Bit By Bit Podcast: January 14, 2006
Show 20
“Podcasts as Continued Conversation” or “David Warlick has our back”
Room 208 reacts to/discusses a comment at PodcasterCon
SHOW NOTES
Links:
David Warlick’s Podcast at PodcasterCon: Episode 51
Room 208’s Podcast with Wicked Wikipedia?
Music:
Hey Bob,
Room 208 ROCKS! They are so eloquent! This should be required listening for when we have any vision planning meetings for technology! You know I think that Mr. S is no longer the SAGE on the STAGE, but rather has assumed the role of facilitator and the GUIDE on the SIDE.
Mr. S. you need to put on a workshop, again, about how you and your students podcast with purpose! Oh, Marc, good suggestion to have a working podcast session as a bonus show! You are so clever! I am missing you all. See you when I return from my sabbatical!
Mrs. Oakes
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Bob,
First of all your kids are great! I wanted to ask you about a couple of things in relation to your goals with the podcasts. My co-worker and I are curious about what your curriculum goals are? I am curious if you have any thoughts of giving students control of editing their podcast? Are there goals for them to learn about the technology? My co-worker is curious about the connection to the reading and writing connections that you are looking at? We both have thoughts about what your goals are and the specific outcomes that you are trying to achieve. We would love to hear your goals. If you have a chance please let us know in general what you are trying to do. We both work with teachers to integrate technology into their classroom. You students’ podcasts are a great example of how this can be done. We would also be interested in how your students contribute to the blog. It seems you are doing the uploading and editing, but the question I still have is have you thought about giving this control to students? Why or why not? Thanks again, keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Mr. Tadge O’Brien
Back at ya Tadge, hi, I love this class Room 208 too! Check out podcast 13 and 15, where Bob and I had a strategey-cast and discussed 21st century literacy and what it means and how to explain it to parents. Then check out what his kids said in an interview when I asked what did it look like in their classroom and how did they think it was different from years ago when their parents were in school. These kiddos nail it every time.
The technology is a tool it is not the goal.The kids work on their writing, math , reading, science, music, computer, art, PE, health, etc. that is their role. These students have a purpose they are writing their own newsletter home to their parents. It just so happens their writing for their parents turned into a blog, then turned into a podcast. Their purpose is still communication. Now they just have a larger audience, the whole web can now appreciate what their message is. The funny thing is, they don’t think of it as different from when they were writing for their printed newsletter for their parents. However, their writing has improved substantially! They set their own standards and constantly raise the bar for themselves. They choose topics to share each week. They are telling their story. After all what is more meaningful today…..for a student to set the path for their learning or for the teacher to determine the entire journey. One exciting thing that happened these past two weeks is a former student/podcaster has returned to volunteer in the classroom. He has taken over some of the editing of the podcast. What a great way for him to continue his podcasting love and work with the technology while the Room 208 kids do what they do best— write, write the script. Glad you are enjoying the podcast, I love them too, as you can see by my continued comments.
Tadge,
The main goal—in a nutshell— is that it is providing students with authentic reading and writing opportunities. The improvement that I have seen in both areas (mostly writing) since we began blogging and podcasting is phenomenal. Kids are motivated. They know they need to get it right because the entire world could be listening, assessing, challenging.
They no longer are writing just for the teacher. They are writing for parents, other students, other educators. I am no longer the only teacher in our room. We have input and guidance from other adults across the globe. The students are also doing the teaching as they help each other get their pieces polished for authentic publication.
As far as the technology, Cheryl puts it well: it is the tool more than the goal. Without a doubt, my students could put the show together entirely by themselves. Unfortunately, time doesn’t allow. I can’t take the academic time to have them edit the shows. This takes a substantial amount of time. My purpose is to help them become better writers, readers, researchers. However, having said that, I am constantly showing them how the technology works, explaining the process, and constantly sharing articles, podcasts, and knowledge that centers around 21st Century Literacy skills.
The students control all the equipment. They set up the gear and break it down, and now they are doing the actual recording. With the arrival of Garageband ’06, it is even going to be even easier for them to put more of the show together because it will take less time. At present, there are students who have asked to learn how to edit and and work the software and are giving up their recess once a week to learn . They are the ones who trained the student who has returned from 5th grade to volunteer. His volunteering is invaluable, as he will get most of the editing accomplished, freeing up my time in the evenings! I can’t thank him enough!
Thanks for your questions and comments.
Bob
Hi Bob!
At Hampton Academy Middle School we are working hard to inspire teachers to use technology to improve student interest and learning in all areas. Have you any interest in possibly sharing your experiences at our district’s in-service day (March 14) TOTALLY devoted to the intgration of technology in our day to day teaching lives? Let me know!We are presently in the planning stages of our mini-conference which is running from 8-3 across 2 buildings. You’re practically our neighbor!
Bob, you’re invited to comment on this entry:
http://www.mguhlin.net/blog/archives/2006/01/entry_1048.htm
which is a response to Dean Shareski’s post.
No matter what, what a great podcast this was! I truly enjoyed listening to your students converse about “false accusations.”
Best wishes,
Miguel Guhlin
http://www.mguhlin.net/blog
Hello Miguel,
Thank you for the invite. I think, however, that I’ll refer you to my post back to Tadge, as I think I’d be repeating myself.
Bob
Wow your cluster map is growing by leaps and bounds! WOW.
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