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Description of Podcasting:
Putman, S.M. and Kingsley, T. (2009). The Atoms Family: Using podcasts to enhance the
Development of science vocabulary. The Reading Teacher, 63(2), 100-108.
Riddle, J. (2010). Podcasting in the classroom: A sound success. Multimedia & Internet @
Schools, 17(1), 23-26.
Podcasting is a new technology tool that can deliver and receive information in an auditory manner. Stemming from the widely-used iPods, podcasting is a morph of the words “iPod” and “broadcast” (Riddle, 2010). It resembles a radio show that can be played through a portable music player, such as an iPod. Since 2001, iPods have been used by students and adults alike to download music. The educational community soon realized the potential of using such devices in the classroom. Teachers saw podcasting as a portable, digital media opportunity in which students listen to and respond to curricular content (Putman & Kingsley, 2009). By receiving “shows” on portable music players, students are able to hear content at anytime and anywhere. According to Riddle (2010), college professors started using podcasts to record their lectures and supplemental course content. In return, college students downloaded lectures and supplemental materials, while they also created notes, study guides, and flashcards using iPods. The concept of using podcasts quickly spread to grades K-12. According to Riddle (2010), teachers found podcasts to be free, easy, and accessible for all students at all grades. Putman and Kingsley (2009) report that podcasts are inexpensive to produce, simple to use, portable, reusable, and beneficial to auditory learners. Podcasting is a mixture of traditional and 21st-century technology when it comes to literacy (Riddle, 2010). Students use research, oral reading, writing, editing, and presentation skills each time they create a podcast. According to Putman and Kingsley (2009), most teachers use podcasts to introduce or reinforce content, to remediate to students that need additional help, or to feature guest speakers on a particular issue. Many educators have students create podcasts in order to review content, present research, practice skills, or present learning. When students create podcasts, they have increased motivation, higher-level thinking, and literacy improvement (Putman & Kingsley, 2009). Many students in the elementary school grades have created podcasts on reading a book aloud, presenting research on a particular subject, and reviewing vocabulary words. Podcasts can be created using a standard computer, microphone, free software, and a website for posting “shows.” Teachers and students can listen to podcasts using any computer, PDA, or phone that is connected to the Internet and is able to play standard MP3 audio files. Podcasts have become an innovative and creative way for teachers and students to record their learning.
Incorporation of Podcasting into Classroom Instruction:
Borgia, L. (2009). Enhanced vocabulary podcasts implementation in fifth grade classrooms. Reading Improvement, 263-266.
Gadsden City Schools Podcast Central. http://www1.gcs.k12.al.us/~podcast/
Putman, S.M. and Kingsley, T. (2009). The Atoms Family: Using podcasts to enhance the
Development of science vocabulary. The Reading Teacher, 63(2), 100-108.
Our First Podcast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzw63KRMAMY
Podcasting has a huge potential to impact K-12 classrooms world-wide. Students already are familiar with similar devices and can better connect with content if they merge their skills and knowledge together using the classroom content and personal technology skills. Students in elementary school are no exception to this. Many students are extremely knowledgeable about using iPods to download favorite songs. They know how to access the music and how to play it and share it with others. The same idea can apply to podcasts in the elementary school classroom. When teachers create podcasts, the purpose is to introduce, review, enrich, or reinforce important concepts to students.
There are many ways teachers can use podcasts to enrich the learning of their students. First, teachers can create podcasts on key vocabulary terms. In a study by Putman and Kingsley (2009), teachers created seven podcasts on science vocabulary that expanded over seven weeks. Each podcast consisted of the same pattern for the classroom of 5th grade students: (1) engaging introduction, (2) vocabulary review, (3) new vocabulary words, (4) mental and active response activities, and (5) mixed review of vocabulary. Teachers posted the MP3 audio file to a blog for students and their parents to listen to at the homes. According to Putman and Kingsley (2009), students had positive views of the experience and were more motivated to learn science vocabulary. Another study by Borgia (2009), examined how other teachers used podcasting to teach reading vocabulary by giving students iPod Nanos to practice and retain vocabulary from chapter books. Students listened to the words and carried out vocabulary activities that reinforced research-based strategies. The teachers were able to create the podcasts using the Macintosh software program Garageband. Based on the above studies, these teachers were able to incorporate podcasting into their classroom instruction in order to improve learning of vocabulary. This is a concept that can easily be applied in all elementary school classes because every class has to teach vocabulary words.
In addition to introducing and reinforcing vocabulary terms, podcasting can offer opportunities for students to show their learning. Gadsden City Schools in Alabama encourages students to post podcasts on their school website. Podcasts range from book reports to songs to reader’s theater. The school’s podcast page can be found at http://www1.gcs.k12.al.us/~podcast/ . First grade students can even make frequent podcasts over books they have read. By working in small groups, students can record discussions on key story elements and their opinions on the book’s content and author. By using the software program Garageband, students are able to record and play back their podcasts. In this particular 1st grade class, the teacher posted their podcasts on their class website so that students and their parents could view their podcasts on what they have been reading in class. The class’s podcast discussion can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzw63KRMAMY . Elementary school students in grades K-12 can participate in creating their own podcasts. Using podcasting offers another way for students to present their learning using basic computer skills and classroom content knowledge.
