KleinPod: Podcasting in Klein ISD

Last week, we created our first Vistas newscast. It went pretty well. They all did a great job! We need to focus on the following elements:

1. Reading out loud
2. Editing music/Mashing audio together
3. Learning who our audience is – is our school *really* interested in news that is happening in Italy?

The first one went out pretty well. Since I was in Austin, I don’t really know how many people listened to it, but when i came back on Monday, we critiqued our own podcast. We were pretty honest. It was too long and too boring. We almost couldn’t get through the whole thing. If *WE* couldn’t get through it, how can we expect listeners to listen?

So now, we are changing things up. It will be a news report just for Vistas with the intent to move into video production. The audio element is so hard to do alone. I say that my students know their audience, but did I really know MY audience? I’m going to HAVE to put a visual element.

I’m really going to have to start pushing the screen record feature for this class to reach the visual learners. I’ll still be using the great recording equipment; I’ll just use MovieMaker for now. I think that my needs will soon outgrow MovieMaker. That’s what seems to happen. I started out with Photostory, then went to MovieMaker, and now am looking at other software. It seems to be the logical step – baby steps. Baby steps are safe. If you had told me three years ago that I’d be working with professional audio equipment, I would have shrugged it off. But the baby steps taught me how to be comfortable, even when I got the mixing board (that I had NO business with).

I think I can still use the simple podcasting for my own use for test reviews and such, but I will still advise my students to use their notes and class assignments during the podcast.

I was on my way to the TAAE conference in Austin, when D. Wayland asked me if I was attending the TCEA conference. I was not, but P. Ekster was able to provide a sub for me since I already had a hotel room.

I originally was going for podcasting information, but a session over a multi-media class grabbed my attention. It was presented by two teachers from Bridgeport High School. These teachers had started a bi-weekly tv show with their students, Focus. Oh my gosh! I was so excited leaving this session. This was exactly what I had envisioned as the end goal for my podcasting class. In fact, I was so excited that I started looking up video equipment as soon as I got home. I know, cart before the horse, but I was really excited!

The podcasting itself is still murky. We are still deciding whether or not to use iTunes, but I don’t know where the ideas are coming from. Last I heard, one person was unsure of using iTunes because he thought that would make the files only usable by people with iPods. In any case, we have another meeting. Keep your fingers crossed for a solution!

After the TCEA conference, I attended the TAAE conference and was surpised by recieving the TAAE’s Alternative Educator of the Year award! I was so exited and grateful. Of course, I was able to share lots of technology tips with other people. I love being able to share all the neat tricks and tips that I know. Know what I love even more? Getting new tricks and tips!