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Corey and Jake
December 15, 2006
What is a Podcast?

A podcast allows kids to have experience with technology.  One reason we do this is to let people know what is going on in our class.  Another reason we do this is to put our work on Mr. Jaffe's web site. When you put something on Mr. Jaffe’s web site you can show your parents what you have accomplished in his class.

Making a podcast is a fun yet simple task in our classroom. Every month, Mr. Jaffe chooses a group of 4-5 students to pick several topics to talk about in their Podcast. Each student has a different role in their podcast, and is responsible for typing their own scripts. Some of the roles include a host or a special guest, like Taylor as Professor Turkeygobble. Once everyone hands in their script, a new script is made that includes all of the roles. Then they revise it and add transition sentences between each part. During recess, the team members sit around a microphone and recite their podcast. The microphone records every sound, so it’s important for everyone to be completely silent until it is his or her turn to speak. They record the podcast on a program called Audacity.

It’s really cool once you get the hang of it. Each podcast is usually between 3-5 minutes long. Then comes the best part: sound effects. The team members choose different sound effects and background music to play during the podcast. Mr. Jaffe takes the ideas home and adds them where we want them. Later, it is put onto his website, so everyone who visits can listen to it. It’s a long procedure, but he doesn’t mind. He helps many people with podcasting, including NASA podcast competition finalist Michelle.

Michelle, what exactly did you have to do for NASA’s podcast competition? “I had to answer the question, How will space exploration benefit my life in the future? in a podcast one minute or less in length." How did you learn about the competition? “Mr. Jaffe put a bulletin on enotes and I decided to give it a try.” Why did you decide to compete? "I thought it would be a fun thing to do and that I might have a chance at winning something." How did Mr. Jaffe help you with this podcast? “He helped me with the Audacity program and edited it with sound effects and stuff.” Did you learn anything about podcasting doing this competition? "I didn’t know what a podcast was a first, but then I learned and was able to make one.” Were you surprised to be a finalist? "Yes, I was very surprised because I really didn’t think mine was that great at first." Were you disappointed to not win? "No, I was just glad I had the experience and I could compete in a national competition." Are you planning to compete in next year’s competition? "Probably, especially if they do podcasting.” Overall, did you like making the podcast? "Yes, I really liked it. It was lots of fun.” Thanks a ton Michelle!

Podcasting as you can see, plays an important part of life in Mr. Jaffe’s class. We make our own, and listen to them when learning. And not just in our class, but many people, even NASA, uses podcasting. Just the other day we listened to the first podcast from space. You can even enter podcast competitions like Michelle did! To listen to our classroom’s podcasts and from the pros of last year’s class, visit this link at http://www.cbsd.org/millcreek/jaffe/podcast. This concludes a weekly edition of “Jaffe’s Journal.” See you next time!