Journal #8

Making Field Trips Podtastic!
By Aliece M. Weller, John C. Bickar, and Paul McGuinness
March 2008

Students traveled to the Boston Museum of Science to visit an exhibit that was designed to engage students in learning. This article focuses on the importance of technology in engaging students to learn more when they travel on field trips.
Using podcasting, a form of digital media that is distributed over the Internet, students can access information in the museum that adds to their learning experience. For young students especially, podcasting is an excellent way to grab students’ attention and help them get involved in an exhibit. According to the article students could, “take digital photos and videos; record audio interviews of other museum staff and visitors, as well as ambient audio; record notes in a variety of text and audio formats; and access additional information via the Internet on topics of their choosing,” during their podcasting visit to the museum (p.19).
Podcasting allows students to have a more personalized visit to the museum while also walking away with valuable information. Using podcasting teachers can even add information to enhance their students’ experiences in the form of quizzes and additional lessons.

1) Is podcasting at a museum a good idea for all students?

Yes! Podcasting is a great idea for all students because it taps into each individual student’s learning styles. Whether a student is a kinetic learner, an auditory learner, or a visual learner, podcasting has a way of engaging each type of student.

2) What are some of the pitfalls of using podcasting on a field trip?

One pitfall of using podcasting on a field trip or in any classroom is having the funds to implement such a technology. Unfortunately, podcasting is not inexpensive. It involves computers (desktop or laptop), Internet access, and in some cases microphones, and additional computer software like iTunes and Final Cut Pro. For most schools this kind of technology is too expensive and therefore not conducive for many schools.