Audio in the Classroom

I remember when I first heard about a podcast in the classroom. It was a couple of years ago and I had an ipod and I couldn't imagine creating something that I could actually listen to on my ipod. The thought actually overwhelmed me and I tucked that thought away as something I would deal with later. Once I actually played around with audacity and realized how easy it is to record and create, I realized how greatly audio can impact teaching.

Podcasting is exciting to my kids. If I tell them that they are going to take a piece of their writing a make a podcasting of it, they think it's the coolest thing ever! It is such an easy way to give some novelty to a writing assignment and my kids will take ownership of it. I think that using audio can enhance their reading as well. In third grade, we are trying to build fluency. I love for my kids to listen to good reading and I also like for them to listen to themselves read.

I think audio is even more beneficial when it has a video component. With software like Jing and Camtasia, students can create tutorials, make demonstrations, ask questions and so much more. My students love to make a Jing of a particular math concept instead of doing a math worksheet. I usually give them the option. They will spend an hour making a great Jing video instead of doing a boring worksheet that would have probably taken them 5-10 minutes. I think showing me their thinking is more beneficial and they have more fun.

I have also talked about Voicethread. This is a great use of both audio, text and graphics. If you haven't tried it with your students, you should check it out (www.voicethread.com). This is an easy way to make any lesson more engaging for your students. It allows them to be creative and expressive as well as to collaborate with others...which is key for 21st century learners.

I wish I had been a student in the 21st century...it's so much cooler.