Colette Cassinelli’s edtech VISION

Jeff Utecht over at The Thinking Stick posts a detailed explanation of how he podcasts, what equipment he uses, audio editing software and how to upload it to iTunes.

Jeff writes …

I like it when other podcasters share their set up. A thanks to Leo Leporte, one of my favorite tech podcasters….or is that netcaster. I’ve learned a lot about podcasting just listening to the different shows he produces.

I wrote this page for the Shifting Our Schools site to share with others the set up I use to stream, record, and converse all at the same time. I thought I’d share it here as well. You can find links to the different equipment I use at my Amazon Store as well.

Check out the full post at http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=815.  It is worth the time!

Speaking of History – Eric Langhorst
South Valley Junior High
speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Here are some of my notes from Eric’s presentation: Microsoft and Web 2.0 tools

Books:

• A Whole New Mind – Daniel Pink
• The World is Flat – Thomas Friedman

Students are different. Information is everywhere – understanding how to use it is critical. Learning can take place anyplace anytime. We have the ability to reach students with multiple learning styles; Reaching higher order thinking skills, creative

Eric has created a network with other educators around the world with his podcast. He records his podcasts with Audacity (cross platform audio recording). Here are some of the things he has podcasting:

• Interviews with authors
• Lessons plans from classroom
• Break up letter lesson – Declaration of Independence
• Museum visits
• Interview curator
• Student projects
• Comments on Ed tech topics
• Reflections on teaching
• Review of online resources

Other Ideas:

• StudyCasts – Record audio interview for upcoming test
• Post MP3 file on Internet
• Students listen at home on Internet, MP3 player or CD
• Record test for students who have modifications for taking tests
• Books have been read and recorded (with permission)
• Record young student reading for fluency
• Currently part of pilot using Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player
• Transfer pictures and audio with wireless connections – StudyCasts, presentation notes
• Students are conducting family history interviews – give copies for family and local museum
• AT&T grant to create historical information about Liberty using Guide by cell technology
• Students will narrate museum artifact information

Hints:

• Keep content for student simple – no background music
• Allow students to use this tool for other projects
• Use USB microphone – $20-30
• Create a folder of medial elements in advance for your students to use
• Good source of images from Flickr
• Keep projects short

Allow students to become producers of the content they use not just consumers.

• Microsoft PhotoStory3 – create video from still pictures
• Microsoft MovieMaker2 – create video from video

More Ideas

• Do a family videos first – interviews of how parent’s met
• Boston Massacre LIVE! Newscast (imagine CNN was there and do a broadcast from Colonial and English perspective. Interview: Colonists, King, Paul Revere) then that leads to discussion of the historical perspective and power of media POV. Citizen media – record with cell phone.
• Create a 30 second TV ad for historical election – 1860 Lincoln Election
• Create a TV commercial supports either the Federalist of Anti-Federalist in the ratification of the Constitution
• Liberty Minutes – 3-5 videos on local historical topics – show to local historical society

WEB 2.0 ideas:

• Book Blog Project – 350 copies of book – student and parent’s blog with home school students in CA & Author participates in project
• Donner Party Debate – record class debate. Send experts MP3 of debate and they respond with comments; Email questions to experts – teacher sends 10 questions from class
• Online assessment – Quia and quiz star (Immediate data and feedback) Include a pretest of the next information after the chapter test

I’ve been scavenging the blogosphere for great resources for podcasting. I’ve bookmarked a few good sites on my del.icio.us page . I saw that Vicki Davis at Cool Cat Teacher Blog had bookmarked Podcasting Toolbox and I found it to be a pretty comprehensive listing of: podcast creation guides, podcast hosting, podcast advertising, audio tours, video podcasting, mobile podcasting, text to podcasts, podcasts to text, podcast directories, live podcasting, podcast hosting (premium), podcast search, podcast forums, podcast creation software (offline), podcast creation software (online), and miscellaneous podcast tools. Besides the heavy advertising on the site, this looks like a great reference page to give to newbie podcasters out there.

I recently make a simple video for my faculty to introduce them to the basics of podcasting and placed it on YouTube . Enjoy and feel free to use the video anytime!