I have come up with 5 teaching
strategies and classroom activities that incorporate student and teacher
created audio content. They may include podcasting and/or audio in the
classroom.
1. Voki
Voki is an educational tool created by
Oddcast that allows users to create their very own talking character. Voki
characters can be customized to look like historical figures, cartoons,
animals, and even yourself! Give your Voki a voice by recording with a microphone,
using a dial-in number, or uploading an audio file. Voki characters can be
emailed, shared on social media, and embedded on websites!
There is also a Voki Classroom which is
a student, class, and lesson management system. With Voki Classroom, teachers
are able to control their students’ privacy settings. You can use Voki/Voki
Classroom to assign class work, homework, or projects. If you need ideas or
tips, there are links to look at, interactive lesson plans & activities
online. There is also a Voki Blog with activities.
For more information you can
visit http://voki.com/
An
example of a talking Voki character that was created is below!
2. Raz Kids
RAZ-Kids is an interactive reading tool
for students to practice reading fluency and comprehension. The students have a log in and a password to get
into their reading account and as a teacher you are able to monitor the
students' progress and change their reading level. These levels are all individually based on
each child's reading level and are adjusted to reflect their abilities. The students can listen to a story, read a
story out loud, record themselves reading, and then take a comprehension quiz. I
have seen this used in the classroom and children look forward to reading at
school and at home. They are able to earn points to buy things on the program
like Webkins which is very popular with younger students.
For login information
check out: http://www.raz-kids.com/main/Login
3. StoryMaker for Social Stories
The iTunes app called “StoryMaker for
Social Stories” allows students to create and present stories. For use with an
iPad students can create as many stories as they’d like. They are able to use
pictures and write text. Then they can add audio by adding custom voice
recordings to each page. If they wish, students can also activate one of the
10+ Text-to-Speech voices to read the text aloud. This is a great resource to
allow students to use their story making skills and includes audio in the
creation and presentation of the story. The activity can be used across all grades
as well.
The iTunes Preview and description can
be seen and purchased at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storymaker-for-social-stories/id570007786?mt=8
4. GarageBand
As long as the school or you, the
teacher have access to a Mac you can use the GarageBand app. It is a music
studio that allows users to make professional, high quality podcast & audio
recordings. Students can use existing mp3 audio files that they have recorded
or the built-in mic in the program to record whatever they wish. Then there are
sound effects or Apple “Loops” to enhance the podcast to add background beats,
noise or sound effects. The program gives students the opportunity to drag and
drop audio files into the podcast track, edit and then export the file. The
program can be used as a way for students to complete an assignment, they could
all be required to create their own podcast about information on a certain
topic. They will edit the podcast by adding audio files to the track and then
can publish them on a blog or website for you to mark and other students to
listen to. This is a great tool to create a cross-curricular connection to
music as well.
Click the following links for help and support:
5. VoiceThread
VoiceThread is an online presentation
platform. This program allows students and the teacher to upload pictures to
the presentation that is being created and record audio within the presentation
to accompany the uploaded pictures. It's a great digital storytelling tool that
enables users to upload pictures or documents, record accompanying audio (or
video) commentary, and invite their classmates and the teacher to record
commentary as well. This resource can be easily used in the classroom in
lessons or assignments such students can be required to create virtual tours,
report on books they've read, comment on historically significant photographs,
or even debate a topic. To get started you have to register at: http://voicethread.com/
Check out the following tutorial to help you get started!
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