Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts, Oh My! 
Electronic Media in the Classroom

Now that I have been learning a variety of ways I can implement technology into my future classroom, I wanted to be able to take that notion a step farther an learn about podcasting.  When I was in college at University of Connecticut, I remember a freshman year professor telling us to check out some podcasts he posted for extra credit.  At the time I thought "Oh well this will be a complicated waste of my time" but I was in need of the extra credit so I found the podcasts and listened to them as was advised.  Not only were they extremely easy to download and use, but they also significantly improved my grade.  I could just download as an MP3 file, transfer to my ipod and walk to class listening to podcasts.  I never doubted another podcast after that sememster.  I've always wondered how I could implement podcasts into my future classroom.  I picked up a book called Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts, Oh My! by Jeffrey Piontek and Blane Conklin for just that reason.  The book gives great tips on where to record a podcast along with how.  It even goes a step further and gives podcast ideas.  I love the idea of creating a newsletter podcast for parents.  Students in the class can give "updates" in what the class is currently doing.  This is a good way to keep parents in the loop and for parents to continue the learning process at home after school is over for the day.  Also, it gives students a chance to become experts on the topic of the newsletter.  For instance, if a student is reporting on what they learned in English that day, the student will have to know the topic back and forth.  They will be proud to become such an expert on the topic they are reporting.  I will definitely be implementing this in my future classroom!

Special thanks to Jeffrey Piontek and Blane Conklin for such fantastic ideas.  Everyone should check out Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts, Oh My!

Piontek, J., & Conklin, B. (2009). Blogs, wikis, and podcasts, oh my!. Huntington Beach: Shell Education