Podcasting in the classroom

Podcasting is essentially amateur radio on the Internet. What's interesting about Podcasting is that the fact that its easy enough for anyone to use, even children, and can be broadcast anywhere in the world. It opens up several different avenues for students to learn about posting to the Web, sharing their ideas and broadcasting it to a broad spectrum of people across the world. Podcasting can be used to reinforce lessons taught in class, or it can be used to teach lessons. Want to learn a new language? There's a podcast for it. Want to give a tour of your school, put directions on a podcast and attach it to a series of photos to make an audio slide show to present your school. What are some other ideas on how to use Podcasting in your classroom.

How to use video in the classroom

Digital video can be a valuable tool in the classroom. It can help engage students with visual elements that they can manipulate and it allows them an opportunity to work with digital editing at an early age. For example, students who are learning about China can use digital video as a "digital pen-pal" to talk with someone in China. I would have students video tape themselves and talk about what their favorite thing in America is. Then someone in China could view the videos online at a hosted site and post one of their own talking about China. Of course, it helps if you know someone in China! How else could you use video as a learning tool in the classroom?