Search iTunes U

In our class on Friday we showcased iTunes U, a great source for video and audio content.  The image below is a link to a video tip on how to search iTunes for content, and how to filter the results for just iTunes U or Podcasts.  Note, I captured this video tip using Jing, a free screencasting application.

Some Resources and Notes

Thanks for a good discussion around some of the considerations that need to go into making successful and relevant blogs and podcasts for the classroom. There really are a lot of possibilities - but like all good teaching you need to plan things out first. Think about the goals you hope to accomplish and how you want the students to get there - then go for it!

Here are the two handouts from our last TIP session: Blogging and Podcasting Considerations and Making your blog into a podcast is EASY! We hope they're useful.

When I got home today, I found the March 2009 issue of Educational Leadership from ASCD. The topic of the entire issue? Literacy 2.0 (discussing the educational considerations of the read/write web - what a coincidence!). The articles examine the literacies needed to engage fluently in these new technology media. The first article I read is called "The Joy of Blogging" and describes a 5th grade blogging class and the ways that it supported students' development of communication skills. You can check it out at: www.ascd.org. Some of the articles are available to non-ASCD members while others will require a purchase. If you aren't a member (and you really ought to consider joining), find someone in your building who is and have them help you out. Maybe you can borrow a copy of the issue.

Finally, here's a video from Blogger on making your blog into a podcast. (FYI Blogger's help section seems pretty comprehensive if you find yourself wondering how to do something new). There's also a link to it on the right hand column of this blog.

Good luck with your TIP projects. Let us know if we can help you!

Notes on Recording and Saving Audio

Hello all! I have enjoyed perusing your comments about the status of your projects and look forward to seeing the further development of them! In our TIP session on Tuesday, I passed out a set of notes with basic instructions for recording audio using Audacity and for saving files to your First Class email account (so that they can accessed online).

I've made a few revisions to those notes and posted them as a  .pdf file here:

Notes on Audio Recording and Saving to First Class

For more in-depth instruction on using Audacity or Garage Band to record your audio files, be sure to check out Atomic Learning's tutorials. Audacity also provides help support at audacity.sourceforge.net/help/. Apple tutorials for Garage Band are at apple.com/support/garageband/.

Have fun with your projects! As always, if you run into a roadblock feel free to contact me.

How's it Going?

Please let us know how your T-I-P project is going. We ask all participants in the Blogging and Podcasting course to add a comment to this post on (1) your project idea and (2) any questions that may have arisen as you plan and begin your projects. Please include your name in your post.

Thanks for sharing!

Adding Audio Files to Your Blog

In our class tomorrow, we will be previewing some ways to record audio files.  Audio files are a great way to add interest to your blog.  Here is a little snippet to give you an idea about the possibilities!

Blogging Articles

Two articles recently showed up in my inbox about blogging. What great timing!

First, on January 7, 2009, an article entitled "How To: Start a Place-Based Blog" by Momo Chang. This article gives helpful suggestions (like get organized, find an audience, create a protocol, etc.) on setting up guidelines for your blog project that can help your blog succeed.

The next article was posted on January 13, 2009. Entitled "Writing for the World: Blogs Give Students an Audience" and written by Elena Aguilar, it offers an interview with Jessie Thaler, an eighth grade English teacher who is blogging with her students.

Both articles were published on Edutopia. Check them out, and while you're there, subscribe to Edutopia's FREE e-newsletter to get interesting articles in your inbox, too!

Edutopia

Edutopia is a great teaching and learning resource created by the George Lucas Educational Foundation.  I receive both the print and electronic versions of the magazine.  If you are not already familiar with Edutopia, check it out for tips, best practices, and recommendations surrounding technology in the classroom.

The most recent issue has an article entitled "Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom." The article discusses how "student-produced podcasts bolster knowledge and communication skills" and includes links to some excellent podcasting resources that might help spark some ideas for your projects.

Notes from November 4, 2008

Hello! Thank you all for an engaging first session of the Blogging and Podcasting T-I-P course. Here are links to all of the documents we distributed on Tuesday:

• November 4, 2008 - Agenda
  
• Guiding Questions While Exploring Blogs and Podcasts
  
• Blog and Podcast Planning Worksheet
• T-I-P Project Guidelines

If you would like us to send you any of the planning documents in Word form, please let us know.

Also, here are the powerpoint slides, delivered by VoiceThread:


The card trick was found on the High School Math blog. The word cloud insprired by the "Why let our students blog" video was created using Wordle.

Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about the first session of our class. We look forward to continuing to work together!

Now about Podcasting...

Anne has done a great job getting this blog up and running, so I need to do my part and promote podcasts! On the right are a couple of links to podcast information. I'll get more up there soon. On Tuesday, November 4, we'll have a chance to explore some podcasts and blogs to examine their design characteristics and educational uses. Until then, here's an interesting article from the Guardian (UK) about podcasting:

Why every school should be podcasting, by George Cole (9/18/07)

And this video about podcasting in the classroom, put together by Collette Cassinelli (I'm not sure where she's located), gives a nice introduction and overview:

Why Let Our Students Blog?

For a visual answer to this question, watch this video by Rachel Boyd, a primary school teacher from New Zealand.

Welcome Letter

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to welcome you all to the TIP Mini-Course: Blogging and Podcasting. As you have surely noticed, the title for the course has changed. Due to enrollment numbers and topic compatibility, we have decided to combine our Blogging and Podcasting courses. The two are a great fit! The updated syllabus can be found on the Technology-In-Practice Professional Development TeacherWeb site.

Prior to our first session on Tuesday, November 4, please think about how you might use blogging and/or podcasting in your teaching and learning processes and bring your ideas to class. Since all TIP Mini-Courses require participants to create a final project that can be utilized in their work, we will begin talking about your project ideas on November 4.

Please note this general information about our class:

• Class dates: Tuesday, November 4; Tuesday, January 20; and Friday, February 27
• Class time: 10:30 - 12:30
• Class location: We will be starting in the Lowell School Computer Lab (Room 132). Some breakout sessions may move to Aaron Gould's classroom (Lowell School, Room 229)

Please bring your laptops (with a charged battery!) to each session. Additionally, if you have a personal headset you may want to bring it for listening to audio files. Otherwise, you are welcome to use the student headsets in the Lab.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact either or both of us. We look forward to exploring these exciting educational technology tools with you!

Best,

Aaron Gould, Lowell School Grade 4 Teacher
Anne Sudbay, Lowell School Technology Integration Specialist