Personalized Learning Resources for Mobile Educators
I have a 45-minute commute to Knapp Elementary School each morning. Aside from sipping on my coffee, I'll tune into Philly sports radio, some Mumford & Sons or maybe even some local news. However, in December, my commute took a more reflective turn when I discovered an edu-podcast called #EdChat Radio that is now helping me think deeper in a quiet space away from the presence of students, teachers, parents and community members. As an educator and learner, making time to reflect on where your learning community is hitting or missing the mark is invaluable.
At the time of this post, there are nine 10-to-15-minute #EdChat Radio posted on the BAM Radio Network's site, the hub of these and other podcast channels produced especially for parents, educators and leaders. For me, I'm really enjoying the #EdChat Radio Podcast because I have a connection with and great respect for many of the voices I hear as part of my Twitter PLN.
Each week, the crew of connected educators -- including Tom Whitby, Steven Anderson, Nancy Blair, Kyle Pace, Brett Clark, Shelly Terrell, Jerry Swiatek, Mary Beth Hertz, Jerry Blumengarten and others -- unpack the week's #Edchat (Twitter discussion on Tuesdays at 12:00 PM EDT & 7:00 PM EDT). Topics are voted on weekly "by the learners for the learners," all discussed by folks I follow and learn from daily.
Recent #EdChat Radio Topics
These podcasts are all available free on iTunes:
- EdCamp: Flipping the Approach to Professional Development
- Outdated Teaching Methods and the Teachers Who Love Them
- Why EdChat? Why EdChat Radio?
- Dump Report Card Grades, Replace Them With . . .
- Supportive Administrators: Some Aren't, Now What?
- Reinventing the Classroom: What's Next?
- The Best Time To Teach: Rethinking Class Schedules
- Teacher Morale Low, How Can it Be Lifted?
- Is Homework Dead? If Not, Why Not?
Other Recommended Edu-Podcasts
These suggestions are courtesy of the EduBlogs Awards:
- A.T.TIPSCAST: Assistive Technology Tools for Public Schools (iTunes version)
- Circulating Ideas: The Librarian Interview Podcast (iTunes version)
- Classroom 2.0 Live (iTunes version)
- Educasting: learn from educators in Ireland (iTunes version coming soon)
- EduTalk: audio publishing by educators, using mobile devices (iTunes version)
- ESL Pod: English as a Second Language Podcast (iTunes version)
- EdTechLive: Future of Education interview series with Steve Hargadon) (iTunes version)
- Google Educast on EdReach: the Google Educators Podcast (iTunes version)
- Infinite Thinking Machine: inspiring creativity and innovation in education
- Nerdy Cast: education, technology and pop culture) (iTunes version)
- Teacher Cast: professional technology development for teachers (iTunes version)
- EdTechTalk: Teachers Teaching Teachers (iTunes version)
- TedEd: educational talks on ideas worth sharing (YouTube directory)
- Therapy and Learning Services: tips on speech, language and feeding therapies
- Working Differently in Extension: new strategies for cooperative extension professionals (iTunes version)
Logistics for Your Car
To play a podcast in your car, use the Bluetooth feature from your mobile device to your car's stereo. One could also connect the audio cable from the mobile device to the car stereo or a single earplug to accomplish the same function. The iTunes store has an auto-download function to let you keep only the shows you want to hear in your queue.
Next Steps in "Personalized Mobile Learning"
In moderating #ptchat on Wednesday nights over the past couple years, I've oftentimes pondered how powerful it would be if we could unpack the conversations with sentences longer than 140 characters, letting us highlight the strong points, exceptional resources and reflections from leading experts in our field. With the initial success of #EdChat Radio, I can see future shows highlighting student voice, tips for new teachers, family engagement strategies and other reflective opportunities that might offer us deeper ways to support the work of our respective learning communities.