Blog Post Four

Why Podcasts?
Before this assignment, that was a question I would have asked as well. But when I sat down and begin to think about it I realized that we are in an "Information Age". An age where everything is driven by technology, including our education system. So really, why podcasting? To begin to understand the answer to that question, we must first understand what podcasts are. The term podcast is derived from two words: "broadcast" and "pod". Pod coming from iPod, because podcasts are often listened to on portable media players. Podcasting is a converged medium bringing together audio. People use podcasts in various ways, including the way Langwitches describes it being used. Podcasting with first graders? You have got to be kidding me!? That thought exactly is what was running though my head as I began to reading 1st-graders-create-their-own-read-along-audiobook . But when I read through to the end and saw how well the students responded to it, I was amazed! If you are still asking yourself "Why Podcasting", just explore the benefits Joe Dale describes in The benefits of podcasting in the classroom .
How Do We Do A Podcast?
Anyone with an Internet connection and some inexpensive audio equipment can produce a podcast and make it available online. First, you must decide your reasoning for podcasting. People use podcasting for numerous things. Some have something they want to express, others use podcasting as a way to draw attention and if you are like Langwithces, you use your podcasting for first graders. After making that decision, refure to iTunes Making a Podcats where you will find step by step instructions on creating your own podcast!