Third

Today we learnt about podcasts. We looked at different podcasts that were already out there on the net, and we attempted to make our own. I can see many educational benefits for podcasts in schools, although at this stage I am unsure that I would ever use them, or make them in my classroom context.
Benefits or uses I see include:

• Recording lessons- This might be helpful, especially in secondary schools, if a student is sick or away and misses important content. Also, for students who happen to live in remote areas (such as on stations) lessons in podcast form could be really helpful, allowing them to hear lessons from the teacher even though they are not present in person.
• PD- As a teacher, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest research and educational thinking. Listening to podcasts from other educators and researchers may provide teachers with an opportunity to engage with professional development, especially those in rural or regional areas.
• Stories- Sometimes at the end of the day, when its been a long day, you might just want students to sit and listen to a story. Some podcasts available are just people reading allowed or telling stories. However, perhaps in this scenario, a youtube clip with pictures might be more useful as it engages students both aurally and visually.

I'm sure there are many other benefits as well. I might perhaps use a podcast myself although I think I would be unlikely to really take the time to make my own. Anyway, that's just a bit about how podcasts might be useful for educators.