Journal 5

Journal 5: Tech Teacher: iPod, uPod
Butterfield, Geoff (2007). Tech Teacher: iPod, uPod. What Works in Public Education, from http://www.edutopia.org/tech-teacher-ipod-upod
This article tells us about the benefit of the use of podcasting in education. Anyone with a microphone and an internet connection can have a podcast. It is a very easy way to produce and upload audio clips. Also, tools are cheap and the files are easy to share. The good thing about podcasting is that, students can have long-distance interviews using online telephony services such as Skype or iChat to record their subjects. Once you have your audio sources ready, use sound-editing software to mix in soundtrack and edit out long pauses. The easiest way to get the podcast onto the internet to make the word absorb your student’s auditory insights, is to sign-up with a service that specializes in podcasts. A Podcasting host will give you a place to store your files, and will provide the world with a special kind of URL called an RSS feed. This feed will be your personal radio channel.
Question 1: How podcasting can be beneficial for students and teachers?
Podcasting is a great technological tool because it represents an opportunity to make education more available for an ample variety of students. Students, would be able to access class lecture podcasts from anywhere at any time.
Question 2: It is an expensive tool?
Not at all!! You can obtain respectable results with an old Pc and a $20 microphone. Further, groups such as Ourmedia.org offer free hosting under a Creative Commons license. And, the audacity sound-editing software is free.