Podcasts/Vidcasts

What?
This week we learned about Podcasts and Vidcasts and what the difference is and where they used. We talked about how both of these can be helpful in teaching.

So What?
I honestly didn't know the difference between a podcast and a vidcast. I like that we now have the technology that we can record sound, video or both together and send it all over the internet. We discussed how you can use the podcasts to listen to famous speeches or to discuss animals sounds and their differences.

Just the other day I was wanting to show a youtube video to the kids I work with at school and was not able to because youtube is blocked at that school. It was helpful when we learned about Zamzar that will help you to record and download what you want so you can use it freely. I have enjoyed that everything we are learning in this class is also so useful to me right now. I will now be able to find whatever podcasts and vidcasts that I need and be able to save them so I will always have them in the future.

Now What?
Now what I need to do is become more familiar with both podcast and vidcast. I need to understand my curriculum and begin finding things that will be helpful when I do start teaching. I will be able to allow them to listen to speeches, science and math explanations and all sorts of wonderful things. Even as I just type into google "podcast" it comes up with business, science, music, health, etc. There is so much information out there that can be accessed through podcasts.

Vidcasts can be better in lots of ways for all students because not only will they be able to hear instruction but they will see it also. We talked about doing quantum physics just on a podcast and how hard that would be to follow but if we are able to see the steps as well it makes it easier. Again by doing a google search I found vidcasts that teach how to quilt, show lab testing, show music videos and all sorts of interesting things. I will use both of these tools often in my classroom, if it just to set the mood, or for specific instruction it will be a helpful tool.