Lesson Ideas for using Podcasts

So many great options, but I have two simple ideas that could easily be adapted to many different content areas and lessons.

Lesson Title:
 Updated Presentations

Type of Web 2.0 Tool: 
Prezi (or Power Point) and Screen Capture app

Common Core Standards:
 Vary depending on the content, but the presentation would include the following:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.5 Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.

Brief Description of Overall Lesson:

Students will create an audio recording of their visual presentation. 

For any lesson that would normally have the students creating a power point and doing an in class presentation, give the assignment a Web 2.0 update.  Have students create a presentation on Prezi.  Then once they've created their visuals have them use a screen capture program (Quicktime, screencast-o-matic.com, etc).  Then these already recorded presentations could be presented in class, OR students can submit them electronically and have other students view them and give them feedback.  You could create a private YouTube Channel for them to submit them, or depending on the size they could be uploaded to a wiki or submitted on a blog.  Or you can even open up a dropbox account for your class and allow them access to different presentations. 

Lesson Title: Character Journals

Type of Web 2.0 tool: Create a podcast

Common Core Standards: Vary depending on the content and purpose used. 

Brief Description of Overall Lesson: Have students create first person podcasts based on a person (character or real person). 

When reading a novel (or even history, or science, any content with an important person), have the students choose a person.  Then have them research a particular situation for that person, or assign them a situation that they would have to create (for example: have them imagine what Jonas was going through in his end of the story ride out).  Then have the students create an audio journal of that person's experiences with that event.