As a child of the television generation, I can't say I actually miss the radio show days, but I have always loved the idea of them and sort of yearned for them vicariously. So, as I've been listening to podcasts this week I've glimpsed a possibility of the return to the auditory age, where children actually listen to stories and dramatizations without (gasp!) pictures, television, video, or other animated images. The Bobby Bucket show is my favorite so far, but I've listened to lots of children's literature on the web and really am loving the whole idea of it. It cannot replace sitting on the porch swing with your dad reading to you, or mom tucking you into bed and reading that next chapter, but it is something, and something good. Not only can it expose children to great literature, and discussions and debates, and primary sources telling history in their own voices, but children can author their own podcasts and perhaps hear themselves in a whole new light. I love the idea of listening -- just listening. I love the idea of that child who may not be strong at other things being the kid who comes to life with the microphone.
So, podcasts have my vote, and I've barely scratched the surface. What older students can do, networking across the globe and across generations and across cultures, is mind-boggling. And my mind is still boggling as I continue to explore streaming videos. Talk about "seeing is believing" and "a picture if worth a thousand words." Wow. It's a new world.
Monday, November 5, 2007
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2 comments:
I like your post! Every so often, I'll have the children just "listen" to a story and imagine the image rather than alway looking at the pictures in the book or on a screen. I think it helps them visualize and use their imaginations. I'll have to go back and look for the Bobby Bucket show. I missed that one. By the way, I always read to my son at bedtime, books first and chapters as he grew older, and now, with children of his own, he does the same with them. Isn't that a great tradition to pass along?
Thanks for sharing. You gave me something to think about. What about seeing a movie of a book that you've read. Isn't it always a disappointment? I think it is because we can imagine so much more in our minds than what we could ever see on a screen. I'm so glad that you've enjoyed learning about podcasts.
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