What’s On Your iPod?
I recently posted an overview of podcasting as a classroom tool and source of information/entertainment. In addition to the resources I highlighted in that piece, I wanted to share a few of the podcasts I subscribe to that I’ve found particularly valuable as an educator:
With all due respect to my former English teachers, I never found grammar appealing during my formative years. Thankfully, The Grammar Girls, with their clear and engaging approach, are filling the gaps in my knowledge. If you find generic subjunctive verbs or the verbification of a noun confounding, The Grammar Girls can set you straight.
TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. Their annual conference “brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).” The TEDTalks audio and video podcasts represent nearly 200 of the best talks and performances from these conferences.
Each week noted pundits Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, and John C. Dvorak discuss the latest technology trends. Leo’s fans (i.e. those of us who remember Tech TV) may also want to check out The Tech Guy, a call-in radio program minus the commercials.
There’s More to Explore
Whatever your interests and needs, there is an abundance of podcasts readily available. One of the best starting points for locating quality content is The Education Podcast Network (EPN). The EPN is not a specific podcast but rather “an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century.”
With time being more precious than ever, it’s nice to be able to turn my unproductive commutes into learning opportunities. Now that I’ve shared a few of my favorites, why don’t you take a minute and let the rest of us know what’s on your iPod? We’d love to hear what you’ve been listening to….
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February 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
I like the EPN site. I hadn’t looked at it before. I don’t have a long commute, but when I’m on my own in the car I enjoy listening to various podcasts. Lately, I’ve been going through a lot of the Bit by Bit podcasts. Back in January, maybe even December, there were some nice podcasts of sessions at a conference. I’ve also been listening to The Virtual Staffroom. There was a nice discussion recently with Susan Sendro, Kim Cofino, and Chris Betcher. I’m always on the lookout for new listening material.
Ann
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Like Ann, I listen to podcasts on my commute (mine’s just under an hour each way). I like Dan Savage’s Savage Love (DEFINITELY not work safe/appropriate, but always insightful and funny), The Guardian’s Football Weekly and Islamophonic podcasts, and HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher - love Maher, never seem to catch his show, but just discovered that HBO releases the audio from each show via podcast a few days after broadcast.
Of the four, only Islamophonic has given me any fodder for classroom discussion, but what I really like about it is that it’s presented by a young person who talks about Islam in terms of the issues that modern young Muslims face. I think it’s very accessible to young people, and I’ve recommended it to my students.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Thanks Ann and Damian for the great suggestions! Radio is OK, but sometimes it’s nice to turn off the chatter and listen to something truly informative and entertaining. I’m looking forward to loading up my iPod with your collective suggestions and passing along what I can to my faculty and students.