Everyone has something to say: be it a kindergarden student who is excited about learning how objects balance; a fifth grader reflecting on leaving the comfort of elementary to move onto junior high; or a high school student delving into the gray areas of philosophy and ethics. As educators it is our role to allow those students an outlet. A method to not just journal on a daily/weekly basis, but a method to state what's on their mind when its on their mind.
Podcasting is a tool which can offer that. But the big question I’m facing is how to achieve seamless integration of podcasting into the classroom. How can it be organic? How can it be authentic?
One of my goals this year has been do develop a podcast series on iTunes for my students. So far I’ve been fairly successful. I figured out the RSS details and have the feed set to go to iTunes when a new podcast is available. I’ve recorded Kindergarten through fifth graders, used photographs of their work for background images and created the media files. A few of the students have done this on their own, but so far its been directed by me.
Perhaps I need to stop looking for what I’m after and listen to the students. Offer them the tools, show them what is available, and then let them make decisions about what they would like to do with those tools. I believe the most pure, authentic recordings come not from me directing the students to create, but the students’ desire to create.
As a technology instructor, its my job to teach the tools. Show students how to use Garage Band, iMovie, Audacity, Sonic Pics, etc...And its my job to allow their voices as students to be heard: Let them talk about Star Wars. Let them talk about video games. Let them record and make those recordings available to their classmates in a dedicated network folder or load them on iPods. Let them get excited about the ways they can let their voice be heard.
The iTunes feed is limited to appropriate, educational concepts of which the students have researched and expressed interest. That’s their goal. Record as much as they can. Practice and learn the skills. When they produce genuine content reflecting on their educational experiences in the classroom, their voice will be made available to a much larger audience.
