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!