Reasons to Incorporate Websites and Podcasts Into Your Instruction
Every day learners of all ages are engaging in different technologies. Depending on their age, they may be spending hours learning how to use the computer and Internet or spending hours on Facebook, reading different blogs, and playing games with their friends. Regardless of how the learners are using the technologies, the learners are actively utilizing their energy immersed in technology.
Again, not all learners are fortunate enough to have unlimited access to websites and podcasts, but have most likely had some sort of interaction with one or both. Many learners may never have listened to podcasts before, but most learners will have had opportunities to listen to the radio or radio shows over the Internet. Some may have listened to podcasts without even knowing it!
Overall, there are many reasons to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction. Many will be discussed, but there there are more reasons to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction than mentioned in this instructional. Please keep in mind that the reasons selected to incorporate one or both are for purpose of this instructional program.
Again, not all learners are fortunate enough to have unlimited access to websites and podcasts, but have most likely had some sort of interaction with one or both. Many learners may never have listened to podcasts before, but most learners will have had opportunities to listen to the radio or radio shows over the Internet. Some may have listened to podcasts without even knowing it!
Overall, there are many reasons to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction. Many will be discussed, but there there are more reasons to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction than mentioned in this instructional. Please keep in mind that the reasons selected to incorporate one or both are for purpose of this instructional program.
Some Reasons to Incorporate One or Both Into Your Instruction
Actively Engages the Learner
Learners are generally use the Internet on a daily basis, whether they are checking their Facebook account, playing games, and reading articles. Many times they have listened to music online through online radios or other programs, such as iTunes. Regardless of what they are looking at, the learner is actively engaged when they use these technologies. They may not think that they are learning, but they are. Using websites and podcasts in your instruction will only incorporate the materials these learners already use on a daily basis.
Change in Student/Instructor Roles
When learners use technologies such as websites and podcasts, they are taking an active role in their learning rather than a passive role of receiving information. Websites allow for more user interaction of navigating. They must actively make choices to navigate through the websites to generate, obtain, and display information. Podcasts incorporate a new way of learning that is different from the readily available print textbook. When an instructor incorporates the podcast into the website, the learner must actively make choices to navigate through the website to locate the podcast, and is then required to listen to it.
When the instructor incorporates websites and podcasts into their instruction, their role changes as well. The instructor serves the role of a facilitator rather than being the center of attention when it comes to disseminating information. The instructor encourages their learners to take an active role in their learning to locate the information needed. When such technologies are included, the instructor is there to support the learners learning by providing suggestions and feedback.
Open Communication
Utilizing websites and podcasts into instruction allows for open communication more frequently. Currently, learners are often confined to interacting with their peers and learners while in the classroom. Incorporating websites and podcasts into instruction will allow learners to reach out to peers or their instructor through the website. This is great if the learner has a question regarding an assignment or needs additional information to understand the task at hand, especially during hours in which class is not in session. By incorporating a contact page or a forum into the website, learners can access the information any time they are at a computer!
More Collaboration with Peers
Incorporating such technologies into instruction may allow for more collaboration with peers. If the instructor uses a website in the classroom for assignments, learners can work together asynchronously to get the task done as well as to provide feedback to one another. Using websites can provide excellent ways to collaborate when it comes to discussions regarding class topics. Podcasts can be incorporated to include verbal communication with peers rather than using only written text. Using these technologies must be developmentally appropriate for your learners; therefore, preschoolers may not engage with one another the way learners in an 8th grade English classroom would engage with one another.
Technical Skills
Instructors who utilize websites and podcasts in their instruction allow for their learners to enhance their technical skills. Depending on the age and experience of the learners, all will be able to acquire new skills. Once the learners are taught how to properly use the tools, they will have life long skills that will support their learning from now to the future.
Other Reasons
There are endless reasons to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction. Additional reasons include, but are not limited to
Learners are generally use the Internet on a daily basis, whether they are checking their Facebook account, playing games, and reading articles. Many times they have listened to music online through online radios or other programs, such as iTunes. Regardless of what they are looking at, the learner is actively engaged when they use these technologies. They may not think that they are learning, but they are. Using websites and podcasts in your instruction will only incorporate the materials these learners already use on a daily basis.
Change in Student/Instructor Roles
When learners use technologies such as websites and podcasts, they are taking an active role in their learning rather than a passive role of receiving information. Websites allow for more user interaction of navigating. They must actively make choices to navigate through the websites to generate, obtain, and display information. Podcasts incorporate a new way of learning that is different from the readily available print textbook. When an instructor incorporates the podcast into the website, the learner must actively make choices to navigate through the website to locate the podcast, and is then required to listen to it.
When the instructor incorporates websites and podcasts into their instruction, their role changes as well. The instructor serves the role of a facilitator rather than being the center of attention when it comes to disseminating information. The instructor encourages their learners to take an active role in their learning to locate the information needed. When such technologies are included, the instructor is there to support the learners learning by providing suggestions and feedback.
Open Communication
Utilizing websites and podcasts into instruction allows for open communication more frequently. Currently, learners are often confined to interacting with their peers and learners while in the classroom. Incorporating websites and podcasts into instruction will allow learners to reach out to peers or their instructor through the website. This is great if the learner has a question regarding an assignment or needs additional information to understand the task at hand, especially during hours in which class is not in session. By incorporating a contact page or a forum into the website, learners can access the information any time they are at a computer!
More Collaboration with Peers
Incorporating such technologies into instruction may allow for more collaboration with peers. If the instructor uses a website in the classroom for assignments, learners can work together asynchronously to get the task done as well as to provide feedback to one another. Using websites can provide excellent ways to collaborate when it comes to discussions regarding class topics. Podcasts can be incorporated to include verbal communication with peers rather than using only written text. Using these technologies must be developmentally appropriate for your learners; therefore, preschoolers may not engage with one another the way learners in an 8th grade English classroom would engage with one another.
Technical Skills
Instructors who utilize websites and podcasts in their instruction allow for their learners to enhance their technical skills. Depending on the age and experience of the learners, all will be able to acquire new skills. Once the learners are taught how to properly use the tools, they will have life long skills that will support their learning from now to the future.
Other Reasons
There are endless reasons to incorporate websites and podcasts into your instruction. Additional reasons include, but are not limited to
- Instant access to enormous amounts of information.
- Prepares learners for a "tech" based world.
- Allows for feedback to occur more quickly and frequently.
- Display student works, such as portfolios.