Podcasts

            I learned from the podcasting video that podcasting can be done at any time or at any place. Podcasting helps people find topics that interest them and learn more about them by listening to others and their opinions. Students could learn from podcasts at their pace and at their discretion. Books and other resources do seem a bit bulky and noticeable and sometimes cause students to lose interest in them. Small technological devices are smaller and more discrete and more students are starting to prefer listen and reading off of their electronic devices. Podcasting allows for flexibility in times and locations. Students are no longer forced to learn sitting down or at certain times and locations.

            Podcasting is another form of communication that people use to connect socially and now educators are starting to use them to teach and connect to their students. Podcasting uses audio rather than just words to communicate a thought. Wikis are great resources for students that need to read more in depth about a topic. A podcast can be used to reinforce these same ideas. Blogging allows students to read, respond and link to other sites or maybe even podcasts. All of these web 2.0 applications are interlocked with one another. They can be linked together and used as resources for students that enjoy learning through different medians.

            I do own an ipod. I have not seen it in a while because my siblings enjoy using it. I actually won the ipod at my high school. I had failed a science benchmark by one point and worried about failing the TAKS science test. I went to tutoring for over a month and won the ipod…I also passed the science TAKS with a commended score :) Technology can be used as an incentive and as source of relief. Students like myself need many outlets and technology can definitely provide that. I have seen many teachers use their ipods to signal the start and ending of activities or to signal what their next instruction may be. I have also seen content mastery teachers using ipads to enforce their instruction. Technology is the new cool thing to do and teachers need to stay relevant to keep the attention of their students. These communication tools are great when available. Many students may not have access to such technology or the technology may cause students to lose their attention to other communication and networking sites that are not necessarily educational. Overall we still need teachers! Teachers help guide positive behavior and this includes guiding appropriate online communication behavior. The internet is a sea of dangers and educators must be attentive to their students on and offline.

Sources:

Jonassen, David, Howland, Jane, Marra, Rose, and Crismond, David. (2008). Meaningful Learning with   

       Technology. 217-39. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMgemQahuFM