In the publication Learning & Leading from February 2010, the article "Using Podcasts to Develop a Global Perspective" by Brad M. Maguth and Jeff Elliott looks at the usage of podcasts in their social studies classrooms. For these two teachers, not only do the students search and listen to various podcasts from around the world, they also produce their own podcasts. Mr. Maguth and Elliott have laid out an interesting twist to their podcasts though. They ask their students to have it in the format type of 'Meet the Press' in which there are various different views on one subject. With this the students must research different viewpoints from world leaders and present them for the podcasts. Not only this but each student has a script to read from so the podcast flows cleanly. The students use a program called Audacity, which is familiar to our EDUC 422 class. With this they are able to reach a large audience by posting these podcasts on the internet, which motivates the students to produce a quality product and assignment.
I can see how an assignment like this could be very effective in a classroom. It gives the students the ability to be creative but also gives them awareness about world issues. For Maguth and Elliott they chose the subject of global warming which there are many different viewpoints on. Not only are they engaging in learning the material but they are learning each side of it too, which allows them to make their own informed decisions on a subject. Doing this really makes the class and material interactive. The students get to have their voices heard outside of the classroom which may be a huge motivation booster.
This article covers NETS student standard 2, 3 and 6. The students collaborate and publish their podcasts, while researching other podcasts to gain information and sources, finally they use the program Audacity to create their own podcasts and publish the material to the internet.
Maguth, B., & Elliott, J. (2010). Using podcasts to develop a global perspective. Learning & Leading, 37(Feburary), 34-35. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-february-2010.aspx
Podcasts are an exciting way to make learning more engaging and fun. It was interesting that these teachers asked the students to look at all viewpoints to keep the project neutral. Global warming is a controversial topic these days and as you said in your blog, there are many different viewpoints about this topic. I liked the video you used to illustrate the issues regarding global warming. The images alone were powerful and thought provoking.
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