podcasting

This mini-lesson is designed for a fourth grade class. The GLCEs that are met include:

Describe ways in which the United States can be divided into different regions (i.e. political regions, economic regions, landform regions, vegetation regions). (Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, 4-G 2.0.1)

Use a case study or story about migration within or to the United States to identify push and pull factors (why they left, why they came) that influenced the migration. (Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, 4-G 4.0.1)

Explain probable consequences of an absence of government and of rules and laws. (Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, 4-C 1.0.1)

The lesson will progress by having the students first listen to the audio introduction and then watch the Michigan History Video.

Podcasting is a very beneficial tool to use in the classroom. Students can use podcasting to enhance powerpoint presentations by adding an audio aspect. By having the students record their voice, some of the anxieties of oral presentations are taken away. Also, students who don't have access to a video camera but have a regular digital camera can make movies using their voices in order to create a video with the pictures in photostory3. Students can use podcasting to summarize what they learned from a fieldtrip and they can also be used to complete jigsaw presentations of class content. Podcasting can also be utilized by teachers to create informational videos from information that they want to include. Many times teachers find videos about class content that cover too much or too little about the information they wish to cover. However, with podcasting, teachers can create their own audio/video presentations that they can tailor to their particular classrooms. Podcasting helps to personalize classroom content and can help teachers and students presenting learning in a fun and interactive way.