C. 8 Podcasting, video and screencasting and live streaming

From YouTube, to Podcasts to Google there are many great forms of media on the internet.  It is weird to remember back to the days where your internet connection was so loud when you logged on you needed ear plugs, and when it took hours to download your favorite song. Now nearly anything is able to download in seconds or stream right though your TV, like Netflix and blockbuster are doing now.

Podcasts are a fantastic invention, Many people who we normally wouldn’t hear from, have voices than can be heard by millions. This is such a fantastic way to implement in a classroom.  My favorite podcast is CNN’s AC360,because on an everyday basics I don’t have 2 hour time slot to watch my favorite newscasters news, so its great I can watch it on the go on my iPod for a mere 20 minutes, and watch it anywhere I please.

For schools to contain radio stations at school for students to listen to would cost hundreds of dollars,  but now because of Podcasts that is no longer an issue, students can form their own “talk radio” on a podcast it, upload it and hundreds of students can listen to it in minutes.

Podcasts would be an excellent tool to incorporate into a classroom, and liven up an activity, rather than have students write paper after paper or give a speech orally, students now can do an audio podcast. 

YouTube has created a huge phenomenon with video publishing.  Its mind boggling that over 20 hours of video are being loaded to YouTube every minute.  Although the content  may or may not be appropriate, the sharing of videos is a huge advantage to the education system, because more sources are available.

Screencasting has been a new term I learned recently, I always knew what it was but never the word for it.  It’s great to be able to watch a tutorial and see the step by step process.  Creating screencasts could be great in a classroom to be able to teach younger students the tools they are using.  Although I don’t know how many things you could really screencast and what elementary students could do with it, which means there may have to be more research done on this form of media.

Live Streaming is an absolute excellent idea for classrooms, because the possibilities, like most of these tools, are endless.  I feel that using this would be great for students who are home sick, and can watch at home.