If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.
You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!
Citizens Plugged In: Integrating Podcast Technology into Government Classrooms By Steven Carson and Becky Fischietto
The Nuts and Bolts of Podcasting
A podcast is a digital media (audio or visual) file delivered to Internet subscribers through RSS feeds. Podcasts inject an element of choice into information consumption by giving people the opportunity to access a wide range of data at their own leisure.[1] Through podcasting applications, people can share ideas with peers and retrieve knowledge from radio programs, talk shows, audiobooks, interviews and oral lectures. This technological application connects common individuals to a vast body of facts, opinions, and perspectives in a quick and user-friendly manner.[2] Makin’ It Work: Podcasting Applications in the Secondary Government Classroom
The function of podcasting as a medium of communication makes this technology applicable to the secondary classroom. Making information available through podcasting applications engages students and helps those with different learning preferences.
*Auditory learners and students with visual disabilities can synthesize content material delivered via podcast to supplement written texts and visual aids.
*Podcasting also promotes learning by doing for kinesthetic learnersbecause they can utilize ordinary computer technology to create their own informational podcasts for peer review and formal assessment.
*The creative nature of podcasting keeps students engaged with technical terms and content of Civics and Government.
*Students engage in whole-brain learning as they synthesize new information (left brain) and devise ways to create their own podcasts (right brain) for presentation purposes.
At the other end of the learning equation, teachers can incorporate podcasts into the lesson planning process as outlets to supplemental materials and auxiliary instruction. Technologically literate educators often extend instruction beyond the classroom by uploading podcasts for student access at home. Ultimately, podcasts serve as an educational resource and digital pathway for student-teacher interaction.
Middle School Methods:
1) Current Events. Government teachers can utilize the wealth of resources available through podcasting technology to bring current news stories into the classroom. Rather than present information on political issues through traditional newspaper media, educators can connect young learners to hot-button stories through a familiar electronic medium. For this activity, students will receive a list of reputable news podcasts, listen to a specific story, and give a short presentation on the event to their classmates. Teachers could divide up the class periods and assign the role of presenter to a different student each day. The designated presenter would provide his or her classmates with written summaries of the current event and the link to the related podcast. By incorporating podcasts in current event activities, students will obtain information on important political issues from a relevant and commonly used digital source.
2) Radio Show. Radio Show Assignments foster creativity and encourage students to incorporate podcasting technology in their class projects. In a government or civics classroom, students can learn content material by creating informational audio recordings in a talk show format. Teachers can design rubrics that require individual learners to include definitions, explanations, and examples of government concepts in their final radio podcasts. Students could script fake calls into their programs and prepare answers to commonly asked questions about their topic. For example, a radio talk show about the Electoral College would discuss the origins of the system and analyze possible alternatives for electing the president. This activity forces students to go beyond the mere consumption of digital media and create their own educational programming. Creating radio shows through podcasts extends the learning process while providing teachers with the means to evaluate student comprehension.
High School Methods:
1) Interview Fun-tivity. For this activity, you can provide students with a list of possible websites to find Podcast shows with interviews with past or present political officeholders, candidates, and analysts (see links below for possible site selections). Students will then listen to or watch an assigned number of interviews via Podcast (perhaps 3 or 4) and then construct a report of their findings which can then be shared with the class. Students should compare the topics and perspectives discussed in the interviews, talk about the effectiveness of interviews in this medium, and perhaps which interview was most interesting to them. The allotted time for this activity is up to the teacher’s discretion. This can be a take-home project or can be completed in class if the teacher can obtain computer lab time.
2) Comparative Podcast Analysis. Similar to the activity above, students will listen to a variety of Podcasts about government or political topics that are relevant to the information discussed in class. However, this activity is not just limited to interviews. Students should listen to Podcasts from different sites (options provided below) in order to compare the information and perspectives presented. After listening to or viewing the required amount of Podcast shows, students will talk about each show separately to summarize the issues discussed on the show and how they relate to the information in the class. Then students should compare the content and perspectives they heard in the Podcasts and evaluate which Podcasts were the most effective and why. These findings can be shared and discussed with the class so that the students see the work of their peers.
Available Resources
Listed below are a variety of additional resources where premade podcasts on political issues can be accessed:
1. NPR Podcast Directory: National Public Radio offers a variety of weekly podcasts on the latest news in science, economics, culture, and politics. 2. CNN Podcasts: In conjunction with podcasts on major network programming, CNN hosts a daily Student News Podcast that provides teachers and learners with digital resources for classroom use.
3. NY Times Podcasts: Various reporters and editor for the New York Times host and produce a series of weekly and daily podcasts on current event topics. 4. USA.gov Podcasts: This website gives government teachers and students access to a variety of programs on foreign affairs, health care reform, taxes, and public safety. 5. Podcast of the Week Lesson Plan: The creators of this website outline a weekly activity and lesson plan in which students create a Week in Review podcast on recent news reports.
Makin’ It Happen: Creating Podcasts on Your Own
Teachers and students can access a variety of tutorials and software downloads for use inside the classroom and at home.
In order to make your own podcasts, you need to download iTunes and either Audacity or Garageband to your computer. The following links will take you to the relevant websites and facilitate the downloading process:
After downloading the necessary software, individuals should sign up for a file hosting service to hold audio or video podcasting files. File hosting sites that offer free services for podcasting include File Savr, Libsyn, and MediaBlog. Users should record their podcasts using Garageband or Audacity and upload the file to their chosen file hosting site. After publishing the file, they will receive a URL feed link which will allow them to share their podcast via iTunes or other compatible websites.[3]
Individuals interested in mastering the basics of podcasting can view the following tutorials available on YouTube:
iTunes Tutorial:
GarageBand Tutorial:
Audacity Tutorial:
Opportunities to integrate podcasting applications into your classroom remain unlimited. The only requirements are a creative mind and an inventive spirit! Podcasts can build connections between students and diverse content material; as a teacher it is your job to make it happen!
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.