Benefits Of Podcasting For Educators

Maybe you've dropped by your old school to see how things are going, only to see students walking around with trendy new gadgets like iPods, PDAs and MP3 players. And because today's students often have these high-end gadgets as part of their daily lives, many educators are looking to use this technology through the power of podcasting.

Podcasting for educators is the latest trend in teaching, and a great way for students to learn in a non-traditional, yet effective fashion. Podcasts give students access to high-quality audio like what you'd hear on the radio, and allow them to access the audio anytime, even when they aren't connected to a computer. But before incorporating it into the curriculum, its important to examine some of the benefits of podcasting for educators and how others are already using the technology to improve and expand the education of their students.

Universities were the first to embrace the technology, handing out iPods to freshman and making podcasts of lectures. And right now, teachers at the K-12 level are seeing how good this technology can be. But podcasting isn't just about turning classroom lectures into online audio content. There are other educators who use podcasts in different ways, such as using them for PowerPoint presentations, or to convert FAQ's or frequently asked questions, or even to help students work on their vocabulary. Students are also encouraged to do their own podcasting, in order to interact with their fellow students or with their professors. In short, podcasting for educators adds a new dimension to teaching by making it a "cool" interactive communication between teachers and students.

Another group of people who benefit from podcasting for educators are the parents, as they can use it to help their children learn more in an effective manner. If a parent sets up his or her computer to capture a school broadcast, this would allow them to find out whether their child is a Straight-A student or about to be suspended for playing hooky, or get news on the latest school updates.

However, the main benefit of podcasting for educators is more basic than what was just detailed. Teachers can reach out to their students with a teaching medium that not only is "cool", but also can help towards their learning. All you need are a computer, microphone and internet access, and you, as an educator, could help your students learn in the classroom and out of it as well. Electronic gadgets don't always have to be a distraction to students - when used properly, they can actually help them learn in a new and exciting way.

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