Week 4 - Audio and Podcast Reflection

AUDIO

Audio files are sound files that can be made using a variety of different programs. Some great programs are

- Audioboo
- Audacity 
- Googlevoice
- iPadio
- Voki
- Vocaroo

The audio tools I decided to use were Audacity and Voki.

After reading about audio tools I stumbled upon Amy Slefendorfas' blog. It referred to Jackie Russell's blog discovery of Creative Commons. From there I used Sound Cloud to search for appropriate audio to add to my blog. I was able to locate the file below. In this audio I was left with a feeling of accomplishment. I could see this music being used in a reflection on a past experience, such as an excursion, camp or other significant event, such as graduation.



I have previously worked in a Year 3 class where the teacher used a specific song during Literacy Groups to signal that it was time to pack up and rotate to the new learning group. It didn't take the class long to understand and respond to the music, without them needing guidance on how to pack away or having to ask the teacher where they were going next. This fostered the development of self-care independence in that they were able to independently transition without any teacher assistance.

In order to analyse the use of audio files in teaching today's learners I used a SWOT analysis. The Audacity audio file of my SWOT analysis is available here. I found this tool quite daunting to use. It was awkward listening to myself in the audio player. However there is definitely a place for audio tools in the classroom.

 

The use of audio tools in the classroom is in line with Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory of Linguistic learning style. His theory states that learners learn differently and hence need different representational formats to learn. The linguistic learner learns by seeing hearing or saying words and language (Post, n.d.).

 

Querry (2009) states that using voice recorded audio files in the classroom caters for the Aural and Kinesthetic learner depending on who is creating the audio. If the teacher is the creator the audio caters for the aural learner whereas if the students are the creators it caters for the aural and kinesthetic learner. Below is a list of ways to use audio as a teaching and learning tool.  

 

Voice Recorded Audio application for..
Teachers	Learners
To explain a new concept or idea Future reference Can be accessed by learners who were absent Teachers only have to give the explanation once. If learners don’t understand the audio explanation they can seek further clarification Present information in a refreshingly different form when utilising tools such as Voki or GoAnimate	A tool to use in place of written work Great tool to use with a program such as Glogster and Blabberize. Learners can learn new concepts combined with their subject material in an interactive way Learners can use it to reflect on materials Can encourage creative thinking skills by enabling the learner to give their interpretation of a voiceless scene (like the two below)

Below is the Voki I made as a welcome message to my blog. It was a fun tool to integrate into my page and was relatively simple to edit. It was very quick and only took about 15 minutes to put together. Voki classroom suggests that Voki be used to make classroom assignments "educational and entertaining". Here is a list of lesson plans where teachers have used Voki.
 

I also added a short audio book from Storynory to my website as part of Week 3 - Website Reflection. I included specific questions aimed at encouraging parents and learners to discuss the story that had been read in class.  

PODCASTS

Podcasts are a group of audio files that are available by subscription. It is a great tool for teachers to use if they wish to record a number of lessons and tutorials (Hard, 2010). Some great podcast sites for students are

- ABC
- SBS
- Science and the Sea
- Kids Know It Network
- iTunes (see here for some great podcasts on iTunes)

Podomatic is the largest free podcasting site and it offers users the opportunity to post both podcasts and what it calls minicasts. It contains podcasts about almost any subject you could think of. I listened to Science Teaching Tips: Find that sound as I thought it was fitting to this engagement task. The sound quality was clear and the presenter's voice was very engaging. I have embedded my first podcast below.




Podcasts offer learners the same advantages as audio files with one major difference; Podcasts are

"Empowering users to receive and use information when and where they want.. freeing data from destinations means that learners can transform any place into their own Personal Learning Environment"
                                                        source: http://www.slideshare.net/KerryJ/difference-between-podcasts-and-audio-files

Remember..

 

As is the case with all online tools, audio tools need to be used in a way that protects students' privacy. Both the Queensland and Australian government have websites that parents and teachers can access that discuss student safety. Teachers need to ensure that they have permission to post student's audio online.

  

 

References

 

1. Post, K. (n.d.). Using sound in the classroom. Learn NC. Retrieved 1 April, 2012 from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5524.
2. Querry, B. (2009). Using audio as a teaching and learning tool. Pennsylvannia Keystone Technology Integrator Discovery STAR Educator. Retrieved 1 April, 2013 from http://www.slideshare.net/bquerry/using-audio-in-the-classroom.
3. Hard, K. (2010). A teacher's guide to using audio and podcasting in the classroom. Ed Tech Kit. Retrieved 01 April, 2013 from http://edtechkit.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/teachers-guide-to-using-audio-and.html
4. Kerry, J. (2008). Difference between podcasts and audio files. Edna. Retrieved 01 April 2013 from http://www.slideshare.net/KerryJ/difference-between-podcasts-and-audio-files