SMART - Chapter 3 (MP3 Players)

Pros:

MP3 players have so much potential for reinforcing classroom material. In my future classroom, I could have students listen to historical speeches with their own ears and not simply just read about it in a textbook. A great speech for them to hear would be Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. Another advantage is for them to listen to audio books; giving them a feel for the structure of print and helping themselves read. While on field trips, students could record their thoughts about a particular object or subject. This gives them the opportunity to listen to it again and thus reinforce the material. So many possibilities exist for MP3 use in the classroom.

 

Cons:

Just like with cell phone usage, MP3 players could lead to cheating. Students can easily record lectures, notes, and other cheat sheet type materials to use during examinations. I remember one of my middle school teachers telling the class a story while she was in college about a gentlemen, who had long hair, could cover up a ear piece. He thus had the ability to listen to it without notice. Her college class had to memorize a series of Shakespeare sonnets, which he only had to record on his tape recorder. This is  a perfect example of cheating, and MP3 players could easily lead to that type of atmosphere. Other cons include isolating oneself from their classmates, and the device just simply becoming a distraction.

 

Useful Podcasts (links):

The site I really liked the most was, surprisely Wikimedia. Though I must say students should not browse through that site because some inappropriate content exists, rather out in the open if I say so myself. Despite the wide range of appropriateness, some really great videos exist in their archives. I found several viewable videos from history (which excites me considering I look to teach history). Also, many videos exist on that site which detail geographical locations across the United States, as well as the world. This site I would deem most helpful only because it has so many videos. I was rather overwhelmed at first glance. Any teacher would have enough material for a whole year's worth of planning.

 

Making Podcasts:

It is very simple: have internet and a media player program. I really enjoy how the author states the simplicity of making a podcast for students. The advice she gives, however, I felt was a little brief. It would have been better to go a little more detailed in making a podcast and sharing it. When thinking about making a podcast, I can't help but think about how useful it could be to students. I could put directions for a particular assignment on a podcast for students in case they missed a step. I could record a class session, share it via podcast so parents could feel very much apart of their child's education. I could put a lecture or two as a podcast for students to review for an examination. The possibilities are endless, and making a podcast is actually really simple if one already has iTunes installed.

 

I'm getting more excited about using technology in the classroom, but I don't want to always rely on it for my well-being. There are positivies and negatives to using it, especially podcasts, in the classroom. The idea about parents listening to a class session is great, but still remains very un-practical. I will continue to ponder this the rest of the night.