Moving at the Speed of Creativity by Wesley Fryer

KidsCast: Exciting Podcasting Activities to Promote Research and Learning

KidsCast: Exciting Podcasting Activities to Promote Research and Learning
by Dan Schmit, Instructional Technology Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A presentation at Encyclo-Media 2006, Oklahoma City, OK
01 September 2006

This presentation is available as a flash file

1- Sound Seeing Tours

(This is where I joined the session and started podcast recording. I’m going to send the file to Dan for his approval, and if he says ok I’ll publish it here as a podcast. This was a GREAT preso, with great ideas!)

2- Daily Reporter
Like Tony Vincent used to do with the “daily reporter”
record daily events at school

3- Student Almanac
daily show
writer’s almanac
burn CD of an audio yearbook

4- Using podcasts as process streams
showing procedures
mathematical processes
science labs
classroom procedures

5- Study guides: review and reflect on studies and curriculum, give students a pep talk!

6- Sound stories: language with music and sound
students can collaborate and produce a series together

7- Podcast Dramas
my very favorite things to do!!!!
I have adult things who do this for fun!
Create old time radio dramas
tie them to concepts that your are studying
the adventures of “Dr Negative and Mrs. Positive!”
last summer we had people written original podcast dramas that had curriculum content

When you put out ideas like this
other students did a “Gone With the Wind” about scientific notation
podcast dramas are very flexible, you can take it into any grade level, any content area
record it and put it up!

8- Poetry Slam
create original poems
record expressively
arrange sections of poems
combine with music, sound effects
add some perspective and commentary
release them one at a time

Robert Frost only let 1 person set one of his poems to music, very controlling and limiting about use and derivative works
so this is much easier if the kids write their own poetry, from an intellectual property stance
sharing in a podcast can be MUCH LESS intimidating, you can be careful about how you are reading, if you make a mistake, etc
so from the voice of the student, you actually are able to assess whether or not they understand it

[MY THOUGHT: THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF MESSY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT!]

9- Our View
anyone watch “The View?”
think about making a hybrid between “The View” and “Meet the Press”
if you have the right microphone that will pick up audio, each student can bring a current event, share the gist of the article, and then be able to answer questions about it
roundtable discussion
can help students learn how to civilly disagree, share opinions appropriately and respectfully
can do this with ethical dilemmas, other things

10- Today in History
assign students a day each month
look for historical events on their date
research context, events, and implications
be able to explain, not just read
it is more than just students “telling the facts,” you can always tell when someone is doing that

11- Lost in Time
new online distributed quiz show
I am not really doing this, a friend who was a podcast listener got this going
one central RSS feed managed by my friend Randy in Georgia (lost [at] mrware [dot] org)
2-5 minute descriptions of an event in history
provide a class email

[MY THOUGHT: ALEXANDER’S 3RD GRADE TEACHER WOULD LOVE THIS, SHE JUST DESCRIBED DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS LAST NIGHT IN ANALOG FORM AT OPEN HOUSE!]

12- Add it up!
do a mathematical quiz show
do a math puzzle
student created
could be a video podcast
could be a mystery
give process hints
results on the next week’s show
the prize is that YOU get worked into the next week’s puzzle! [THIS IS A VERY CREATIVE IDEA!]

13 – Where in the World?
a global podcasting geography quiz show
distributed posting
central RSS managed by my friend Anna Adam in Texas (where [at] digihear [dot] net]
Describe a location, give an email
Post on your school’s webserver
Email Anna

[OK, I NEED TO GET BOTH A “LOST IN TIME OKLAHOMA” AND A “WHERE IN OKLAHOMA” PODCAST SHOWS!!!!!]

14- Word of the Day podcast
do it together, release one a day
have students select a new word
pronounce properly
spell it out
define
use it in a sentence

15- Book Talk
the 21st century book report
review using a class generated rubric
discuss the strenghts and things that troubled you
organize and promote throug hyour library

16- Spelling Bee!
publish weekly spelling lists as a podcast (spoken, spelled, used in a sentence)
great for practice
pause, rewind, repeat….
you could record a spelling bee, bring in the principal, the mayor, challenge them to a spell off– the class versus them
Or just do your spelling list for the week as a podcast

17- Pod pals
set up an exchange with students at another school
record sound seeing tours of your school, community, area sites
they subscribe to your feed and to you to theirs

18- Pet Talk
pet selection
the blog of my dog: www.jamaldog.com
don’t have Jamal’s video podcast yet
when you slow things down in iMovie, everything looks more artsy!
Discuss habitats, pet care, training, competition, team up with local organization

19- Career Talk
audio job shadowning
give students lots of options
personal perspectives
organize through a guidance counseling office

when you think of yourself as a channel, when your kids do, that can really transform communication and perceptions about it

If you enjoyed this post and found it useful, subscribe to Wes’ free newsletter. Check out Wes’ video tutorial library, “Playing with Media.” Information about more ways to learn with Dr. Wesley Fryer are available on wesfryer.com/after.

On this day..


Posted

in

,

by

Tags:

Comments

4 responses to “KidsCast: Exciting Podcasting Activities to Promote Research and Learning”

  1. David Stone Avatar

    Wes,
    All of these are awesome ideas! Thanks to Dan Schmit and for you for posting. I have been looking for some “food for thought” for podcasts.

  2. Langwitches Avatar

    That is an awesome list. I highly recommend Dan Schmit’s http://www.intelligenic.com/kidcast/index.html

    He was the one who got me inspired to try my first podcast with my students.

    Can’t wait to hear the presentation you blogged about.
    Thanks again for making it available.

  3. Cheryl Oakes Avatar

    Unbelievable. Thanks for podcasting and thanks to Dan, now we can share his work too.

    Over and OUT. Cheryl

  4. […] Seven shows are already up on the podcast feed, and more are invited! Students can listen to each episode and then email their guess about what location is being described to the published teachder’s email address. In addition, students can submit their own podcast episode! Read the flyer (PDF) and get all the details, students of any age can submit a podcast and participate! GREAT idea! (Dan presented a couple of weeks ago in Oklahoma City on podcasting, btw, and my notes from his session as well as a podcast recording of his presentation are available.) […]