Chrome Can: Podcasting in the Classroom

What is a podcast?

Google defines a podcast as”

Traditionally, podcasts have been unidirectional.  By this, I mean that the podcast creator would create the podcast and send it out to his/her listeners who would consume this content. This is a fantastic way to learn and is one way for teachers to use podcasts in the classroom.

The teacher could create a podcast about a content area the students are studying.  Students would then listen to the podcast.  This is one way to provide content to students using technology.  Podcasts can be made on Chromebooks by using audio recording tools available.

However, just giving students content to consume is not the most optimal learning environment.  It would be great if students could create podcasts as well.  This is also possible using the tools linked above.

A discussion is also a fantastic method to help student understanding of the content improve.  So it would be fantastic if there was a tool that allowed students and teachers the ability to share content and have a discussion around that content.

Synth does just that! I have recently come across a new platform for creating interactive podcasts.

https://gosynth.com/

Synth enables teachers and students to easily create an environment where classroom discussions can go further using their online conversational podcasts.  A teacher or a student posts a short inquiry and the students can then listen and respond.  Students and teachers can also listen and respond to the responses given.  It is like a verbal chatroom online.

In a previous blog post titled Student Blogging: Importance of Authentic Audience, Student Ownership and Connecting Home with School   I spoke about how tools which enable students to share their learning with an authentic audience, helps to create a vested interest in ensuring that what they are sharing is the best it can be. It helps students take the learning more seriously.  Eventually, they will learn more because they are being mindful about the process and the quality of the end result.  When done regularly, the student becomes a reflective learner looking at their progress over time.  This type of sharing also enables an improved home to school connection. Having a place where students can share their work with family, enables a deeper connection to the learning happening in the classroom to the conversations that happen at home about the school day.  A tool that enables students to post their work, understandings and reflections assists in making their thinking visible. When student thinking is visible the teacher has a clearer picture of their knowledge and can then use this information to inform their practice.

Synth could be used by educators to create an environment where student thinking can be made visible, where students could share their thoughts about their learning with an authentic audience which would eventually strengthen the school to home connection.

Synth widens the possible number of people having a conversation about the topic by enabling those outside the school access to the discussion.  This could be a parent, uncle, auntie or even an outside expert.

The interactive podcasting environment that can be created on Synth is a great addition to any classroom. It is easy enough for even young students to use.  You can currently use Synth on any device on any browser and it can also be downloaded and installed as a native app on iOS devices.

Yet another tool that can help make the Chromebook a fantastic computer for learning!

Thanks for reading

Dr. Shannon H. Doak