This American Life - Episode #207: Special Ed

Originally aired in 2002, this episode contains stories about people who were told that they're different. But what is 'different' really? Sometimes different can bring unique a perspective to a situation, sometimes different is difficult to understand, and sometimes different can be a complete mystery to all involved.

ECOMP 7010: Handheld Mobile Devices

Directions: In this activity we will be exploring many ways that mobile devices can be used to access information, communicate, share audio and visual files, and enhance classroom lessons. We will be focusing on creative and forward thinking possibilities. This is a “jig saw” approach to an activity. Instead of all of you researching and reading all five topics, each group will become experts at one topic.

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Audio Apps: Classroom Use of Broadcasts, Podcasts, Phonecasts

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Authors:
Tammy McNulty
Nick Shuman
Marty Warren

In today's 21st Century Classroom, a critical component in this skill base is that of digital storytelling. We have the technology to create and tell stories in a wide variety of ways, with new techniques and tools emerging all the time. Our project looks at podcasting and the speed with which this form of communication has spread. And, we figured what better way to explore podcasts and podcasting than to make one ourselves!

• Please use this link to download our 'enhanced' podcast.
• Our Show Notes can be accessed via a shared Google Doc by clicking on this link: http://tinyurl.com/7qewva9
• We hope you enjoy the show!

Tammy, Nick, & Marty

This American Life - Episode #449: Middle School

 I just finished listening to an episode of This American Life from NPR on the topic of "Middle School." The topic was requested by who else, a middle school student who listens to the podcast. The entire podcast is available online as well as the individual segments. I just thought it was interesting to here from actual middle school students about what they thought of middle school. It made me wonder what our students would say if they had been interviewed, and that we are not alone in the triumphs and challenges that we face everyday.

MSK Science Podcast - Episode #1

ECOMP 6016 - Assignment #3: Write, record, and post an audio program relevant to your classroom or school.

Script

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INTRODUCTION

Narrator 1

Welcome to the MSK Science Podcast! What follows is a short story about two elements from the periodic table: Hydrogen and Helium.

Narrator 2

This podcast was written as a demonstration for 6th grade students on how a podcast could be used to demonstrate and share understanding.

SCENE

The playground at Periodic Table Elementary School. The bell rings releasing the elements from class and into recess. Hydrogen, seeing Helium emerge from the building, calls out.

Hydroden (H)

Hey Helium…over here! How’s it going?

Helium (He)

Not bad Hydrogen, not bad…considering I am the coolest element around.

(H)

Well Helium, I don’t mean the brag but I am the first element on the periodic table you know.

(He)

Oh big deal! I can lift balloons high into the sky!

(H)

Well you see, I was doing that long before you were. Have you ever heard of the Hindenburg?

(He)

Oh yeah…did that thing blow up?

(H)

Hey, that wasn’t my fault, The Myth Busters proved that.

(He)

So, you think you’re better than everyone else, huh?

(H)

No, I’m a team player. For example, when two of my get together with my friend Oxygen, we make one of the most powerful and important substances in the whole world!

(He)

Oh, peanut butter!?

(H)

No, try again.

(He)

Okay, let’s see. Two Hydrogens and one Oxygen…put them together, hmmmm…OH, YOU MEAN WATER!

(H)

You got it.

(He)

Well, I can’t argue with that. I guess you are the coolest element around.

(H)

I’m not the coolest. We’re all cool in our own way. Remember you, in addition to making balloons fly high in the sky safely, you help make peoples’ voices really squeaky-sounding!

(He)

Hey, I do do that, don’t I? Thanks H!

CREDITS

Narrator 3

This has been an MSK Science Podcast.

Narrator 4

Original story idea by Mr. Shuman and Mrs. Scott. Refined and edited by Mrs. Scott’s 6th grade science students.

Narrator 3

Podcast introduction recorded by David and Samantha.

Narrator 5

Hydrogen voiced by Mr. Shuman.

Narrator 4

Helium voiced by Mr. Shuman.

Narrator 5

Podcast credits recorded by Jared, Eliza and Cassie.

END

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Download Podcast

Book Reflection: Chapter 8: Podcasting, Video and Screencasting, and Live Streaming

In chapter 8 Will Richardson jam-packs a lot of multimedia tools, ideas and resources for you to consider to the point where you can easily be overwhelmed. Thus this was definitely not a chapter to read all in one sitting. However, the goal of each of the sub-topics is the same: to get students to invest time and energy to create quality pieces of work for the purpose of publishing the products online.

I love podcasts and the power they give students to tell a variety of stories. Each year I see podcasts popping up in more and more of our 6th grade classes as an option for students to express their understanding and/or mastery of a topic or skill. So much in fact that "How to make a Podcast" has become a necessary part of my computer literacy curriculum that fights to be the first taught each year. Last year we got our first set of "enhanced" podcasts from one of our 6th grade language arts classes published to the web (click here) and we hope to add more classes in other content areas this year!

Video and screencasting are just like podcasting except you are cranking up the difficulty level a notch or two. When you add video, you are adding a lot more to the process in the form of planning (a.k.a. scripting and storyboarding) filming, editing and rendering. While the time investment is significant, the results can be well worth it and students will be invested - remember how popular YouTube is!

For those of you who are technology integrators, media specialists, or the teacher who everyone turns to for tech. help, screencasting is a great way to provide tutorials and how-to guides for both students and teachers. As the MLTI Tech Lead for my school, each year I would create tutorials and guides for my users on a variety of topics, everything from changing-your-password to saving-to-the-server to backing up your browser bookmarks. Just one problem…NOBODY was opening the documents to read them. No matter how many screenshots I used or how many times I refined my directions or how many funky arrows, circles and squares I added, I would still get flooded with emails and phone calls asking for help. Then, last year I used the screencast tool built-in to Quicktime 10 to make my tutorials and WOW what a difference! That was it, I was sold on screencasts.

In the case of podcasting as well as any digital video production, this is a great time to talk with students about copyright, creative commons resources and citing where you get your digital media from. The reason why my school has yet to be able to publish student iMovies online is because this issue has yet to take a firm hold in our school culture. However, with the integration of podcasts and iMovies entering into more and more classrooms and emerging from more and more assignments we hope to see a change in this for the better.

Resources…
My Podcasting Unit
Diigo: Book link list for Podcasting | Screencast | Live Streaming