Supporting 21st Century Literacy with Blogs and Podcasts

Slide 1: Teaching in a Participatory Culture How blogs and podcasts support 21st century literacy Jennifer Carrier Dorman http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/blogpodcast

Slide 2: In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. Eric Hoffer

Slide 3: Who Are These Digital Natives?

Slide 4: How were they created? Image courtesy of dharmacat http://flickr.com/photos/massarts/

Slide 5: How were they created? Image courtesy of Gerard Bierens http://flickr.com/photos/gbierens/

Slide 6: Image courtesy of Wesley Fryer http://flickr.com/photos/wfryer

Slide 7: Learning Profile of Digital Natives  Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast.  They like to parallel process and multi-task.  They prefer their graphics before their text rather than Image courtesy of Jason Bradley the opposite. http://flickr.com/photos/jasonabradley/ Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants – Marc Prensky

Slide 8: Learning Profile of Digital Natives  They prefer random access (like hypertext).  They function best when networked.  They thrive on instant gratification and frequent rewards.  They prefer games to “serious” work. Image courtesy of 46137 http://flickr.com/photos/wolfworld Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants – Marc Prensky

Slide 9: Learn More About Digital Natives  http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/digitalnatives Image courtesy of Graphic Footprints http://flickr.com/photos/graphicfootprints

Slide 10: Web 2.0 The evolution of the read/write web

Slide 11: Web 1.0  Web 2.0

Slide 12: Blogs Giving students a voice

Slide 13: Blogs A blog is a website for which an individual or a group frequently generates text, photographs, video or audio files, and/or links, typically (but not always) on a daily basis.

Slide 14: Blogs in Plain English http://snipurl.com/blogsinplainenglish

Slide 15: Why the sudden popularity of blogs?  The answer is RSS

Slide 16: What is RSS?  Depending on who you talk to, RSS stands for Rich Site Summary or Real Simple Syndication

Slide 17: RSS – Really Simple Syndication http://www.edutopia.org/tech-teacher-RSS

Slide 18: Ask an Expert . . .  Excerpts from Will Richardson’s publication, RSS: A Quick Start Guide for Educators  http://snipurl.com/1w86t  Will’s Blog  http://weblogg-ed.com/  Will’s Book  http://snipurl.com/1w87c

Slide 19: What is RSS?  This code, usually referred to as a "feed," makes it possible for readers to "subscribe" to the content that is created on a particular website so they no longer have to visit the site itself to get it.

Slide 22: RSS Syndication  As is true with traditional syndication, the content comes to you instead of you going to get it, hence “Real Simple Syndication.”

Slide 23: Applications for RSS Feeds  An RSS aggregator checks the feeds you subscribe to and it collects all the new content from those sites you are subscribed to.

Slide 25: Blogs in Schools

Slide 26: Blogs in School?  Blogs are tools, and like any tools they can be used or misused.  Misuse occurs more often when there's a lack of instruction  Blogging in school models appropriate online behavior and offers teachers the chance to address issues of online safety and intellectual property

Slide 27: Why Students Shouldn’t Blog  People will read it.  People might not like it.  They might share test answers with others.  They might be found by a child predator online  They might write something inappropriate.  They might find something inappropriate.  They might get other students to start blogging. http://blogging101.wikispaces.com/whywhynot

Slide 28: Why Students Should Blog  People will read it.  They might like it.  They might share what they've learned with others.  They might participate in a collaborative learning project.  They might become inspired to learn.  They might inspire others to learn.  They might get other students to start blogging.  If they don't talk in class, they might on a blog. http://blogging101.wikispaces.com/whywhynot

Slide 29: Blogging Tips for Students  Just because someone wrote it doesn't mean it's true.  You are writing for a GLOBAL audience. Don't get angry when a teacher, classmate, or (oh my gosh!) parent finds and reads your blog.  You are also writing for a LOCAL audience. The content of your posts should always be safe for discussion in class. http://blogging101.wikispaces.com/bloggersbeware

Slide 30: Blogging Tips for Teachers  Get permission slips from the parents before you even think of having your students in a blog. http://blogging101.wikispaces.com/bloggersbeware

Slide 31: Integration Ideas Ways that blogs can be incorporated

Slide 32: Daily Scribe – What we did today

Slide 33: Extending Class Discussion

Slide 34: Student Work Showcase

Slide 35: Student-Initiated Content

Slide 36: Student Sharing

Slide 37: Students Making a Difference http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com/ http://ninawrites.wordpress.com

Slide 38: Successful Tips for “Book” Blogs  Get comfortable with blogging  Choose a relevant book [article, topic, etc.]  Devise interesting questions  Solicit the author’s involvement  Welcome bloggers [experts] from outside the classroom Erik Langhorst – “The Dixie Clicks” 12/1/2006

Slide 39: Blog Hosting  Blogmeister – (school code required)  http://classblogmeister.com/  Edublogs – (personal professional blogs)  http://edublogs.org/  Blogger – (personal professional blogs)  https://www.blogger.com/  21 Classes – (free service is limited)  http://21classes.com/ http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/+Blogs

Slide 40: Getting Started  Surf a few educational blogs to get a feel for how teachers use them with students and also as part of their professional learning  Brainstorm application ideas for blogs in your classroom  Decide if your needs require a service that allows for all students to have a private blog in addition to the class blog  Sign up for a service and start blogging (it’s addictive!)

Slide 41: To Learn More . . . http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/+Blogs

Slide 42: Podcasts

Slide 43: Podcasts  iPod + Broadcast = Podcast  Amateur radio  Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files over the Internet using RSS syndication formats for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

Slide 44: Why use podcasts? Image courtesy of Zinkwazi http://flickr.com/photos/zinkwazi/

Slide 45: Why use podcasts?  Podcasts enable students to share their knowledge and expertise with others through a creative outlet.  Podcasts tap into a mode of media input that is commonplace for digital natives.  Podcasts empower students to form relationships with the content and each other in relevant ways.

