PODCASTS & AUDIO
There are a variety of ways a school radio can be approached from simply pre-recording a show to be made available on the school website as a downloadable podcast to highly sophisticated professional systems where shows are streamed across the local network. This is obviously dependent on licensing and facilities, so for the purpose of this website and to match my developing skill level, I will focus on the idea of a pre-recorded radio show made available as a podcast through the school's website.
Why?
Much like blogs and wikis, podcasts and school radios have amazing benefits for children and the school community:
- Develops a whole range of skills including planning, research, reading, writing, scheduling and organisation.
- They give children a voice. The fact that there is an audience gives real meaning to the children's work.
- Develops confidence in speaking and listening.
- Involves teamwork and collaborative learning.
- Acts as a tool for communication with the rest of the school, parents and the wider community, and provides an opportunity for good work to be celebrated.
Much like blogs and wikis, podcasts and school radios have amazing benefits for children and the school community:
- Develops a whole range of skills including planning, research, reading, writing, scheduling and organisation.
- They give children a voice. The fact that there is an audience gives real meaning to the children's work.
- Develops confidence in speaking and listening.
- Involves teamwork and collaborative learning.
- Acts as a tool for communication with the rest of the school, parents and the wider community, and provides an opportunity for good work to be celebrated.
How?
Recordings can be made using a computer, a microphone and some recording software, or in some cases just an android phone. I have experience using two different pieces of software, Audacity and Audioboo. I have used each one to record an explanation of the software and uploaded/embedded it below:
Recordings can be made using a computer, a microphone and some recording software, or in some cases just an android phone. I have experience using two different pieces of software, Audacity and Audioboo. I have used each one to record an explanation of the software and uploaded/embedded it below:
Audacity Explanation | |
File Size: | 5741 kb |
File Type: | wav |
+ Free to download - Harder to use, would need detailed instruction and practice
+ Editing facility - Harder to share online, would probably need to be downloaded by listeners
+ Can convert to mp3 file and save
+ Can make long recordings
+ Editing facility - Harder to share online, would probably need to be downloaded by listeners
+ Can convert to mp3 file and save
+ Can make long recordings
+ Free and easy to use - 3 Minute maximum recording length
+ Easy to embed to play in real time (no need for - Requires email log in
downloading) - No editing features
Pedagogy...
Using podcasting, radio and recordings in class or a radio club could begin by playing a high-quality podcast as a real-life model to show the children what is possible. Literacy work in the form of scripts and plans would need to be written, where the children would consider their audience (e.g. performance of work, an interview, school/community news roundup etc). There would also need to be clear instruction and opportunity for practising using the equipment, and rehearsal to increase the children's confidence before final recording. Most of this work would be done collaboratively, with children working in groups to contribute different recordings to an overall show.