A podcast is an audio or video episode that can be listened to or viewed on the web or downloaded to a mobile device. Podcasts can be audio only or combine both audio and video.
Identify a lesson or unit that you want to enhance using podcasts.
Search for a podcast that fits your needs, either by searching the web (search for "topic- level-podcast," i.e., "science elementary podcast") or by searching one of the podcast directories or using iTunes.
Download it and/or subscribe to it, using iTunes or a podcast aggregator.
Podcast Directories
Podcast Alley- Under "Pick a Podcast Genre" select "Education."
Say it Again: Improving Student Learning Through Podcasting- a presentation explaining why podcasting is beneficial for students and how to get it done.
Aesop's Fables- Very short retellings of classic Aesop's Fables. Would be a great introduction to Aesop's Fables, or the idea of writing a story with a moral, or on how to do a concise summary of a story.
Princeton Review Vocabulary Minute- a one minute song that introduces 4 new words. Oddly engaging.
Subscribe at iTunes.
Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast- Classics read aloud, usually tied to a thought by the reader. Reader has a European accent (I can't identify where, possibly the Netherlands,) but is easy to udnerstand. These are long podcasts, running 20 or more minutes. Definitely more for high school audiences.
Learn Basic Math- short videos about working with fractions and decimals. Not the most exciting videos, but another way to get the information to students. Also would work for remedial middle school students.
MathTrain- Short videos that appear to be shot by middle school students, showing how to solve common math problems. They seem to be on target, and would be a great model for a math podcast to have your students create.
Math Guy Podcast- short audio podcasts with math puzzles, like "reading your mind" using math. Would be a great model for a podcast students could create.
Where in the World? Kids from all over have created a series of hints about their hometown. Figure it out, and you get a postcard or e-mail. It's roughly done, but oddly engaging.
Available at iTunes- Students present snippets about facets of the early Chinese Dynasty.
High School
Political Podcasts
iTunes- ABC- Presidential Candidate Profiles- Charles Gibson interviews the presidential candidates.
The American Experience
iTunes- PBS- 3-10 minute (occasionally longer) snippets of information about significant experiences or events in American history. Be sure to get the audio podcast instead of the video podcast, which is only 30 second ads for the episodes.
Other
The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd- I don't know how to categorize this one- varied topics and very busy. Will appeal to younger bright kids, whi then might want to make their own. Probably good for storytelling examples. A modern version of the old radio broadcasts.
Download old episodes at this site or through iTunes. Some are related to science, others to social studies. They are probably best for upper elementary to early middle school.
Learn a foreign language- there are tons of podcasts aimed at teaching a foreign langauge. Why not run one of these when you have a few spare minutes during the day? After lunch while they cool down, during the first few minutes on the morning...
A.T.:T.I.P.S.- Assistive Technology: Tools in Public Schools- A podcast from a speech and langauge specialist with ideas on ways to help students with communication difficulties.
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