece of work or for foreign language practice. By using a podcast, students are able to learn topics from home, whether it be on sick days or on breaks where an educator wants students to do enrichment work.
Another option is to podcast lessons for students to listen to and then respond to through homework, quizzes or tests. This is a great option for students who may have to miss long periods of class time, or for parents of these students who may want to hear what their students are learning in class. Teachers could also use this option to help subs out when they must miss; in this way all the substitute would have to do is play the podcast for the students and hand out any supplementary work that may go with it.
Some disadvantages to podcasting include the lack of personal interaction when used as a teaching substitute, and the fact that students are unable to ask questions throughout.
Recently many different universities have been allowing their faculty to produce their own podcasts, whether they be video or audio and post them to iTunes for free downloads. This has allowed people who may not be able to afford the "Harvard education" to hear a Harvard professor give a lecture on any given topic.
This week, I reviewed a podcast found on iTunes posted by Eastern Connecticut State University's Early Childhood Educator's Center. The podcast was the second in their series and was a video podcast titled: "Introducing Technology to Young Learners". Below you may listen to my summary of the podcast.
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