MP3s and Podcasts are technological innovations that have sweeping educational impact. Their efficient use in the classroom depends on the creativity and persistence of teachers and on the motivation and commitment of students.
Ms. Anna McFadden teamed up with Ms. Barrie Jo Price to suggest the valuable use of MP3s and PodCasts in today’s education. MP3 is an audio format which compressed the WAV audio file into reasonable sizes that can be stored up to large numbers in any memory storage. This will enable any audio recording to be digitally uploaded in the computer and into the web as PODCASTS. There are good-priced MP3 players that can record and replay audio using a simple microphone set up. Hence, a class lecture or a class report uploaded to the web can be accessed anywhere and anytime. This is very valuable to students whereby they can review the lecture if they are absent or if they need to revisit some points that they did not understand during the actual discussion. Isn’t this a class TO-GO?
Ms. McFadden suggests that podcasting can take into many forms aside from class lecture. It can be recording of a guest lecturer or a reaction to current social issue. It can be a recording of word pronunciation guide for a foreign language class. For Biology, it can be a recording of lab activities or safety procedures to accompany handouts.
Podcasting can benefit my classroom teaching. I can create a podcasts for science experiments or for science fair project documentations. It can be utilized as a question and answer forum that deals with practical answers to common math problems.
This technological tool may enhance learning but it has prerequisites. However, there should be a good support by the school administration for it demands monetary implications (like buying MP3 recorders, establishing internet access, and creating maintaining stable website). After these are taken care of, there are still teachers to be trained on how to use these equipments to produce the appropriate podcast material that does not infringe copyright laws.
I found the presentation interesting because it involves innovation. The theme and purpose were conveyed well. Ms. McFadden and Ms. Price showed enthusiasm in their topic. Though they are not strictly IT experts, they know how to use technology to achieve optimum learning environment.
However, for a simple topic such as podcasting, I did not think that they have to team up for the presentation. Especially, since both of them likes to talk, the delivery was not as smooth. While one of them was talking, the other distractingly interjected. I understood their thrill for this technology but it did not make a professional delivery.
Team presenting can be effective only when members have assigned topics to present. And during the delivery, they will just stick to their own topic and not interfere.
Entries (RSS)