Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Pocasting Week 8

Before researching about podcasting, I didn't really understand the concept nor the significance it could have in an educational standpoint. After the video and other research on the topic, I have made a breakthrough and now have an understanding of the role podcasting can have. My family has always been totally dependent upon television, watching many shows from 7th Heaven to General Hospital on soapnet to Texas Ranger playoffs. In fact we have gotten to the point where we cannnot even sleep at night without the guidance of this device. Podcasting allows us to be able to capture shows that we can watch or listen to later, which would be beneficial with the many extracurricular activities each member of my family is involved in. The only difference is it would be podcasting that other peers have recorded or videoed, instead of broadcasting where many of the hit shows are recorded in studios. Podcasting can be an essential tool that can gain many benefits by being incorporated into the classrooms. It can be used in the classrooms by showing a video or recording that pertains to the topic being discussed since there does exist a variety of podcasts, there will likely be one that fits the topic at hand. Students also get insight because they realize that anyone can partake in podcasting in sharing their knowledge. At this point it may be a good idea to allow children to create their own podcast demonstrating the knowledge they have gained.


Web 2.0 and Podcasts applications are both communication tools that allow technology to be a gateway to students knowledge capacity. Podcasts and Web 2.0 give multiple perspectives of any given objective and allow for opinions and individual experiences to be shared using technology. It allows students to reason with one another and actually feel apart of the learning process. When a teacher just stands at the front of the room lecturing all day it tailspins the class to a state of boredom, which then the material loses its effectiveness. That is why utilizing these tools is so important to the educational well being of children. Podcasting does differ from Web 2.0 in that it is an audio tool that allows people to capture different shows or sounds to listen to that are created by anyone. Anyone can create a podcast with simply a microphone, access to the web, and a computer. The most popular form of podcasting is through itunes because so many people have some sort of Apple accesory, whether it be the Iphone, Ipad, Ipod, etc. Web 2.0 gives us the opportunity to read and write to one another through the web using many social networks. While both use technology, one is an audio tool while the other is a reading and writing tool. The combination of both along with the teacher's help form a successful educational experience for youngsters.




I own an Iphone and use it in many ways because smart phones now give access to several beneficial apps. I use it to listen to music, research when a computer is unavailable; use it to check the ESPN app to see how my favorite teams fare, and to play games. I would use this device in the classroom because so many kids can relate. I know for a fact that my little 4 year old brother already knows how to utilize an Iphone. Many kids under age 2 know how to unlock and get to my games at the daycare I work at. By incorporating this into the classroom we could make an outreach to children by something they often use, and that is fun for them. Ipad could be used to play an innovative math game to settle kids back to a classroom environment after an energetic class such as P.E. or recess. While many advantages exist such as quick communication, access to a variety of information, and interactive ways to learn by communicating with people across the globe; it also has its' downfalls by limiting face to face communication. 


Go Rangers!!! Colby Lewis let's win Game 6 and Bring our first championship back to Arlington, Texas:)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Web 2.0 applications

Web 2.0 has transformed the way people are using the internet. It has allowed for a more engaging experience as students can benefit from the quirks it provides. In the past, people have been forced to rely on only written material on the web. However, recently with the guidance of Web 2.0, it gives us the opportunity to read and respond in a written fashion that brings about more significance. Some examples of this include wiki, voicetread, and facebook or other social networks. All of these tools provide more efficiency. Students get a chance to participate in live discussions with other people that are not necesarrily in the same room or building as they are. They get to view multiple perspectives of any given objective, and thus expands the amount of knowledge they retain. These tools that web 2.0 offers will have a tremendous impact on the classrooms of children because it will further prepare them for a future that has become heavily reliant on the technology surrounding it.