Podcasts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/help/faq/what_is_a_podcast.shtml

The article I chose sports the title “What is a podcast?” on the BBC website. This article explains how a podcast lets you receive the latest episode of your favorite radio programs with you on the move. It allows you to go back and download an older episode, or it will keep downloading selected podcasts as they become available. You can either listen to the cast on your computer with a free piece of software, or download it onto a device such as an mp3 player. This article stresses the point of having your program “whenever you like.” Which I believe is the biggest factor that sets the podcast a cut above the rest, especially in the classroom where a podcast can be very informational and interactive. The software makes the job for a teacher to search, listen, and find the perfect podcast for a lesson. A podcast has the potential to be extremely interactive with the learner and I would definitely want to do some more research to find out just how creative some of the educational podcasts can get, and find out in what type of classes it has shown success.

Web Based Multimedia/Animation

http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/content/full/3/3/181

The article I chose talks about how animation and multimedia adds a new aspect of teaching to the classroom that incorporates the different learning styles of the students. This is most evident in the sciences because the physical aspects of the world are more clearly presented in animation than in fixed illustrations. For example, in a cell biology class with this technology one could watch what happens to a certain cell as it ages, and learn a fact at every stage of its speeded up aging process. Under a microscope this would be nearly impossible without extremely expensive equipment. I believe that this form of exercise tool is very efficient and beneficial, but I would definitely want to see some success to failure rates among teachers that have used this approach.