Week 15 Podcast Reflections

1.) Kidcast

Episode Title: 2007 Kidcast Podcasting Awards
Episode Number: #40
Date: 3/29/07
Reflection:
In this podcast, Dan Schmidt went over the 2007 Podcasting Awards categories, rules, where the audience can go to submit a registration form, and encouraged listeners to submit podcasts. There are two main categories for the submitted podcasts: The Teachers and the Students. The teachers can enter podcasts under two sub-categories. Teachers can either create a Professional Development podcast (Ex: Tips and strategies for other teachers, or anything that would benefit other teachers) or Instructional Material podcasts (Ex: study or processing guides for their students, or anything that helps students to learn a particular concept). Students can create a podcast under any of the 5 categories for them. Students can either create a documentary, a talk show, drama, sound scene, or a Where in the World podcast. The restrictions for enteries are: all contestants must be within a K-12 school (either private, public, or home school), also classrooms can only submit one podcast for each category. The podcasts may be either video, audio, or enhance. I think that competing in a contest such as this could really engage students to work hard and get involved in their podcasting assignment. Students always love competion, and what better way to showcase the students' hard work?

2.) Tech Chick Tips

Episode Title: Tech Chick Tips
Episode Number: # 22.5
Date: 3/30/07
Reflection:

Within this podcast, the two broadcasters wanted to update their last broadcast and get people up to date regarding the 2007 Podcasting Awards that they discussed in the last episode. They believe that participating in this contest is a great opportunity for both teachers and students to get engage in a technology project. They outlined that the prizes had not yet been selected for the contest, but the project itself should be enough prize in itself. To see an example that Dan Schmidt, from Kidcast, had posted to help listeners, people should go to their website: techchicktips.net. Their suggestion is to create a "Where in the World" podcast becuase the project would be short and sweet and it would be easy to integrate many other subjects into the project. The deadline for submissions is April 30th and judging results will not come out until May. I found it ironic that I happend to listen to Dan Schidt's podcast regarding the 2007 Podcasting Rewards and then chose this podcast which also talked about the contest. This shows me how connected podcasting people must be. I bet that the Tech Chicks and Dan Schmidt probably work together on a few projects, or at least keep in touch and collaborate ideas.

3.) Tech Chick Tips

Episode Title: Tech Chick Tips
Episode Number: # 1
Date: 7/8/06
Reflection:

This podcast was the tech chick's very first premier episode. I learned that the two tech chick's names are Helen and Anna. Helen is a Professional Developmetn Consultant for a large school district, she began her career in education as a high school science teacher, and her passion is helping teachers use technology in a brand new way. Ana is a Instructional Technology teacher in an elementary school within the same district as Helen's, she is a wife and a mother of three, and her passion is teaching content to students while also showing them how to use technology. These two tech chicks are extreme advocates of MacIntosh computers. They believe that MacIntosh computers are highly superior to Windows in music, photos, and video software. They think that using MacIntoshs is much easier and better in using these programs. They are hoping to use their podcasts to teach teachers and students real world skills to help them think in deeper levels. I enjoyed putting a name to a voice from listening to one of their later episodes when I didn't know anything about them. I think that they are very involved educators who are pursuing a noble cause.