Blog Post #4 Why Podcasts ??

Until enrolling in this class, I had never heard the term “podcast”. However, I realize that technology will be the driving force behind the future of our education system. While reading the Langwitches: Podcasting with First Graders, I could not help but to think back to my own personal elementary experiences. Specifically, I recall my elementary school “reading time”. During this time, all the students sat at a “reading” table taking turns reading different parts of the same story. After viewing what kids are doing now for “reading time” using podcasts as a learning tool, I quickly realized why I HATED my “reading time”. There was no creativity or variation. It was torture, as a young kid, to sit still while watching every student do the same thing over and over. Podcasting offers some variation to a very mundane task providing a sense of creativity that circle time couldn’t offer. I cannot remember hearing excitement in my classmates’ voices during reading circle yet the kids in the blog video using a podcast were eager to learn. I can appreciate the value of podcasting in this scenario and understand how it opens up a door for students to get excited about the world of reading.

Podcasting could have a big effect on all levels of education. From kindergarten to college, podcasting could be very beneficial if used properly. One podcast benefit that stood out to me was its ability to involve the parents in the active education of their children. By parents and students having access to information via podcast, anytime and anywhere, educators no longer have the responsibility to provide constant access to information themselves. Additionally, with a podcast, parents have the capability to participate in their child’s learning experience. Along these same lines of benefit, children who are unable to attend class due to failing health or residence will now have access to an educator’s lecture without physically being present. Thus, the podcast offers opportunities to students that may not have had access to quality information presentation without its existence.

Langwitches: Listening - Comprehension is another example demonstrating how a podcast offers additional benefits to the learning process. This blog focuses on the teaching of foreign languages. Without a podcast, learning a foreign language can seem daunting to a student. However, after reviewing the short film of students speaking in Hebrew after using various podcasts, the idea of learning languages no longer appeared difficult. These kids clearly understood and were enjoying speaking a different language. Immersion in a foreign language appears to be more feasible with the use of podcasts. Students are continuously listening to the spoken word without being in front of a teacher. The constant access to the words allowed for the foreign language to become routine. Podcasting is offering access to worldwide interactions that are unavailable without them. In summary, “circle time” is out; “project-based learning” is in. Podcasting is a tool that will allow this type of learning to become both accessible and tangible. Students will have the ability to learn hands-on at every stage of his or her educational path.