November 8, 2014

Podcasting

I've used Audacity before, so I was excited to see that was one of the tools we were using in this segment of our course. It is a free tool (always a good thing for educators) and it works well. 

I created a basic intro-to-podcasting project. I wrote a Haiku about Thanksgiving and typed it into PowerPoint, using 4 slides. The first slide is the title slide, and each like of the Haiku (there are 3 lines) is on its own slide. Then I used Google images to find an image for each slide, and put that image as the background for each slide. Using audacity, I recorded myself reading the Haiku. Each slide is its own separate recording. Then I inserted each recording onto each slide, making it play automatically. Then I added transitions and animations, and recorded the slide show to play automatically. After saving the slide show, I also saved it as a Windows Movie Maker file.  I've done projects like this with my students in the past, which target a multitude of ELA as well as NETS-S standards, therefore being a rigorous, as well as enriching project for students and one that they love.

For another example, I've done a Rainforest animal research project, also using audacity and PowerPoint, where students research an animal from the rainforest. Then they fill out a script (this is for 2nd graders so I give them a basic script). They type in the basics like I am (student's name) mystery guest. I am (type of animal - reptile, amphibian, etc.). I live in (type of habitat, continent, etc.). I eat (types of foods). There are a few other pieces of the script that help the students fill out other pertinent and interesting facts about their animal. Then they end with Can you guess who I am?  The students read their script a few times to practice, then record using Audacity. They insert their clip into PowerPoint. At the end of the lesson, one of the second grade classes will play their podcasts for another second grade class and the students will try to guess the animals. (Most of the students in their own classes, by now, will know their own classmates animals.)

While the Olympics were going on, I had 3rd graders do podcasts about Olympic sports and athletes, reporting on facts about sports and athletes that were competing that year. They used a reporter-style in their podcast.

I find them a very motivating project to use with students, and they target a great number of Common Core and 21st century skills!