List of Resources: The Articles
Each of the following articles contribute to a deeper understanding of using podcasting as an educational technology tool. Included below are several articles on the purpose and development of podcasts and how teachers have incorporated podcasts into their classrooms.
Abram, S. (2006). The proof is in the podding. MultiMedia & Internet @ Schools, (13)3, 22-24.
This resource reports findings of a Duke University experiment in which all students were given iPods to help them study. The article also gives a list of potential ideas for classroom usage of podcasts. In addition, the article offers resources to help educators get started with podcasts.
Borgia, L. (2009). Enhanced vocabulary podcasts implementation in fifth grade classrooms. Reading
Improvement, 263-266.
This resource examines a study with two fifth grade classrooms that incorporated podcasts into their vocabulary instruction. The article focuses on how podcasts can help improve vocabulary instruction in multiple ways. According to Borgia (2009), a student needs to be exposed to vocabulary eight to ten times before it is internalized…vocabulary podcasts can provide these opportunities for students to learn new words. The article gives examples of vocabulary strategies given during the podcasts and how teachers were able to create them using the software program Garageband.
Delong, D. (2007). The iPod study buddy. Macworld, (24)10, 2-3.
This resource discusses how iPods can be used as learning tools, not just tools for downloading music. The article gives a brief overview of how students have used podcasts, such as downloading course lecture and guest presentations. The article also examines how students can use iPods to learn language skills, take notes, and organize notes.
Ishizuka, K. (2005). Tell me a story. School Library Journal, 24-25.
This resource examines how an elementary school media specialist is using podcasts to encourage students to read. The discussion focuses on how students are able to access podcasts of selected picture books on the library’s web site. Students may also take home recordings of books.
Putman, S.M. and Kingsley, T. (2009). The Atoms Family: Using podcasts to enhance the
development of science vocabulary. The Reading Teacher, 63(2), 100-108.
This resource gives an overview of how educators can use podcasting in vocabulary instruction. Based on a study with a fifth grade classroom, a discussion focuses on the creation and incorporation of the podcasts. A step-by-step discussion of how students used the podcasts to improve their vocabulary knowledge is followed by the study’s results. According to Putman and Kingsley (2009), students had positive responses to the podcasts and were more motivated to learn science vocabulary. The article also gives examples of educational podcasts that can be found at various school websites.
Riddle, J. (2010). Podcasting in the classroom: A sound success. MultiMedia & Internet @
Schools, (17)1, 23-26.
This resource gives a history of podcasting in the classroom. It discusses how iPods have emerged as a tool that is more than downloading music. In addition, it gives examples of how teachers and students are using podcasts today to help them teach and learn.
Teachers, students experiment with podcasting. Curriculum Review, (45)4, 4.
This resource reviews how teachers and students are using podcasting at Wells Elementary School in Maine. The article focuses on the experiments of one third and fourth grade classroom using podcasts. The resource reports that students are using podcasts to record regular updates on their classroom activities.
List of Resources: The Websites
The following websites provide information on podcasts and how to incorporate them into classrooms. Many detail the history and definition of podcasting. Others give concrete examples of what podcasts look like and sound like.
Gadsden City Schools Podcasts
This resource is a collection of student-produced podcasts about a variety of topics. Topics range from math concepts to music to reading stories.
The Education Podcast Network
This resource is a collection of podcasts and discussions about podcasts that teachers can access to find out more information about implementing podcasting into their classrooms. Concrete examples from real-life classrooms in grades K-12 are provided. In addition, subject-specific podcasts, such as mathematics, science, and second languages, is also provided.
Learning in Hand’s Podcasting
This resource gives an overview of what a podcast is and the different types of podcasts. In addtion, it suggests websites that are helpful in viewing and creating podcasts for children. It also offers podcasts to listen to on the website.
Podcasts in the Classroom
This resource gives information on accessing, subscribing, and creating podcasts for educators. There is also a discussion on the value of using podcasts with students. In addition, the resource gives examples and suggestions on using podcasts in the classroom.
Podcasting in the Classroom
This resource gives a brief overview of what podcasting is and how to use it in the classroom. The focus of the website is on a specific lesson plan geared at getting teachers started on incorporating podcasting in their classrooms.
Poducate Me’s Podcasting Guide
This resource gives an overview of the history of podcasting and how it has been used in education over the past decade. It gives suggestions on how to find podcasts and subscribe to podcasts. In addition, it gives suggestions on how to create your own podcasts.
Our First Podcast.
This resource is an example of a student-produced podcast. First graders create a podcast on describing the books they have read. They also give insight on to how students view podcasting and how it helps them learn.
Tech How-To: Podcasting
This resource goes over how podcasts work when children create and use them. It gives specific examples of how students have been creating podcasts for many purposes. In addition, it gives hints to how to get started.
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