Podcasts

When we finished a class book, we put the students in pairs and had them pretend they were reporters dropped in on a scene, as it was unfolding. They were to write the script and record themselves as the reporters. They were also, time allowing, permitted to add sounds that enhanced their final product, like news music, winds, whatever might be appropriate for their scene. Here is an example by Jason and Philip...

media type="file" key="Go Cubs.mp3"

You can listen to more of their final products on my webpage under Podcasts.

My classroom webpage

To do this, the technology was quite simple. They wrote the scripts in Writer's workshop in pairs. With Audacity downloaded onto the computers, they recorded their voices. They imported sounds using freeplaymusic.com and soundzabound (a subscriber program) and created their soundtrack/report. Once they were done, they exported their file as an mp3 and then you can put that anywhere! It was great fun and the kids enjoyed the freedom of the sounds. When we finished, they had to listen to two other reports and evaluate them. This allowed them to really consider what the noises did for the presentation.

Before you can actually use the sound file, you have to have the kids (or you can do it) export the file as an mp3. Then you can use that file whereever you want because it is universal.

Audacity Download

freeplaymusic