Podcasts, iWeb and Web Widgets!

After watching seven and eight year olds using the tools to create podcasts as though they were merely pencils and paper, I decided that I could no longer put off the inevitable! If I am to continue my journey into the world of the digital native, then I had to create my own podcast.

Yesterday was 'podcast day' and I have been successful to a certain degree.

Sorting and editing the hundreds of photos taken took a while. I wanted to ensure that the children in the images were not recognisable for privacy reasons. Deciding which photos to reject became a mission as I wanted to share them all.

 With a folder of photos the next step was to create the podcast using Garageband.

This was a relatively simple exercise: 

1. choose create a podcast
2. using the microphone on my macbook, I recorded my script
3. photos were added to the podcast track
4. a jingle was added 
5. the file was shared to itunes and able to be viewed in Quicktime

How to share the podcast online was not so simple! My google Blog page did not appear to have the facility to host a podcast. After much searching I discovered that podcasts can be exported through iWeb for which I needed to have a .Mac account.

 My trial one was still going so ....

1. clicked on iWeb
2. chose a podcast template
3. added my information and header photo
4. added my first podcast
5. previewed it .... and it looked great!

The actual podcast looks okay and sounds okay but takes a while to load and for some unknown reason stays blank when loaded until the forward button is dragged along!! 

I explored a button named 'web widgets' and discovered that I could put a map of NZ on the home page of my podcast. This is amazing - just type in your address (town) and the Google map appears like magic!

It is a digital world out there!!

In my next podcast my aim will be to limit the photos and find out why it does not immediately appear when loaded.

All in all, it is another small step along the road to being more mac and 'digital native' savvy!!

My Podcast link  - you will need Quicktime (Windows or Mac) to view it:

http://web.mac.com/rsnzfellow/My_Podcasts/Podcast/Podcast.html

The RED Bus Tour and Innovative Schools

My impresssions from the Apple, Rennaissance Education North Island Bus Tour.

As a novice mac user, I am exploring the wonderful world of mac systems and software. The Rennaissance Education Bus Tour has provided me with an opportunity to see how the technologies of apple macs are used in some NZ schools.

This last week has been an educational smorgasboard - a visual feast of schools that seamlessly integrate digital technologies into the teaching and learning environment. 

A small selection of photos from these visits is included in the slideshow.

Over a period of 5 days the tour visited Sherwood , Summerland  and Pt England primary schools, and Buckland Intermediate in Auckland.

In Tauranga we visited Tahatai Coast and Selwyn Ridge primary schools. The montage of images on the slideshow provide a small insight into the rich learning and teaching environments nurtured by these schools.

All schools visited were inspiring. The staff were visionary and the children engrossed in learning.

The students articulated how they learnt, why they were learning and how they best learned. 

They celebrated their learning through the digital technologies of the 21st century. To name a few - podcasts, radio, TV, comic strips, presentations, e-portfolios, movies, photography, video conferencing, animated movies and professional publishing of ideas and information. SISOMO - sight, sound and motion were part of the learning process.

Web 2.0 was used by many schools alongside local intranets to communicate and share information and successes.Point england primary has a world wide audience for student's podcast and recent research that supports the success of these as a hook for reading and a tool for improving reading.

Digi-classroms were running alongside more traditional rooms. All supported the students' creativity and encouraged exploration. One school provided ' iplay'. This was was time given to explore and peer teach new softwares - these were often introduced by the student and adopted by the school as the value of it as a  teaching and learning tool became evident.

All these wonderful successes were under pinned by dedicated, supportive and innovative school managers and staff.

All schools had clear visions and values - these were articulated by the students and staff alike and part and parcel of the learning process. Each school had a feeling of pride, restfulness, community and excitement.

Multiple intelligences, Habits of Mind, and De Bonos hats were living in the classrooms rather than merely comments in a planning book. The children were aware of how they learned and celebrated their differences and successes.

These schools reflected my project statement - that it is a visual world for our 21st century learners - our digital natives.

Their learning IS enhanced by the digital technologies that let them celebrate and share their learning with authentic audiences.

I have had an inspiring week and greatly increased my own mac skills as the tour also provided 'mac attack' mini workshops.

I still have along way to go before I am close to being a 'digital native' but the journey continues throughout this amazing fellowship year.