supporting 21st century literacy with blogs and podcasts

Teaching in a Participatory Culture

How blogs and podcasts support 21st century literacy

Jennifer Carrier Dorman

http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/blogpodcast

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

Who Are These Digital Natives?

How were they created?

Image courtesy of dharmacathttp://flickr.com/photos/massarts/

How were they created?

Image courtesy of Gerard Bierenshttp://flickr.com/photos/gbierens/

Image courtesy of Wesley Fryerhttp://flickr.com/photos/wfryer

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 the opposite.

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants – Marc Prensky

Image courtesy of Jason Bradleyhttp://flickr.com/photos/jasonabradley/

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.

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants – Marc Prensky

Image courtesy of 46137http://flickr.com/photos/wolfworld

Learn More About Digital Natives

http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/digitalnatives

Image courtesy of Graphic Footprints http://flickr.com/photos/graphicfootprints

Web 2.0

The evolution of the read/write web

Web 1.0 Web 2.0

Blogs

Giving students a voice

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.

Blogs in Plain English

http://snipurl.com/blogsinplainenglish

Why the sudden popularity of blogs?

The answer is RSS

What is RSS?

Depending on who you talk to, RSS stands for Rich Site Summary or Real Simple Syndication

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

http://www.edutopia.org/tech-teacher-RSS

Ask an Expert . . .

Excerpts from Will Richardson’s publication, RSS: A Quick Start Guide for Educatorshttp://snipurl.com/1w86t

Will’s Bloghttp://weblogg-ed.com/

Will’s Bookhttp://snipurl.com/1w87c

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.

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

http://www.edutopia.org/tech-teacher-RSS

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

http://www.edutopia.org/tech-teacher-RSS

RSS Syndication

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

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.

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

http://www.edutopia.org/tech-teacher-RSS

Blogs in Schools

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 instructionBlogging in school models appropriate

online behavior and offers teachers the chance to address issues of online safety and intellectual property

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

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

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

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

Integration Ideas

Ways that blogs can be incorporated

Daily Scribe – What we did today

Extending Class Discussion

Student Work Showcase

Student-Initiated Content

Student Sharing

Students Making a Difference

http://ninawrites.wordpress.comhttp://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com/

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

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

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!)

To Learn More . . .

http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/+Blogs

Podcasts

Podcasts

iPod + Broadcast = PodcastAmateur radioPodcasting is the method of distributing

multimedia files over the Internet using RSS syndication formats for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

Why use podcasts?

Image courtesy of Zinkwazihttp://flickr.com/photos/zinkwazi/

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.

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

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.

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.

Integration Ideas

sequencing skills planning sheets sharing student work with the community authentic audience create characters out of literature peer tutoring

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jumping in with both feet . . .

Listen to a few podcasts online iTunes > Source List > Podcasts >

EducationGet a feel for the genre

Podcasts are not “polished” – production value is secondary to the content

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)

Audacity

Open-source cross-platform audio editing software

Downloading Audacity

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

Downloading the LAME MP3 Encoder

http://snipurl.com/1wx41

eBook Resource

http://snipurl.com/267ac

Setting Preferences

Edit > Preferences

Setting Preferences

Channels > 2 (Stereo)

Setting Preferences

Quality > 44100 Hz

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)

Toolbar

Audio Layers in Audacity

Step 1Step 1

Record your voice by clicking the red record button and speaking into the microphone

Step 2Step 2

When you are finished recording press the yellow stop button

Step 3Step 3

Rewind and listen to your recording by pressing the purple rewind key and green play key

Step 4Step 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.

Editing Audio

Edit > Select > All or Ctrl+A

Step 5Step 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

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."

Step 6Step 6

You can shift your audio and sound effects to the desired location, by using the Time Shift Tool Button

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

Step 7Step 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”

ID3 Tags for MP3 Exporting

Format > ID3v2 Title Artist Genre Comments

Publishing Your Podcasts - GCast

http://www.gcast.com

Podcasting Resources

http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/podcastingworkshop