When I first saw the assignment, I immediately thought that I was going to use Google Hangouts and call it a day. But then I re-examined the list of technical choices and decided to take a strong look at Blog Talk Radio. As soon as I opened up the web page, I was hooked!
Blog Talk Radio has been one of the most professional, authentic, and cool social media platforms I have ever used. It allows you to literally create your own radio show within seconds. Using their platform, I was able to download introductory music, sound effects (i.e. applause), invite guests to call in, etc.
After I got myself acclimated with the technical components and requirements, I began to design my show. Here is what I decided on:
1. The topic: Project Based Learning
2. Sound Effects: applause, laughter
3. Theme Music: "I will wait" by Mumford and Sons
4. Studio Guests: Steve Cohn & Kim Leegan (two teachers I work with). Took some cajoling, but they eventually agreed to call in!
5. Introduction & Essential Questions (glad I wrote these out, as they provided a vital road map for the show)
I set up the broadcast for 10:30am on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I sent out a text and an email reminder to my "guests" so they would not forget to call in. Blog Talk Radio sets up a "countdown" in the upper right hand corner of the screen, thus generating a bit of excitement (at least I felt that way). When 10:30am rolled around, the show went live and I was "on".
I had written out what I thought was a creative intro to the show; sort of an opening hook with the name of the show and some brief bios about Steve and Kim. Then we started what was to become a great conversation about the state of education, project based learning, best practices, etc. Steve and Kim were great to the whole time, offering up wonderful commentary and opinion in response to some of my questions. The show lasted about 20 minutes. My only technical regret was that I did not incorporate a commercial (next time!) and did not end with theme music (would have been a nice touch).
After the episode ended I immediately began to think about how I could leverage this type of platform at the middle and high school levels. Here is what I am thinking:
a) teacher hosts a weekly radio show re-capping/reviewing the week's learning
b) teacher hosts a weekly radio show and selects a small group of students (each week) for a round table discussion
c) teacher hosts a monthly radio show and invites "experts" in the field to call in (historians, architects, foreign diplomats, Vietnam Vets)
d) Students create their own radio broadcasts (weekly or for a specific project)
e) Administrators use this platform to communicate monthly agenda items (may save time!)
Needless to say, the possibilities are endless and the skills that the students would gain are paramount (writing, listening, organizing, collaboration, etc.). So once again, thank you for exposing us to this incredibly powerful and dynamic tool.
Click here to listen to the Adam & Ed Show