PD from Podcasts
Jul 26th, 2007 by Cathy Nelson
I haven’t written much about podcasts before and really only have limited experience in making them. I hope to change that
this school year. There will be many changes coming, as I am changing schools this year, and that change is going to take me three hours from home and family. (I almost feel like a college student going away, though I’m much to old for that!) When I took this job, the thinking family-wise was that we would all go. But the jobs available to my husband were not equal or better than the one he is currently in, and we have one son still in high school who was very reluctant to move just before his junior year, so we made the decision to relocate just me. I’ll be a weekend wife and mom for a while. It may be temporary (one school year) or it may be long term. Who knows? Maybe in two years when son #2 graduates from high school, we can be a whole family unit again. But for now, beginning next week–August 6th, we will be a weekend kind of family. Yes, it’s scary, and there have been many prayers about this, but we believe the Lord answers prayers and things happen for a reason. So we are truly playing it by ear right now. I’m excited about my new job, and I believe our family will be a stronger unit in the long run.
Which leads me to the purpose of this post–professional development from podcasts. Podcasting was all the rage at the Philadephia NECC back in 2005. It was still raging at San Diego’s NECC 2006. I don’t recall a big rage about it this year (Atlanta NECC 2007), but it hasn’t changed my following of some of the podcasts I’ve learned about in the last three years. I can say that listening to the podcasts has helped me grow significantly in my pofessional life, and I have some personal podcast subscriptions too. Here is a screenshot from my iTunes of the podcasts that I subscribe to.
When do I have time to listen to them? I wish I could say it is a regular thing, but it isn’t, especially in the summer. But once school resumes, I’ll listen each day in the car (driving back and forth to work.) I’ll also listen in the evenings–especially since the vast majority of what is on tv is not interesting. Some of these I catch live from the web, and only need to listen to them if I miss the live cast (Women of Web 2.0, EdTech Talks shows.) Some are just for my own personal enjoyment (like Guiding Light, a CBS soap, and What Not to Wear, a show about clothing and style–which is a video podcast.) I also subscribe to a sermon series from Seacoast Church, where my sister attends church. I try to tune into that, especially if I can’t go to my own church, or really need some spiritual replenishing. But I can say without a doubt these have helped me grow unbelievably!
No, you don’t have to have an iPod to subscribe and listen–I believe any mp3 player that can be synched up to iTunes will do. But don’t forget, listening straight from your computer is okay too. How many of you multitask? Just add podcasts to your list of things you do simultaneously.
If you listen to different podcasts, share some of yours with me. I’m always fine-tuning my subscriptions. And always looking for ways to stay on top of what’s going on, especially in the field of education.
Cathy,
Thanks for the comment about my “Web-less” vacation. I WAS having withdrawal, but survived and was more relaxed for it.
I love the image of all your podcasts. Renews my commitment to figure out how to get podcasts to automatically load onto my Palm Pilot.
Good luck with your new job. I used to work at a middle school here in Durham. I thought it was a temporary thing until I could find an elementary position, but I discovered that I really loved the kids and all the things they could do.
I’m adding you to my bloglines subscription. Maybe we will bump into each other at NCETC or NCaect one day.
Laura
Hi Cathy,
A few days ago I bought a microphone for my iPod. Since I also just purchased a new MacBook, I want to try my hand at creating some podcasts. My husband wants me to do it for his web page. He is an artist and art teacher. I was impressed by your list of podcasts. This is a new arena for me. I enjoyed meeting you at the bloggers cafe in SL! Tina