Podcasting, In the Classroom?
When I read this weeks assignment, I was surprised and curious about how a podcast could be used in the classroom. Upon reading this weeks chapter in Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, my interest was completely peeked. I have only listened to a handful of podcasts through iTunes, but never dreamed of using them with my students. However, Richardson mentions some great ideas for incorporating podcasts into the classroom.
Richardson mentions many great ideas for podcasting. My favorite was creating a school radio show,Willowdale Elementary Podcast, where students and teachers can share their ideas for others to listen too! I have provided the link below, in case you want to check out the podcast. I was amazed at some of the recordings made by students in third grade. I think the students at my school, would love this type of forum for sharing ideas! Also, the idea of enhanced podcast with both audio and slides would be a great presentation format. Some other ideas include using it to record foreign language content, stories about historical figures, interviews, and narrating science labs.
I teach mainly middle school math and wondered if anyone had ideas about how to incorporate a podcast into a math classroom? Either something I could present to my students or a way for student to present their learning. In addition, I immediately thought I could have my students create a podcast to display the moral focus of the month at our school. Students could share their work during morning assembly.
Sources:
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (Third ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.
Willowdale Elementary School. (2014). Radio willow web. Omaha, NB:<http://mps.wes.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=101919&sessionid=41917f9bd991a31963c31669315ff48c>
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI like that you are really looking for ways to incorporate this into your class :). I also teach math, and sometimes it can be really tricky to incorporate a lot of these technology ideas (which is why sometimes I consider switching to writing...). My first thought would be to have students record explanations of processes...how to do certain types of problems. This is a pretty advanced level skill, but it really forces them to think about their thinking. Everything always has a cost though; is it worth the TIME for the outcome? I'm not sure if that can be answered without trial and error. Also, it's really hard to explain math problems without being able to show anything at all, which is why I haven't tried this idea myself.
I did a little looking though and saw that one idea people have for podcasts is for puzzles (weekly? monthly? extra credit?) or interviews with "actual" mathematicians. Here is one compllation of "math podcasts" that are already made, but could be used in the classroom.
Kaylee -
DeleteWow, thank you for researching other math podcasts. I love the idea of using it for a weekly puzzle or monthly. I have a handful of students who love a challenge. Also, I had given some thought about having students explain the process they're using and the steps for solving problems. I agree that this is such an important part of math. However, I had the same concerns as you. It is often difficult to understand how a problem is solved without seeing a visual. I was thinking the students could include a visual maybe just handwritten to accompany his or her podcast.
Hi Kaitlyn!
DeleteI was trying to come up with some ways that you could use podcasts for math and the first thing that popped into my mind, was to have your students teach the last concept learned. For instance, my fifth graders are learning long division. They could "teach" someone the steps for long division by recording them into a podcast. I know that research shows a lot of kids remember more of what they learn when they have to teach it themselves, so just a suggestion!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Lacey
I was thinking the same thing Lacey! I have used this idea with the Show Me app where students explain how to do a problem and then other students watch the video to learn from it. I think it is important that students can explain their reasoning and through a podcast would be perfect.
DeleteI was also thinking what about if you used some sort of Project Based Learning and students had to solve a problem. The Podcast could be where they tell the results and what happened. I would love to start using Project Based Learning in my classroom so this would be the perfect way.
Hello kaitlyn,
ReplyDeleteWho would have ever imagined that there would be so many ways in which technology will impact our classroom. I applaud you for being a math teacher. I can only imagine how tricky it can be to utilize this technology. I think if I were in your position, maybe I would use a podcast to stream my lessons. I know that it would be extremely time consuming to do each lesson, but maybe a brief introduction at the beginning of the week or a summary at the end. I guess what I am trying to say is to include the the meat of your weekly lessons just in case a student missed a day or if they have any questions.
I also really like what kaylee posted. have the students take a larger part in explaining what they are learning. Get their brains thinking on a deeper level and maybe put it in terms in which other might understand better.
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteLike you I have only listened to a few podcasts on itunes (I'm pretty sure one of them was when I decided I would try to teach myself Russian and there were some free podcast lessons on there), but it really reminds me of radio shows from way back when. It's funny that you mentioned the radio talk show because that is exactly what I was thinking of when I thought of podcasts. I think it would be something that students could enjoy without requiring too much of them to do, while still getting them engaged in the classroom setting.
Like you, I am curious to see where I could use podcasts in a Math based classroom. I thought of having my students use them to maybe interview someone in a field that uses mathematics. I hope to find some ideas that really work well. I like the what Kaylee posted and possibly have students completing it would be really fun for them.
Kaitlyn,
ReplyDeleteMath does seem like a tricky subject area for incorporating podcasts. You could probably do something similar to what Jon Carl did in the Uses for Audacity in-Class video we watched this week. Your students could create a radio news broadcast about major mathematical breakthroughs and theories. For a radio broadcast, they would need to thoroughly understand the topic, and explain it in a more understandable way.
One of the podcasts I listen to, Radiolab from WNYC (New York Public Radio) will often have podcasts, or segments of their podacasts that involve a lot of mathematical analysis. I highly recommend Radiolab as a podcast, even if you don't find a use for it with your students.
Jonathan,
DeleteThanks for the recommendation for Radiolab. I will be checking it out as soon as possible. I agree with you that in order for students to do a podcast about math, they will need a complete understanding of the topic. In the past when I have done presentations about the properties, they have been painful for the students that didn't understand the properties completely. What a great way to engage students in something that is new and exciting. Instead of presentations in front of the classroom, students can practice and edit their presentations so they are perfect for the classroom!
Hi Kaitlyn,
ReplyDeleteGood post. I was also going to suggest using podcasts to share a math puzzle or an extra credit math story question that is actually based on current events. That could be a lot of fun. Other than that, personally, I'm not a very big fan of audio-only media unless it's in the form of music... so, why not divide the class into groups and have each group record a purposely cheesy math song? You could have each group post their song online and try to drive votes from around the school to pick the best (or cheesiest) math song.
With so many different pieces of technology out there we can use in our classroom one of the hardest things we do as educators is picking the appropriate one to maximize learning. As we all know not all technology is relevant for every subject. I see endless podcasting options for the language departments, but as many of you have stated struggle when finding out how to use it in my math classroom. I find that when you try to force something in the classroom that you already know isn't the correct fit the results are usually inefficient/bad and more confusing to students then before you started the lesson. We have been taught in many of our college courses that many students learn in different formats (visual, auditory....etc). I find it hard to use a podcast in my math classroom because most topics require visuals for the concept to be understood. I have used screencast-o-matic (http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/) in my classroom to record lessons and also give visual examples for daily lessons and review for students. I am glad I am learning about other technology options but I will not use them unless I find that they will greatly enhance my curriculum. Why re-invent the wheel and use technology if it will not enhance your class.
ReplyDelete