Education is reaping the benefits from a new use of technologies that provides audio and video programs to students and educators via the internet. The information arrives on their computer desktop and can be downloaded to mp3 players, such as the iPod® or other handheld devices, for easy listening. Podcasting gives educators and students on-the-go access to information and learning. It also provides a great way for them to publish and distribute classroom projects to a world-wide audience.
The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation began piloting a podcasting project called the Pod Academy, with a group of teachers and administrators during the 2006-2007 school year.  This group explores ways that podcasting can be used in the classroom to showcase student work and communicate with others. Recently, school administrators who joined the group are finding that podcasting is an excellent way to share information with parents and the community. At Harrison High School, the administration is using podcasts to support academic work in classes and to highlight their hardworking and talented students, staff, and alumni. Around Evansville Vanderburgh school district, 4th grade students have produced a podcast to tell about their “Favorite Places” and 5th grade students are using podcasts to enhance their book reports. High school English students use podcasts to voice their thoughts about different subjects, “Something Worth Saying”. Pod Academy facilitators and the iCATS (Integrating Curriculum and Technology Specialists) produce a podcast called “The Grapevine” to communicate easily with the 1500 teachers in the school district. They share what is happening in the school district and provide just-in-time information needed by the teaching staff.
For further information about the Evansville-Vanderburgh
Pod Academy contact Candice Dodson or Jason Bailey or plan to attend one of their podcasting workshops at the HECC conference or at the ICE Conference.
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