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...
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