Using Podcasts in the Classroom

Hello again South Cobb High parents,

Since I have begun to integrate technology into our World Literature classroom, students have been extremely engaged. Students are excited about the upcoming classroom activity, which consists of creating a Podcast. Podcast give students the opportunity to record and edit an audio and then upload their audio on the Internet.

Students can also transfer their Podcast on their iPod. Most students in the classroom have an iPod or know someone who does. Students enjoy listening to their iPod, so why not make students' iPod experience educational?

As parents, I want you to be involved in our classroom and be a part of your child's learning experience. As a way for you to be involved in our classroom, students will be posting a link to their Podcast in the "comments" section below, so you can listen to what students are learning and evaluate how technology is being used in our World Literature classroom.

Our class will be visiting the computer lab during the upcoming week to create their own version of Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar via Podcast. Students will be working in groups, giving them the opportunity to develop collaborative skills needed for projects in the workplace. Podcast also gives students the opportunity to re-examine their interpretation of the play as well as the opportunity to be creative. Podcast give students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of what they have learned in any subject whether it be World Literature or mathematics. Furthermore, Podcast are easy and quick to create.

To use a Podcast, students will be using a microphone that will be provided in the computer lab although computer microphones are also available in almost any electronic store for less than $20. Students will also be required to download a software program that will allow them to edit their audio file. Many audio software programs, like Audacity, can be downloaded online for free and are easy to use. For added emphasis, students can add sound effects to their Podcast and include music.

To learn more about how Podcast can be integrated into the classroom, watch the YouTube video, titled "Integrating podcasting into your classroom."

Don't forget to look for your child's Julius Caesar Podcast posted in the "comments" section during the upcoming week. As always, you may contact me at anytime via email at megan.henley@gmail.com.

Best,

Ms. Henley
World Lit. Teacher

Using Technology Via Blabber in the Classroom

Dear South Cobb High Parents,

We are off to a great start in World Literature this year. I am looking forward to getting to know more about your child as the semester progresses. My goal throughout the Fall 2009 semester is to find integrative ways for your child to use technology inside the classroom. Technology will allow students to become more engaged in classroom activities to make learning more fun and meaningful for students both inside and outside of the classroom.

One of the ways that I will be integrating technology into the classroom is through a web site called Blabber. This assignment will require the use of a computer, either at home or in a classroom computer lab.

Blabber allows students to upload a 30 second audio, similarly to a Podcast. Before uploading the audio portion, you have to create a picture. After uploading the picture, you can cut out the mouth, so that the picture will speak in addition to the audio recording.

This web site will function as an integrative tool because it is quick and easy for students to use. Furthermore, the web site can be used for various activities and assignments. In our World Literature classroom, I plan to use this web site for students to discuss how they feel about an assignment or to tell me about a specific character he or she read about.

Blabber can be used for any academic subjects in addition to being used outside of the classroom. Many students are already using Blabber just for fun, so why not integrate it into the classroom to make learning fun for students? Creating a Blabber is much more fun, quicker, and a more effective way for students to analyze a specific character within a reading. The Blabber will replace our Mini-Body Biographies that we are already completing, which takes up to an hour for students to complete. However, with Blabber, students can complete an interactive character analysis in less than 30 minutes.

The Blabber will adhere to the Georgia Performance Standards ELA9W3, which states that the student will use technology to support writing, and Georgia Performance Standard ELAALRL1. Standard ELAALRL1 says that the student will demonstrate understanding by identifying a character within a story as the basis for interpretation.

Finally, I am excited to be working with your child throughout the semester. Many students and parents have found that technology has contributed to their child's education. To find out more about what other parents and teachers have to say about using technology in the classroom, watch the You Tube video, titled "Technology in Schools." I am here for you and your child, so please contact me at anytime via email at megan.henley@gmail.com or you may respond to specific Blogs via comments.

Thank you for your support,

Ms. Henley

Your child's World Lit. Teacher