I am excited about using blogs and wikis in the classroom, and my students have used both to create content, discuss books, discuss writing and grammar, and to share their ideas. You can see their work at Room 303 Blog and Mrs. Huff’s English Classroom Wiki. I have to admit I’m daunted by podcasting for some reason. Many educators are beginning to use podcasting to great effect. Mike Hetherington and Bud Hunt have used podcasts to great effect, and I know both Will Richardson and David Warlick champion their use. I know there are many others, and if you know of someone or are someone using podcasting, please show me so I can check it out.

On Wednesday my freshman are going to participate in Socratic Seminar on the topic “Who is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths?” I had a brainwave that it would make an excellent podcast, but frankly, I’m not sure we have the proper tools to make one. I’m checking into that. At any rate, don’t look for a podcast soon. A certain level of comfort is required, and I’m not quite there yet. I also want my students to be prepared for and comfortable with doing one. I don’t think springing the idea that their discussion will be recorded the day before they have it would be a good idea.

I guess you could say I’m in the exploratory stage; I’m not ruling out podcasts in the future, but I’m not ready for one yet. However, you can learn about how one school is using podcasting to share what they’re learning about Jamestown in this 400th year of its founding.

You know, I don’t even own an MP3 player? I look longingly at them behind the glass in my local department store, but I have not yet been able to sock away the funds necessary to purchase one.

[tags]podcasting, education[/tags]