Creating Our Own Podcasts!
The next big technology task was learning to make a Podcast. Dr. Dawn Hathaway, introduced us to it in the most fun way possible....that perhaps set the tone for the activity. In any class, how well the teacher introduces a topic determines how well it is accepted by the students--we were hooked by the fantastic podcast Dr. Hathaway played for us.
It was now our turn to create our own podcasts in pairs. Chifuniro, my friend from Malawi, and I were to make a podcast on the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial. First, we researched the topic and got to know a lot of details regarding this popular President of USA. We noted the details and proceeded to make the script. This turned out to be more difficult than we had anticipated. We thought of the characters who'd be part of the podcast and how they would interact with each other. Then we thought of their expressions and of all the associated sounds to put in the podcast. After finalising the script we realised that it was extending more than 2 minutes....we needed to shorten it...snip, snip!!
Now the recording part....that should be easy. NO, it isn't.
Using the program, Audacity, we record our scripts. After several attempts we finally got the hang of it. Our recording sounded quite good. Now to get it all lined up in the proper sequence to have the final podcast. We got the intro, the outro and our recording in the proper line up.
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| All work and some play....makes us a GREAT team! |
In order to get a portable file which can be shared between computers and on the internet, the files need to be in a .MP3 or .WAV format....this compresses the files and allows them to become portable. YES! We did it....got everything in place and sent the final podcast to Dr. Hathaway. We felt like geniuses!
It was fun to watch all my colleagues when the podcasts were played in class. Not only did each voice sound amazing in the recordings but they were really dramatic too. The expressions of pure joy on hearing ones own voice was really worth a watch. How much will our students enjoy recording their voices, if we enjoyed doing it so much. This is a valuable and creative lesson to enhance reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of students....I will surely incorporate it.
You are geniuses! As I walked around the room during this activity, I noticed that you and Chifuniro were among the last to finish your script. I did not believe there was any problem or issue, but rather I observed the focus and intensity of your collaboration. You and Chifuniro put a lot of effort into your script and this was evident in your final product. In the activity debriefing you also explained Chifuniro explained how much work you two put into sorting the information...all the while fully engaged in reading, writing, speaking, and listening together even before you recorded the podcast! It was wonderful to observe your enactment of the DEAPR process!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dawn! Your encouragement and excellent example helped me to focus on the work and give my best to it. "Great teachers inspire" and you did!
DeleteIt seems like you have learned quite a bit about the importance of design when creating media! I think podcasts are fantastic tool for teaching--both in having students create them and learn from others creations.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you, Laura! I too believe that Podcasts can be great learning tools for students.
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