Boy, I'm sure glad that is done.

Yeah!  It is done and over.  My first ever podcast is complete.   

Actually, this particular task was not as dreadful as it first appeared.  I first had to make sure that I had all the necessary pieces to complete the task.  I had to download Audacity and LAME MP3 encoder.  I needed to search out the music and sound effect to include and pick a topic to discuss.  Picking the topic was probably the most difficult part.  I found the directions to be too broad and felt that I was spinning.  I respond well to boundaries.  So, when I was told that the topic needed to be a contemporary issue regarding technology and PK-12 learners, I froze.  The (old school) student in me wanted more direction.  I stumbled through several Google searches before turning to my local newspaper website for help.  Honestly, I got lucky when I found my article. 

All the pieces were in place.  Next, I spent some time looking at Audacity, and the assignment began to look, dare I say, fun.  Writing the script posed a small problem, because I do have a tendency to ramble and needed to stay within a 2-4 minute time frame.  I believe my first read through was almost 6 minutes, so I began to edit.  Of course, I believed that all I had to say needed to be included and could not be cut.  But, alas, some of it needed to go.

Once I got over the sleep inducing sound which is my monotone voice, the process was very simple.  I recorded what I had to say, inserted the music & sound effects, saved and exported.  I really felt as if I must have done something wrong, because I just could not believe it could be that easy.  It was.  I spent probably twice as much time trying to figure out how to upload the podcast to my blog.  I was aware that it could not be inserted into a blog post, so I spent time trying to add a gadget to my page to allow readers to hear my voice.  I followed the help directions, but was terribly unsuccessful at adding a gadget.

I must admit that this is a tool that I would use in my classroom.  If I could do it, then I am sure that my very tech-savvy students will be able to do it.  This short podcast incorporated many higher order skills. It required me to use my organizational skills, my research skills, writing skills, public speaking skills and computer skills very deliberately.  Everything needed to be planned out and in place before the podcast could be recorded.  I am sure that many a podcast are recorded on the fly, but I bet they lack a sense of direction or purpose.  Completing the task the way I did would ensure the students remain focus on the learning and not on the tool.  It could prove to be an engaging way to help students learn in a Literature classroom.  After reading short stories, plays, novels, poetry – whatever, students could then podcast not only reactions and literary criticism (“I liked it because…” or “It was not my favorite because…”) but they could record original works that mirror the same genre.

(How’s that for a turn around?  Perhaps there is hope for me yet!)