Module 1: Create Your Plan
Overview
Now that you have read about reasons and ways to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction, it is time to begin developing your instruction and the necessary tools needed to carry out your instruction whether included before, during, or after. A plan will help you identify where you want to use the technologies to assist and enhance your instruction, as well as what you want your instruction to cover. Creating a plan on how to incorporate your websites and podcasts is imperative as it will aid in developing your instruction to meet the overall instructional goal.
Think of an Idea
In order to develop your instruction, you must know what you want it to cover and where the technologies, websites and podcasts, will be included. It is important to establish clear objectives. When deciding on where to place your website and podcasts, as well as what types of item to include within each, you may wish to answer the following questions:
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Identify Your Audience
Before you develop your instruction, it is important that you identify your target audience. Different audiences have different experiences with the knowledge you wish to present and the technology tools in which you wish to deliver the information. Whether you choose to incorporate your technologies before your instruction, during your instruction, or after your target audience has received instruction, it is necessary to identify your audience for planning purposes.
When identifying your audience, you may wish to answer the following statements:
- Describe the general characteristics of your target audience? Who are they, how old are they, and what kind of learning styles do they possess?
- Describe the prior knowledge of your target audience possess? Have they had experience with online tools? Do they have any background in the topic I am covering?
- Describe your learner's attitudes towards the content and the delivery system.
- Describe the academic motivation of your learners.
- Describe their educational abilities and general learning preferences.
- Describe any group characteristics of your target audience that may be important.
Decide Where to Incorporate Your Technologies
Once you have thought of your instruction and your audience, you can decide where you wish to incorporate the websites and podcasts. Remember, additional technologies can be included within these two technologies, so feel free to add additional ones as necessary.
Select whether you wish to include your website(s) and podcast(s) before, during, or after instruction. Below, you will see and overview on where you can incorporate your technologies within your instruction. Before
During
After
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Identify What You Want to Include
As you develop your instruction, you will think of new media and items you wish to add to your website(s) and podcast(s). In order to create your website and/or podcast, you must identify media and items you wish to begin with.
For example, some media you might wish to begin incorporating into your website include video, music, articles, short passages, and podcasts. In addition, you may wish to have specific items within your webpage. For instance, you may wish to have an announcement section or a calendar with due dates. You may wish to create a link for homework assignments, notes, and so forth. In your website, you may wish to post volunteer or parental involvement activities, and classroom rules and polices. Finally, you may want to include a welcome page and a contact page, so your learners and their parents/guardians can reach you at any time. When it comes to your podcast, you may want to include ones that are pure lecture or ones that are interviews. In addition, you may wish to record a debate. Regardless, it is important to begin identifying what you want to include in your website and podcast, but feel free to continuously add new things as you create each. |
Identify How Your Website(s) and Podcast(s) Will Be Used
To identify how your website(s) and podcast(s) will be used, you must identify the purpose. What is it you want the website and/or podcast to help accomplish? Once you discover what their purpose is, you can identify how one or both will be used in your instruction.
First, it is imperative to determine how often your website and podcasts will be used and updated. For example, if you have a website, you may want to update or create new content weekly. If you use podcasts, you may wish to only produce them monthly. Depending on what the purpose is, you will be able to then identify what is necessary to make your website(s) and podcast(s) meaningful and relevant in your instruction.
Next, it is essential to identify where and when your learners will use the website(s) and podcast(s). For example, your learners may be able to access the technologies only during formal instructional hours, or it may be available at all times while they are at home. In addition, you may wish to post class notes, assignments, or podcast lectures in case a learners is absent. Regardless, it is necessary to determine where and how often the technologies will be used and for what purpose, which again will help determine how each are utilized within instruction.
First, it is imperative to determine how often your website and podcasts will be used and updated. For example, if you have a website, you may want to update or create new content weekly. If you use podcasts, you may wish to only produce them monthly. Depending on what the purpose is, you will be able to then identify what is necessary to make your website(s) and podcast(s) meaningful and relevant in your instruction.
Next, it is essential to identify where and when your learners will use the website(s) and podcast(s). For example, your learners may be able to access the technologies only during formal instructional hours, or it may be available at all times while they are at home. In addition, you may wish to post class notes, assignments, or podcast lectures in case a learners is absent. Regardless, it is necessary to determine where and how often the technologies will be used and for what purpose, which again will help determine how each are utilized within instruction.