Thing #17: Podcasts

I have always admired Podcasts from a far. I understand the concept, and I know that they can be used effectively in the classroom. This is my first experience to really play around with podcasts, and I like what I see (or hear). I subscribed to two podcasts: Grammar Girl and Just One More Book:

• I've heard of Grammar Girl before, and I love her advice on how to get started blogging and understanding the difference between voice and tone. Grammar girl dishes out great writing tips that will be beneficial on my own writing journey. High school teachers could use her podcasts to emphasize the importance of clear writing. It would be a way of saying to kids, "See, I don't make this stuff up!"

• Just One More Book will be a wonderful resource for book reviews, and I was interested to find reviews on some of the books that I ordered for the library (I Need My Monster is one of them). I know people who listen to podcasts while they work out, and I would like to do that. I will play around with the directory to see if I can find some that will motivate me while I jog/walk on the dreaded treadmill.

I want to teach kids HOW to make a podcast, so that's going to require some extra learning on my part. I took a staff development on Podcasting (in my BL--Before Library--Days), and I honestly don't remember much about how to do it. I think that Garage Band was involved, and I don't remember it being that difficult. So I will add "Learn How to Make a Podcast" to my list of Web 2.0 things that I still need to learn.