This will sound a little like a rant, ok maybe a lot. No matter how frustrating the technology part of this interview assignment was, overall I enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about technology and myself in the process!
While my interview experience was amazing and editing my video
went fairly quickly, uploading my video to YouTube was extremely time
consuming! I went through what I am sure many people go through. Everything is
going fine, you are ready to upload, it is supposed to be quick and easy,
right? Wrong! My video seemed hopelessly stuck in my iPad. I did everything
right, but it would not let me sign into YouTube. When I tried it from the
YouTube side, the message I received was that my video was not compatible with
YouTube. Grrrrrrr! So I exported my video from iMovie to my camera roll in
hopes of importing on my laptop. Once again, not a smooth process. Finally, I
was able to upload my video to YouTube. The time indicator said 30 min, but
after my experience, I knew better than to trust it! It took over an hour but
it happened and I am proud that I stuck it out!
The moral of my story is that even though I was frustrated and it
took waaaaaay longer than I anticipated, my project was completed and I did not
give up. I learned quite a few things along the way that I am sure I will pass
along to my students some day. Until then, I will probably attempt posting more
videos to YouTube, to perfect the processes!
My Keys to Technology Success...
1. Be Patient
2. Be Persistent
3. Be willing to ask for help.
4. Be willing to try new things.
5. Remember that you too can learn from mistakes.
6. Do some research to help yourself.
7. Keep your GOAL in mind!!!
I had the great pleasure of interviewing Cyndi Danner-Kuhn last week at her office on the campus of Kansas State University. She has a passion for technology integration in all facets of education. Currently she teaches a required tech integration course for all undergraduate education majors and also assists K-State faculty in tech integration in the classroom. I hope you enjoy my interview as much as I did!
Podcast: a digital audio file posted on the internet; usually
recorded on a computer or a portable digital audio recorder, this could
be a smart phone or an iPod.
There are many reasons why podcasts are beneficial for both instructors and students. Like a Blog or a Wiki, Podcasts allow both students and teachers to share information with not only one another, but with anyone who is interested in the topic at hand.
Podcast PROS
Podcasts are inexpensive, simple technology (p.34). No extra or special technology purchases need to be made in order to create a podcast. Most if not all adult learners have a the internet, a laptop or desktop computer, or an iPad/tablet, or a smartphone available to them. Any of these devices, as long as they are capable of recording video or audio, are ok for making a podcast.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A PODCAST?
WATCH & SEE!
A podcast does not have to be downloaded to your device, it can be streamed (p.35). You don't have to worry about saving a bunch of unnecessary files to your digital device. You can however, save a podcast and transfer it to a portable digital device for ease of access (p. 35).
When using iTunes, podcasts are automatically updated for you. When a person subscribes to a particular podcast through iTunes, every time that person opens iTunes, it automatically checks to see if a new podcast is available (p.35).
A powerful strategy for instructors that will benefit students: record the sections of a lecture that are particularly difficult to understand or that summarize the lecture etc... this way students can listen as many times as needed (p.37).
Students are able to demonstrate competencies, problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and discourse (p.43), while using 21st Century technology skills.
Students can share what they have learned with the world.
Learners participating in online courses have yet another opportunity to
see each other, put a face with a name and learn from each other too. There are so many topics and so much that can be learned from a podcast. Why not listen? Why not contribute? nationalmuseum.af.mil twitter.com
Anything can be learned or shared through a podcast!!!
frenchlearner.com
Podcast CONS Like any type of technology, there is always a learning curve and it takes some loner to learn than others. Some adult learners will be apprehensive about adding yet another new type of technology to their tech tool belt. Many individuals may be apprehensive about putting themselves out there for the world to see. Podcasts can be made private, but some adult learners may still be apprehensive about digital security.
Questions:
If you are currently a teacher with students of any age, have you used podcasts in your instruction?
Have you had your students create podcasts? If so, what was the podcast used for? A way to present acquired knowledge? A summative evaluation? A collaborative effort in a group setting?
How did you evaluate the podcast?
Did any of your students struggle with the technology aspect of the podcast? If so, how did they overcome those challenges?
Reference: King, K. P. (2011). Podcasting. In The professor's guide to taming technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. tinkernut. 2008, March 23. How to create a podcast. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrBbczS9I0 www.teachthecivilwar.com www.bedsciples.com- iPhone pic socialmediaexaminer.com- PodCast pic