Check out this video podcast.

URL: http://radioowl.podcastpeople.com/posts/24242

I found this podcast on www.radioowl.podcastpeople.com, a directory of podcasts produced at the Annie E. Vinton Elementary School in Mansfield Center, CT. This particular podcast (with accompanying video) showcases a third-grade project on the rainforest. Each student researched an animal found in the rainforest, made a poster detailing their research, and created a paper mache model of their animal. Then, on the podcast/video, each child had an opportunity to discuss what they learned about their animal. So this gives the students a realistic opportunity to present their work for an audience and it adds another assessment piece to the unit. It’s a beautifully produced podcast/video, and I’m sure it was highly motivating for students. But, at 25+ minutes, I found it overly long. Who would sit through the whole thing? I wonder how to make it shorter, while still giving each child an opportunity to present his/her research? Overall, I found this a terrific project, and could see applying it in the classroom.