Casting

I've always been very interested in the idea of utilizing podcasts and screen casts in my classroom. Over the past couple of years, I've experimented a little with some tools, however, have not fully taken advantage of the vast benefits casting offers to the 21st Century educator. I envision using casting in my classroom for instructional and professional purposes. As an elementary technology teacher, I can apply casting to reinforce my instruction. Often throughout the year I have much time wasted to reviewing on how to use new programs that I want students to use to create final projects. I will use casting to record myself giving step by step directions to set up accounts such as Storybird, explaining basic features of programs we use in class such as Microsoft PowerPoint, and how to post on our class blog. This will save me an enormous amount of time repeating myself and prevent time from being taken away in class to work hands on with these programs. I also can use this professionally in a similar sense. As a technology representative in my schools, I am often sent to workshops on new programs and asked to turn key them to my staff. In the past, I would type up a guide and share it with my colleagues. I never thought of using casting to turn key workshops or review basic features of new programs on the professional level. This would save me the time from showing teachers during my prep, or theirs.


I can also enhance many of my lessons as a technology teacher. I can show castings I've created at home during class. This way, if some students are struggling they can go to the castings on their laptops for a quick review. This would work best since many of my students do not have access to computers at home. I can also upload my podcasts/screencasts to my website for students to watch and reflect on for homework assignments.


From the students' perspective, podcasts can be used to reinforce learning. I will have my students record their voices during our digital storytelling unit and insert it to their file. Afterwards, students can listen to each others stories in class or at home. Students can also use podcasts to give feedback. After watching a video or reading an essay, they may create a podcasts of their critiques. When it comes to screencasts, I love the idea of having students explain a math problem. They would have to plan, organize, and demonstrate each step of the process to solve the problem for their peers to see. Another way students can use screencasts is to review important facts from a chapter or an event. Students could do this in groups or pairs and later share as a class review.