5 Tips for Creating Podcasts on the iPad

7th graders make up the heart of our middle school. It's a huge class, and they're sandwiched between a small 8th grade class and an even smaller 6th grade class. These 7th graders are energetic and always looking for a good time. Let's just say that for many of them school is not a priority.

Sometimes I think that's the perfect group with whom to try something innovative.

In 7th grade Media class this year, we're working through some handy applications using the iPad cart we share with our middle school. After spending a few weeks at the beginning of the year working through some free and extremely helpful commonsense.org curriculum, some typing, and some Google related activities, we dove in to creating podcasts using GarageBand on the iPads. My inspiration came from Greg Kulowiec and Holly Clark with EdTechTeacher at the Boston ETTiPad workshop I attended in July.

After working through the process, here are my 5 tips for creating podcasts in the classroom:

1. Demo the tech.
I have found this to be a terrific way to build interest. Explain what each symbol or icon does, and just let the students' minds start working through how they want to use it. They may even have questions about the app you hadn't considered, which you can explore in real time to teach creative problem solving.

2. Create a clear-cut instruction sheet and grading rubric.
Decide what you want for your students. Start backwards: determine the outcome and then fill in the steps students need to take to get there. I separated our podcasting structure into pre-production, recording, post-production, and publishing. Check out my instructions and rubric on my Google Doc here. Feel free to use it!

3. Get your students in groups.
Even though iPads are personal devices, I find that any technology lesson lends itself to group work. One student is sure to either have experience with what you're discussing or has the pre-existing skills necessary to catch on quickly. This person can be the group tutor who troubleshoots any technical issues that arise, which is also super-handy when you have 5 hands in the air and can't get to all the questions in a reasonable amount of time.

4. Let students brainstorm topics that interest them.
You have to make sure they are engaged in what they're doing. What better way to engage students than to let them explore their own interests! This works well in a computer or technology class (technology for technology's sake), but in a self-contained or core classroom, you will need to narrow it down so the technology is simply a tool for a deeper understanding of your content. For example, in History class, have students interview an historical figure. In literature, have students discuss characterization with each other.

5. Give students at least 1 class period to explore GarageBand.
This is what I think is the most effective piece of the puzzle. It is the "dramatic pause" in your classroom that allows students to become comfortable with the app and then take risks. It also sets aside time for you to visit the students 1:1 and help, suggest, problem-solve, and teach as necessary.

Give it a try! I knew very little about how I would even publish the podcasts for others to hear, but I thought I could figure that out when the time came.

Sure enough, when the podcasts were in final form and we wanted to put the GarageBand podcasts from the iPad onto our Google Sites in the computer lab, it took a go-between service. After some of my own online research, a quick question on via Twitter to Greg Kulowiec confirmed that using SoundCloud would work well. The students created an account on SoundCloud using their Google Apps for Education credentials and then uploaded their podcasts to SoundCloud. From there, they were able to open up SoundCloud on the desktop in the computer lab and insert the embed code to their Google Site for all to listen to and enjoy! I've attached my favorite one below--if you're interested in learning about almond farming from some boys pretending to be their fathers...

Calling Middle School Student Bloggers!

I've been trying to get my 6th grade English Language Arts class at Ripon Christian interested in blogging. I started blogging with students a year ago for multiple reasons:

1. It's more motivating to write for and to classmates (and others) than the teacher.
2. It's an important skill to know in our modern world.
3. Learning to comment appropriately leads to positive interactions with many people you may not know well or at all.
4. It allows kids to feel pride in their hard work when they see their writing published online.
5. It's something new and different for them.
6. Kids have interesting and meaningful stories to share.
7. Students sometimes feel more free to share in writing than in person.
8. It's fun!

Last year we had an student from our buddy class in Australia come visit our small town and school. It was very rewarding for the students. Read my blog post about it here.

With that said, I'm having trouble finding middle school students from other schools to blog with, and a good chunk of that is my fault...my search parameters are very narrow. Let me explain.

I'm reaching out to Christian schools. 

I understand that we need to connect our faith to the larger world, but I decided to play it safe and only reach out to other Christian schools so that the parents of my students feel safe about their children's first interactions online.

I'm considering schools from other countries first. 

I want my students to learn about other cultures within a Christian setting. I want them to learn that they have brothers and sisters in Christ on a global scale. The common bond we have in Jesus is enough reason to begin a relationship. At this point, though, I wouldn't mind connecting with a class from the U.S.--I just want to get my kids blogging with somebody!

I need an English speaking school. 

While I search other countries for connections, my students do not have the skills to communicate with non-English speakers.

Reliable technology is key. 

The school we connect with must have the proper technology to communicate via blog on a regular basis. We have an iPad cart in our small middle school, and I can reserve regular access for us; I just need somebody who wants do and has access like we do!

Use Kidblog as a blogging platform. 

I like Kidblog because I can set the privacy settings and change them over time. I can also set it so that the teacher must "approve" the blog post or comment only after I have read it for appropriateness and/or correctness. I have begun my year with connecting my own 6th graders to each other. They are eager now, however, to connect with some buds across the globe.

Multiple schools would be ideal. 

I want options. We've connected with one class, and it worked well last year, but technical difficulties arise, and conflicting schedules get in the way. (Especially schedules from different hemispheres--while my class goes to Christmas vacation, an Australian class has finished their school year.) My students have not been able to connect with anybody yet this year, and I'm stuck!

If anybody who's reading this feels like they can connect with us, please do! Or tell your friends. And remember my criteria that helps me keep my students safe and parents happy: 

• Christian middle school class (we're 6th graders)
• From somewhere outside (or inside) the U.S.
• Reliable technology for easy access
• Currently using Kidblog, or a willingness to set Kidblog up

I created a website last year for a certification project. It's not completely up to date, but it would help anybody who is starting blogging for the first time. Check it out at blog2buds if interested.