Week Three

Smartboard Lessons Podcast

First, I listened to Timmy's and a Tip #1: Wallwisher. It was a little tip about an application for your smartboard allows you to create post-it notes. You can make whatever notes you want and then move them around the board. It seems like a pretty cool program.

What really stood out to me in the podcast is that he recorded it while ordering a cup of coffee. By the time he got his order, he had explained the product and then wrapped it up. It really is a testament to how simple it can be to make our own.

The first clip was good, but it was very short, so next I listened to a podcast called Teachers Connecting 1: The Beginning with Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger. The first few minutes they had some friendly banter, then they started to talk about some sites.

Joan talked about surveymonkey, which has online surveys. Apparently she uses it to keep connected to all of her teachers. There is a free version that will allow you to create surveys with ten questions. She also found two other sites, the first was zoomerang basic, and then she used the spreadsheet on googledocs. They were all tools that she utilize in her work.

KidCast

I listened to Kidcast 62: Some Thoughts on Video Podcasting. It started with a little music, which to be honest I found a little childish and basic. It sounded like a beat track on a keyboard. Maybe I shouldn't be concentrate on such a trivial detail, but it really left a bad taste in my mouth. From the very beginning it made it a little hard for me to take the podcast seriously.

I did like the fact they he jumped right into the discussion. Not that hearing stories isn't nice, I just like the right to the point approach in a podcast. So he starts talking about video podcasts. He lets us know right off the bat that video is not necessarily superior to audio. You have to take the purpose of the podcast into consideration.

Next he helps us decide if a video podcast it right for us. Do you need to see emotions conveyed? Do you need to show a model or demonstration? This makes great sense to me. If this guy had chosen a video podcast rather than audio, it would probably be more awkward than anything. He has nothing to show us, only a message to tell us.

I did think that he made a great point that you need to be confident in order to pull off a good video. Not only are you concentrating on your words and eloquence, but you have to worry about how you look. So the biggest thing to determine if you are ready for a video podcast is not if you are technologically capable, but are you able to compose yourself.

ConnectLearning

I listened to Episode 90: A Conversation About Podcasting with Media Coordinators/David Warlick. At first I thought this would be a very straightforward video, but again it started with some really goofy music. It was actually like an eighties beat, and it was really corny. This just really leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Again, I do like that they went right into the topic after the intro. Within the first two minutes they were getting to the issues. It did seem like it was not that organized, but I guess you have to keep in mind that they are in what seems to be a town hall meeting.

As for the actual subject of the podcast, I like the idea of it, actual teachers sharing each of their own experiences. I feel like everyone in the room was able to get some insight, as well as us the listeners. I didn't really like the idea of using ipods in the classroom, because I think that it is way too easy for the kids to abuse them.

I also like the way that one elementary teacher was talking about relating to the children. I think that is very important. If kids don't know why they are learning what they are learning, why it is important, then why should they care? It is easy to understand that attitude.

EdTechTalk

I listened to Online-Course-Supplements-ID-Live-3-2010-1-29. I really like that they just jumped right in on this one and went without the intro. That helped me to take them very seriously and not be negative from the start. The sound quality is pretty good and they are well organized, unlike the last podcast.

One teacher talks about a program called blackboard. It sounds like a great tool, but I don't know what it is exactly. It's great that she is introducing us to it, but I feel like they should give a description rather than just a testimonial.

I really liked what they said about creating a learning community where the students rely on each other. I'm actually in a class right now where that is happening. Really the teacher has set it up so that we have no other option. At first I felt a little misguided, but I've just started to trust my fellow students and I think that it's gonna be a really good experience.

I also liked the netflix idea. I don't know how much relevancy it could really have to the class, but I'm sure she found a good way or she wouldn't have used it. Either way, I'll bet that it really drew the students into the experience. I love movies, and I know that this idea would peak my interest.

MacBreak Weekly

I listened to MacBreak Weekly 177: iPad. This one also had a little intro. The music was much better than the others, but the scripts was a little bit goofy. Also, it was pretty ad heavy. I understand that they need funding, but they could have maybe had the commercials throughout the cast rather than just a list of sponsors right off the bat.

They immediately start discussing the iPad and it's advantages. They really seem to have nothing bad to say about it, which is fine, but doesn't seem to real to me. One line in particular stood out to me, and that was "my biggest concern, is which one am I gonna buy." It seemed almost like an infomercial.

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that the iPad is a great product. I have heard about it and have been excited about it myself, but this kind of relentless praise it a little ridiculous. The only problem they seemed to have was with the name, which I really don't see a problem with.

At one point they had some difficulty with the audio, but they seemed to handle it well. They didn't panic, they didn't start over. They even mentioned it and made a little fun about it. They fixed the problem and then immediately moved on and got back to the issue.

This Week in Photography

I listened to 126: Racism in Photography - Don't Blink / This Week in Photography. Again, this podcast started with several ads. Followed by an intro with some very poor music. I'm sorry, but I just hate these intros, or at least most of them. Aside from the music, the verbal intro and the camera sound effects were good.

Next were the introductions, which went well. It is obviously a close and friendly atmosphere, but then they went to some more ads. I know that this shouldn't bother me, but maybe I'm just a little sensitive due to all of the podcasts I have listened to today.

The audio is okay, but kinda sounds like they are in an empty room. Like when you speak to someone on the phone who is in a bathroom. The bad apart about this, is that it had the worst effect on the host, whose audio is probably the most frequently heard.

So finally after several minutes of horsing around, they get to the subject. Apparently, there is some new facial recognition software that doesn't register dark skin tones and reads several Asian people as having their eyes closed. I agree with their initial conclusion that they did not do nearly enough testing, and that they most likely tested mostly white people.