Podcasting

A Podcast is literally an ipod plus a broadcast. There are a variety of types of podcasts: audio, vidcast, and enhanced podcast (audio and a still image). Podcasts have a variety of uses. They can be used for radio programs, blogs, educational,interviews, reviews, and news and politics. They are a great resource for both students and teachers. As a new teacher it can often be difficult to know the best way to teach a topic. Podcasts allow teachers to watch other teachers teach the topic in a way they probably had not thought of. Students can also listen to a podcast or watch a vidcast- say, if they for some crazy reason get sick of hearing you yap all day. It is also an amazing way to help struggling students- for remediation purposes- to whom maybe you don't have the time to spend re-teaching an entire lesson. Kids can even make their own podcasts, which brings a creative, fun edge to a topic.
I love the idea of podcasts! I am constantly confiscating random electronic gadget and toys, and one of the articles I read for the annotated bibliography mentioned that the traditional in-school attitude of NO ELECTRONICS does two bad things: kids love technology, so you're denying them something that they love; also, you are not meshing with their world, which is rapidly becoming all about technology.