Session+1

Session #1


 * What is a podcast?**

A podcast is simply a downloadable audio or video file. The content is created by anyone with the means to produce it, be it an individual or a Fortune 500 company. Anyone can watch or listen and the vast majority of them are free. The content can cover literally anything and vary widely in quality and value.

What distinguishes a podcast from a simple audio or video file hosted on the Internet is the "feed." A feed is a special file that allows a listener to "subscribe" to a podcast. Subscriptions are like magazine subscriptions: Every new issue of a magazine is delivered to your door. The podcast is the same way. Every time you open iTunes or whatever you listen to podcasts with, the newest podcast episodes are delivered to your computer, ready for listening. Podcasts are free, with only a very few exceptions.

The "podcatcher" (software for listening to podcasts) of choice is usually iTunes, except that most any multimedia player can now manage podcasts.


 * Finding podcasts to listen to**

Many places on the Internet serve as podcast directories. The principal one is found in iTunes in the Music Store. Click on Podcasts in the ITMS (iTunes Music Store) to browse the selections.

Other sites such as Podcast Pickle, podcast.com and others serve the same function.

Sometimes, when visiting blogs and other sites you may see "badges" talking about podcasts. Those can sometimes lead to "feeds" which you can subscribe to.

To subscribe to a podcast, you simply need to find the podcast page and look for a Subscribe button. Other times, you need to find the URL for the feed and paste that into your podcatching software.


 * What can podcasts do in your classroom?**

Podcasts are incredibly useful in the classroom. You as the teacher can use podcasts to supplement your curriculum. You can record your teaching for children who were absent or might need extra time to absorb the content. You can find subject matter podcasts to enhance the curriculum in your current lesson. One of the best ways to use podcasts is when you anticipate being away from the classroom. You can take a few minutes to record some direct instruction for your students and, as long as your students know how to access your podcast, all your sub instructions need to say is "tell students to listen to today's podcast."

Teachers aren't the only ones that can create podcasts! You can have your students create podcasts that demonstrate their mastery of curriculum. Students also enjoy mastering the techniques involved with recording podcasts. You will find some students that quite enjoy being audio engineers and producers and they can teach the rest of the students how to do it on their own.

How can you envision using podcasts in your classroom? If you're logged in, please take a moment to edit this page and add your ideas to this space.
 * To teach my students about Achieve Texas and the sixteen different career clusters. Hopefully the students will eventually produce different podcasts for each cluster.


 * Starting points for your first podcast**

Think about your first six weeks of the new school year and identify a lesson that can be enhanced with a podcast.

What ideas from the first six weeks could benefit from a podcast? If you're logged in, please take a moment to edit this page and add your ideas to this space.
 * In addition to the Achieve Texas information, I would like to make a podcast of my computer lab rules.