Let the Podcasting Begin!

Hi all,

Most importantly, on our right is a picture of the first snow angel of 2008-2009 created by MBO. Yeah for snow!

Wow, we have been focused on the class wiki for the last few weeks. So much so that I haven't taken the time to blog anything; I feel like I've been online so much I'm starting to forget what the real world looks like. I have here something that I think might make class and studying a little bit easier. I made a podcast of today's notes. Some students are audio learners, so this will help them quite a bit. Some students spend a lot of time in the car so this will let them study for science with their headphones on. Now, these aren't professional-quality audio productions. It's me. With a microphone. And 15 minutes of free time.
Here's a short video of how to get hold of the podcast.

How to get the podcast

Students can listen to the notes online, they can download them and listen to them on their laptops, or they can use iTunes to put them on their iPods and listen to them that way. Let me know how this works out. If no one uses the podcasts, I'll stop wasting my time. But if your child really makes good use of them and feels like they help I'll keep it up.

I should make it clear that these recordings do not replace classroom notes. The podcast is not as comprehensive as our classroom note session. But it does give a quick overview of what was discussed, and offer another "quick and dirty" study option. MrE

Classroom Wiki

This week the students have been using a wiki to create a study guide for our upcoming (date TBD) test. If you haven't used on before, a wiki is a webpage that can be edited by anyone with access. In our case, only students (and I) have access to the page. Input on my part is minimal; I put up two bullet points and a video about using the interface, and they did the rest. I just check every day to make sure that what they write is scientifically accurate and Calvert School appropriate.
Some students have made lots of contributions; they're wiki all-stars. Some have made small ones, like leaving a comment. But more than half of the class has given some sort of input thus far.
Over the course of 2 days students began a process that they will be using for the rest of their lives. They're working collaboratively to create the best document possible. Sure, there have been setbacks: there is a currently a great debate raging on which color font should be used. One student mentioned that if you don't add important information to the study guide, you shouldn't get to change the color. I agree. But our students are working it out amongst themselves.

I couldn't be more proud.