The Summer 2010 8 Things course has now closed. If you have questions, please contact the facilitator at sisd8things@gmail.com.


Thing 6

Podcasts and Video Sharing

Podcasts

Podcasting is the ability to create or listen to audio or video content either live or downloaded for later use. A podcast is similar to a radio show in that each show consists of a series of individual episodes you can listen to on your computer or on a digital audio player like an iPod. What distinguishes a podcast from a traditional radio show is that you can listen to a podcast whenever and wherever you want to, and you can subscribe to a podcast series so when a new episode is available, it automatically downloads to your computer. The word podcast comes from a combination of the words iPod and broadcast, but you don’t need an iPod to listen to podcasts. Watch this video to learn more about podcasts:

Video Sharing

Not too many years ago, only those with expensive equipment and advanced technical skills could produce digital video. That began to change as equipment became available to the average consumer. Today, equipment is cheap and ubiquitous – we can even capture video on cell phones – allowing just about anyone to produce digital video, anytime, anywhere, about anything.

Enter YouTube -- the premier video sharing site which made posting video to the Internet as simple as possible. Users create free accounts and, with a few mouse clicks, are able to share their videos with a worldwide audience.

In the spirit of Web 2.0, YouTube is about more than just posting video. It’s also a community. Users provide feedback by adding ratings, typed comments, or “response videos” to the videos they watch. The result is a worldwide community that is connecting, collaborating, and communicating through video. And this community is having influence beyond the Internet as YouTube videos are often featured on news and entertainment television shows.

Searching YouTube, you’ll find videos on just about anything, from old movie clips to teenage video journals. Be aware: although there are some rules against inappropriate content, there are still plenty of videos which are unsuitable for the school environment. That, along with the fact that watching online videos uses a lot of bandwidth, means that YouTube is restricted in most districts.

Discovery Resources
To get an idea of how podcasts and YouTube might be used in education, read the following articles:
Discovery Exercises

To complete Thing 6, you must:

A. Locate and listen to some podcasts

B. Explore YouTube and locate a video you like

C. Embed your video in your blog and reflect on Thing 6

A. Locate and Listen to Some Podcasts

The following sites contain links to a variety of podcasts. Choose at least 3 to listen to. You do not have to listen to podcasts related to education; choose topics that interest you!

B. Explore YouTube and Locate a Video You Like

Spend some time exploring YouTube. Search for your favorite television shows of the past, the subject area that you teach, favorite musical artists, or any topic of interest. At the bottom of the video screen look at the rating, number of views, comments, and video responses. If you find a video you enjoy, look to the left at who the video is from. Clicking on the name of the person will direct you to their YouTube page. Click “videos” on their page to get a list of all the other videos they’ve uploaded. Not sure where to start? Have a look at some of these:

And for hours of even more viewing pleasure, check out these directories of videos:

In addition to YouTube, there are other video sharing sites, some designed for a specific audience. Have a look at TeacherTube and SchoolTube, both of which feature school-friendly user-created video for teachers and students.

C. Reflect - Blog Prompt for Thing 6

Before you reflect on Thing 6, choose a YouTube video that you found funny, interesting, or inspiring. Embed the video in your Thing 6 blog post. (Click here for a video that explains how to embed YouTube videos on your blog.)

Write a new post on your blog. Remember to title your post "Thing 6." For a refresher on blog posting guidelines, click here.

  • What podcasts did you listen to? What did you like/dislike about them?
  • What uses do you see for podcasting in the classroom or as a professional?
  • What did you like about using YouTube? What did you find confusing or difficult?
  • Why did you choose the video you embedded?
  • What are the advantages of embedding a video vs. posting a link to it? How did you find the process of embedding?
  • What is YouTube's place in the classroom?
  • How do "educational" sites like TeacherTube compare to YouTube?
  • Why is YouTube engaging to our students?
  • How have video sharing and podcasting changed the way we communicate and the way we go about making ourselves heard?

Bonus: SlideShare

If you're a PowerPoint user, you will love SlideShare. This program allows you to upload and share slideshows on the web. Much like YouTube, SlideShare allows users to comment on one another's presentations. Users can also link to or embed SlideShare shows on their blogs or websites. Take a look around SlideShare to get a feel for what types of presentations are available and for ideas on how you could use SlideShare in the classroom.

Here's a SlideShare presentation on why you should use SlideShare:

SlideShare Quick Tour - Summary of features & capabilities
View more presentations from Amit Ranjan.

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