Podcasts for Preparation

There are several ways to get students ready to engage in new activities in class. One of my favorite methods is to jump into a unit with little or no preparation to give the students a feel for what is to come. There is no grading during this "introduction," but it can be very entertaining... and fun.

Now, there are some students who just do not do well with surprises. These students need more preparation to get used to the idea of what is to come.

And, students will not respond well to the same approach being used time and time again!

Public Speaking was one of the most difficult units to get into for the students. They need to "hear" from other voices. They need to know about debates and publically speaking from multiple sources. The guidelines will come from the teacher, but hearing another voice will give added perspective. There are several short and helpful podcasts at the Education Podcast Network. One such podcast gives an overview of public speaking. Click here to access Public Speaking Overview. This would be a great way to get the students started before the unit began in class. It will get them thinking and training their minds on what needs to be done, and what should not be done. They will remember important tidbits such as use your hands, but do not use props.

Creating a Classroom out of a Chorus from Continents

It cannot be argued that there are many cultures around the world, and that many of us know very little about those who are different than us. Perception is everything... and therefore it is imperative that we learn more about those with different beliefs and cultures so we can create a better conception of what life is and what it can mean for all of us.

The best way to implement a healthy global environment with a rich community atmosphere of cooperation is communication. Thus, it is necessary to foster relationships with those around the globe. If these relationships are started with the youth in society, they will create strong bonds between cultures and groups that will not diminish or disappear with time.

A great way to implement this "PenPal" plan is Voxopop. This is a audio message board. Students from different countries can talk to each other about similarities and differences. They can find the things they have in common, and also discover differences that can be shared with one another. This message board can also be used to establish creative activities that can benefit community life and the individual's life.