Enhance Science Lessons
With Podcasts
Classroom learning has dramatically changed over the
past few years with the availability of new technologies and media
that transcends platforms and delivery
methods. Today’s young learners have
at their command a dynamic new set of
tools that belongs to the 21st century in
ways that simply did not exist for previous generations. Studies have shown
that integrating videos into the classroom enables students to learn more
effectively by appealing to their different
learning styles. With the rise of portable mp3/video players and the steady
growth of podcasts in education, educators are able to take advantage of the
range of science resources to address
students’ 21st century learning styles.
Science comes alive in the classroom
with video podcasts produced by
experts such as NASA and PBS, and
provides for the ongoing feed of rich
science content and ongoing support of
the transparent access to science content inside or outside the classroom. By
bringing these innovative technologies
to the classroom, learning and teaching
can transcend the traditional domain
of curriculum and provide multi-modal content delivery. Curriculum
is enhanced by the use of these new
technologies and our students receive
a richer learning experience from the
plethora of new media allowing them
to learn in different ways.
Science, in particular, is a very rich
area for learning with media. Science
podcasts are easily available and free,
and enable educators to expand their
curriculum by accessing information
on specialized topics directly from
experts in the field. Classroom instructors can enhance their lessons by
projecting the podcasts for the entire
Science-related podcasts such as NPR's Science Friday abound on the Web.
class, by making them available on
classroom computers through i Tunes,
or by putting them on iPods for portable use by students. These rich curriculum resources extend teaching
and learning beyond the classroom,
allowing students to easily and contin-ally learn on their own.
There are many science-related podcasts that have classroom application
from elementary through university
levels. Some include teacher resources
as well. Podcasts like these are a great
way to get kids excited about science
and motivated to learn more, all at the
time and in the place that is convenient for the mobile learner.
Science Friday (NPR), Science Talk
(Scientific American), Ask an As-
tronomer, NASA Cast, and Why? The
Science Show for Kids are some of the
more popular science podcasts. You
can find science podcasts by using the
i Tunes Store (Mac or Windows), or
checking out a wiki with links to exemplary science podcasting resources
at http://k12podcasts.pbwiki.com/
Science-Podcasts.
By Camilla Gagliolo and Craig Nansen
—Camilla Gagliolo, an instructional technology
coordinator with the Arlington (Virginia) Public
Schools, serves on the ISTE Board and is chair of
its International Committee.
—Craig Nansen is the district technology coordinator for Minot Public Schools in Minot, North
Dakota. He was a runner-up for ND Educator
of the Class of 2007. Nansen holds master’s and
specialist degrees in educational technology from
Northwestern State University in Louisiana.
