Rockin With Garageband
Podcasts are wonderful resources for information on a wide variety of topics. The ability to produce your own podcasts is a valuable asset as an educator and the Garageband program makes it so easy. Not only can you lay down the vocal component of a podcast, but you can add background music and sound effects as well as a slideshow to compliment the vocals. This program would be a tremendous asset to anyone in the music field, but it excites me as an art educator because you are able to produce something for students that shows them images while explaining and analyzing them. This software enables educators to really hit a variety of senses for their students, and podcasts can be used anywhere there is Internet access for iTunes. Students can also load the podcasts on their mp3 players, making your classroom portable. I cannot wait to get into the Garageband program and produce my own podcast.
I would like to take an opportunity to wish a very good friend Happy Birthday – hope your day was a good one, you deserve it.
Podcasting as an Educational Tool
I love the use of pod-casting as an educational tool, be them created by the teacher specifically for the class, or one of the educational podcasts found on iTunes. It seems as though today it is impossible to get teens to put down their MP3 player, so why not harness that technology to benefit them in the classroom? With the number of free pod-casts available through iTunes, teachers of any subject can find video or audio pod-casts to compliment lessons. Or, if a teacher would like to make customized pod-casts, that is possible too for a minimal fee. The use of technology could help increase student interest because the iPod or any other MP3 player is something they are familiar with using and enjoy. As I looked through the iTunes selection of pod-casts I immediately thought of one of my students who is in the process of learning English as a second language. The day after class I showed him the free pod-casts designed for native Spanish speakers learning English and he was so excited to have some extra tutorials. Too often teachers think of MP3 players as something that is a distraction to students instead of harnessing the technology for the benefit of education. It is time to spread the word, pod-casting works to complement education.
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, remember those that may not have a meal at all. Donate food, or time to a food cupboard or community shelter to help those that are in need, and give everyone a reason for being thankful.
