Podcasting

What is Podcasting?

A podcast is simply a fancy name for an audio file. You can create a podcast about any topic. All you need in order to create a podcast is a computer, a microphone, and some audio recording software.

Podcasting tools

1. Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net - This is a free open-source software that can be downloaded and installed to create podcasts

2. LAME file - http://lame.sourceforge.net/ or http://slis.uiowa.edu/~fuhr/multimedia/lame_enc.dll - You will need this file in order to save your audacity audio file as an mp3 file.

3. Podbean - http://www.podbean.com/ - This is a FREE podcasting hosting website

4. VoiceThread - http://voicethread.com - This is a FREE tool that allows users to upload video, record audio, add still images, and create a digital story by mashing all of the elements all together.

Examples of Red Oak Middle School student VoiceThreads

• voicethread.com/share/1690320/
  
• voicethread.com/share/1687927/
• voicethread.com/share/1680864/
• voicethread.com/share/1688342/
• voicethread.com/share/1690850/
  

5. Glogster - www.glogster.com - This is a FREE tool that allows users to mash up various media, tying together video, audio, still images, test, animations, and graphics.

Technology Practices That Improve Learning

Below is information from a study that was unveiled at the conference we attended:

"The Project RED (Revolutionizing Education) research team unveiled a new study at the National School Boards Association T + L conference in Phoenix that details how nine key implementation factors are linked to improved test scores and graduation rates, as well as reductions in disciplinary actions and dropout rates." Below you will find some of the information from this study:

Which technology practices improve learning the most?
1. Intervention classes: Technology is integrated into every intervention class.
2. Change management leadership by principal: Leaders provide time for teacher
professional learning and collaboration at least monthly.
3. Online collaboration: Students use technology daily for online collaboration
(games/simulations and social media.)
4. Core subjects: Technology is integrated into core curriculum weekly or more
frequently.
5. Online formative assessments: Assessments are done at least weekly.
6. Student/computer ratio: Lower ratios improve outcomes.
7. Virtual field trips: With more frequent use, virtual trips are more powerful. The best
schools do these at least monthly.
8. Search engines: Students use daily.
9. Principal training: Principals are trained in teacher buy-in, best practices, and
technology-transformed learning

Social Bookmarking

What is Social Bookmarking?

"Social bookmarking is the practice of saving bookmarks to a
public Web site and “tagging” them with keywords.
To create a collection of social bookmarks, you register with a social
bookmarking site, which lets you store bookmarks, add tags of
your choice, and designate individual bookmarks as public or
private."
(http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf)



Popular Social Bookmarking sites:
1. Delicious - http://www.delicious.com/
2. Diigo - http://www.diigo.com

Delicious Demo