Slide 46: Why use podcasts?  Podcasting is yet another way for them [students] to be creating and contributing ideas to a larger conversation, and it’s a way of archiving that contribution for future audiences to use.  Will Richardson, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms

Slide 47: How can podcasts be used?  In the classroom, educators and students can use podcasts to inform others about class news, current events, and areas of interest.  Students can use a podcast forum to persuade their peers to help others, make a difference, or try something new.  Podcasts can also be used to edutain others through creative narratives.

Slide 48: How can podcasts be used?  Podcasts engage students in thinking critically about their speaking fluency and communication skills.  The opportunity to create a podcast about what students would like to discuss and share with others is extremely motivating.

Slide 49: Integration Ideas  sequencing skills  planning sheets  sharing student work with the community  authentic audience  create characters out of literature  peer tutoring

Slide 50: Integration Ideas  improve fluency in reading  expression and speed  increases awareness of how they sound thus more practice  student input into community/world/historical issues  historical recounts  create a podcast to download for schools to use on field trips

Slide 51: Integration Ideas  notes for absent students (substitutes)  bring experts and knowledge to students  daily information  immediate access to information  second language learning enforcement  immediate feedback and communication

Slide 52: Integration Ideas  auditory modality of learning  forces students to focus on content  audio book reports  study guides  diminishes fear of public speaking  school information  school tours

Slide 53: Ways I Have Used Podcasts  Narratives  Conversations  Oral histories  Vocabulary and/or concept practice  Pod-tours  Unit or topic podcasts as overview of unit  Oral reports  Supplement instructional materials with existing podcasts created by others  Information for parents  Previews/reviews of course material  Differentiate research products for LS students

Slide 54: Class Unit Podcast Segments Political Policy Overview one governmental/political trend Vocab Vibes Explain and use two vocabulary words Innovation Station Define and explain the impact of one invention or innovation Cultural Commentary Explain the motivation for and effects of one new cultural trend Business Report Discuss the economic impacts of one event, trend, law, etc. Rewind the Mind Select one event or decision and hypothesize about what would have happened if the result had been different

Slide 55: Class Unit Podcast Segments Living History Interview one character Kids' Korner Explain what it was like to grow up in this era Web Wowzers Review one Internet site – giving specific details about the contents of the site Editorial Edition Select one event, law, trend, individual, etc. and provide your personal opinion Legal Learning Explain the motivation for and effects of one law or court case Intro/Outro Responsible for sewing together all the podcasts segments – creating intro and outro segments, adding transitions and music, and crediting contributors

Slide 56: Jumping in with both feet . . .  Listen to a few podcasts online  iTunes > Source List > Podcasts > Education  Get a feel for the genre  Podcasts are not “polished” – production value is secondary to the content

Slide 57: Creating a Podcast  Write your script.  Practice.  Record your audio file. (Audacity)  Edit your audio (Effect > Normalize)  Add and credit legally useable music (optional)  File > Save Project.  File > Export as MP3 > Edit ID3 Tags  Upload the MP3 file to a web server. (GCast)

Slide 58: Audacity Open-source cross-platform audio editing software

Slide 59: Downloading Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

Slide 60: Downloading the LAME MP3 Encoder http://snipurl.com/1wx41

Slide 61: eBook Resource http://snipurl.com/267ac

Slide 62: Setting Preferences  Edit > Preferences

Slide 63: Setting Preferences  Channels > 2 (Stereo)

Slide 64: Setting Preferences  Quality > 44100 Hz

Slide 65: Setting Preferences  Find Library > select the location on the hard drive where the LAME MP3 Encoder folder was saved (most likely C > Program Files > Audacity)

Slide 66: Toolbar

Slide 71: Audio Layers in Audacity

Slide 72: Step 1 Record your voice by clicking the red record button and speaking into the microphone Step 2 When you are finished recording press the yellow stop button Step 3 Rewind and listen to your recording by pressing the purple rewind key and green play key

Slide 73: Step 4 Edit out any gaps or mistakes in the audio by using the “Selection Tool” that looks like the letter I. Highlight the text that you do not want and hit the delete button on your keyboard.

Slide 74: Editing Audio  Edit > Select > All or Ctrl+A

Slide 75: Step 5 Time to add additional audio if desired. After you have downloaded your audio file, simply drag and drop your audio file in or click “Project” “Import Audio” and search for your file. Note, some files are in stereo and will show up as 2 different audio lines

Slide 76: Importing Audio  Project > Import Audio  Podsafe Music – copyright laws  Look for Creative Commons licenses  http://music.podshow.com/  http://www.podsafeaudio.com/  Credit all non-original audio  “Some of the music provided was from the PodShow Podsafe Music Network. Check it out at music.podshow.com."

Slide 77: Step 6 You can shift your audio and sound effects to the desired location, by using the Time Shift Tool Button

Slide 78: Editing Audio  Effect > Normalize  This should always be done  Other effects are optional  ‘Cross Fade In’ and ‘Cross Fade Out’ are good options for multi-voice audio projects

Slide 79: Step 7 If you want to save your project and continue working later, click “File” “Save Project” If you are finished, it is time to “Export As MP3”

Slide 80: ID3 Tags for MP3 Exporting  Format > ID3v2  Title  Artist  Genre  Comments

Slide 81: Publishing Your Podcasts - GCast http://www.gcast.com

Slide 82: Podcasting Resources http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/podcastingworkshop

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