Washoe Country School District
Change Font Size
Podcasting & Mobile Devices in Learning
WCSD Podcasting Project
In the fall of 2008, WCSD became the proud owner of a powerful Mac OSX server to be used for podcasting. Since the district had been a PC-only organization for the past 5-8 years, most of our first year was spent negotiating open server access and navigating a steep learning curve. In April 2009, we were allowed to open the server to outside access and purchase Mac computers.
In May 2009, funds the Educational Technology department secured funds to purchase 15 new MacBook laptops. These were distributed to teachers and staff developers who were beginning to explore the podcasting world. These educators were matched with a group of experienced MAC users already using this operating system. Working together, these two groups formed our new Podcasting 2009 project cohort.
In June, we began a series of workshops on applications such as iLife (including Garage Band) and iWorks (including Keynote), as well as ScreenFlow, a third party screencasting application. Over the summer, participants worked on their first two podcasts independently, collaborating online through ANGEL Online Learning. In September they submitted their first podcasts to the server.
Throughout school year 2009-10 participants developed podcast concepts and created titles and descriptions, and created/posted multiple podcast episodes. Each individual podcast "lives" as a separate wiki on the Mac server and can be linked to a web page or distributed through an e-mail. For a list of individual podcasts, click here. Viewers can subscribe through iTunes to podcasts, with each episode being delivered to your computer. RSS feeds are available for text content.
During 2010-11, new wikis are being added for podcasts and teacher blogs. Additionally a series of courses on 21st Century Communication skills, to include creating podcasts and blogging for both PC and Mac, will be offered through the Inservice department.
Learning with iPods, iPads and Mac Apps
During Summer 2010, WCSD Online Learning Coordinator Leslie Doukas was part of a national group of about 150 K12 educators selected to attend an intensive week-long Apple Academy in Cupertino, CA. Participants learned about using Apple mobile devices (iPods & iPads) and Mac applications for productivity and integrating them into classroom learning. Curricular applications were explored, as well as research on student achievement gains using iPods. We're eager to share this information!
Through the new Office of Staff Development, she will be available during school year 2010-11 for presentations and trainings on this topic to WCSD's fast-growing Apple user community.
