Chapter 8 Summary

Andrew Thonstad
Richardson, Will (2009). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Chapter 8: Podcasting, Video and Screencasting, Live Streaming: Multimedia Publishing for the Masses
With the changes in technology over the past decade, it is now easier and cheaper to publish to the World Wide Web. The prices of hard-drive disk space and RAM have declined, while the internet connection speeds have substantially increased. These combinations, combined with programs that make publishing easier, have contributed to in exponential increases of information to the “Read/Write Web.”

Podcasting
Podcasting started out as the creation and distribution of amateur radio. These early and still current podcasters are people from around the world. Today many mainstream companies and “noteworthy” people are podcasting. From NPR, ESPN, CNN to President Obama, and other politicians, podcasting is being used to spread information to the world. All you need to create a podcast is a digital audio recorder, server space to host the file, a blog, and something that you want to share with the world.
There are a number of ways that we can use this technology in schools. For my focus, I could see downloading podcasts from corporate meetings and college courses focusing in business. The class could also create podcasts of business plan presentations, stock market updates, and “How To” business seminars.
Getting started with podcasting is easier than you might think. As mentioned before, there are a few steps in creating a podcast.

Screencasting is the next step after podcasting. Screencasting involves combining a computer presentation (PowerPoint) or video presentation with the audio narration (podcasting). Beyond screencasting is live streaming. Live streaming allows teachers and students to create their own TV shows. Think of the possibilities: online broadcasts of school plays and concerts, sporting events, and any other school activity that you would want to share with the school, community, and the world.

I do see a number of positive uses for this technology. Getting the students involved in their learning will yield rewards as well. As we know, if the students are interested, they will learn. Utilizing technology in the classroom that they may be using every day will get them involved.