Our national parks are a great treasure. There are over 390 national park areas in 49 states and five territories. Summer is a great time to visit our national parks, and the National Park Service has made this even easier by waiving fees the weekends of July 18-19 and August 15-16. The national parks offer recreational opportunities for everyone -- from scenic drives and enjoyable picnics to strenuous hiking and backwoods camping. I hope you have an opportunity to visit a national park this summer. And thank you to all the men and women who work for the national park service. Included in this show are: Seashore Music PlanetByte NoiteSummer Mix by PlanetByte Virgin Islands Natl. Park photo by tomsaint11 Acadia Natl. Park, Bar Harbor photos 1 and 2 by Virginia Reams Acadia Natl. Park, Bar Harbor photo with lighthouse by Todd Edgar Cape Cod Natl. Seashore photos by Jesse Stuart Mechling Biscayne Natl. Park photo of reef divers by John Brooks All other photos courtesy of National Park Service Caves Mammoth Cave Natl. Park photos by Jeff Kubina Wind Cave Natl. Park photos by Jason Walz All other photos courtesy of National Park Service Mountains Music Vivaldi's The Four Seasons-Winter performed by the U.S. Air Force Band Appalachian Trail photos by Nicholas_T Big Bend Natl. Park photos by advencap Great Basin Natl. Park mountain photos by Loren Reinhold All other photos courtesy of National Park Service Rocks and canyons Fossil Butte Natl. Monument photo of fossil by Arvid Aase of James E. Tynsky specimen Fossil Butte Natl. Monument photos of landscapes by Joe Tordiff All other photos courtesy of National Park Service Glaciers Music s*n*o*w*d*r*i*f*t by Morgantj All photos courtesy of National Park Service Volcanoes Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park photos of lava flows from USGS Capulin Volcano National Monument photos by Quinn Dombrowski Mount St. Helens Natl. Volcanic Monument video courtesy of Johnston Ridge Observatory, USDA Forest Service All other photos courtesy of National Park Service History Music "Bullets and Bayonets" composed by John Philip Sousa and performed by the U.S. Marine Band; courtesy of MusOpen Music "America the Beautiful" composed by Samuel A. Ward, words by Katharine Lee Bates, and performed by the U.S. Navy Band Lincoln Memorial Natl. Monument photos by cliff1066 Wright Brothers Natl. Memorial photo of memorial by Tim Menzies

The upcoming U.S. elections provide many opportunities for using audio and video resources to foster meaningful discussions and activities around current issues that are relevant and motivating to students. Many organizations provide podcasts that cover various current events issues, and that content is the focus of this mashup.

This mashup is featuring videos from TeacherTube, a great video-sharing site for education. (It\'s like YouTube for schools, and, thankfully, isn\'t blocked in most districts.) Teachers and students from around the world create and upload videos on topics that cover almost every curriculum area you can imaging. There are even great professional development videos.

Sorry for the brief hiatus, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ll be back with a new mashup soon. I’ve had a few other exciting projects consume all my time the last month or so, but stay tuned!

This show highlights podcasts for learners with special needs. There is new information coming out all the time about learning disabilities, brain research, universal design for learning, and more. Podcasts are a good way to keep up with it all and to connect with others who have share an interest in specific issues. Our classrooms are filled with ever-increasingly diverse students. Static and often inaccessible educational resources like textbooks are not appropriate for many learners. The accommodations that can be made to increase accessibility are good not only for special populations but for ALL students. The principles behind Universal Design for Learning could revolutionize educational success for many learners.

This time of year, many schools are focusing on preparation for high stakes tests. All students can benefit from improving their study skills and learning how to prep for tests, even if it's just for regular end-of-unit tests or quizzes. There are a variety of podcasts available that can help students with this, and we'll be featuring several in this show. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 23 - Test Prep [/coolplayer] (For the moment, I'm going to put aside my feelings about the current state of testing and test prep, but if the frenzy of test prep makes you crazy, here are my thoughts.) Another way to use podcasting for review and study purposes is to create your own studycasts. These can be audio or video versions of information you'd normally cover in a printed review packet. For some students, audio or video is more engaging and accessible. Another idea is to have your students create their own studycasts at the end of each unit. In the course of doing so, they will master the content and hone their own communication skills. Included in this show are excerpts from the following: "Speaking of History" studycast Innovative eighth grade history teacher Eric Langhorst produces these studycasts that help students get ready for upcoming tests. Mr. Langhorst also podcasts on other topics (here's a show he did on how he uses note packets) and has an informative blog. Although not included in this show, another great teacher studycast is Mr. Coley's StudyCast. Princeton Review Vocab Minute podcast These short 1-minute podcasts present key vocabulary words in the context of catchy tunes. Princeton Review also has podcasts for getting ready for the LSAT and for parents about the college admissions process. "Make Math Matter - FCAT" from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at the University of South Florida, College of Education (downloadable from iTunes) In this show, hosts James Welsh and Colleen Beaudoin discuss ways to prepare students for standardized testing without sacrificing quality instruction. FCIT has many other useful resources, including audio ebooks and screencasts on many tech topics. Kaplan College Bound podcast Kaplan is a trusted name in test prep, and this podcast is focused on preparing student for tests like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. In addition to test prep information, the podcast and web site also cover other topics like financial aid and applying to colleges. Charles County Public Schools SAT/ACT Podcast - excerpt from Section 3: How Do I study? This is a series of six shows about various aspects of prepping for and taking the SAT and ACT tests. The shows feature interviews with real students about their experiences with these tests and what worked and what didn't work for them. Ok, here are my thoughts on testing and test prep. There is too much testing in schools today. The format of most tests doesn't assess what is important (critical thinking, communication skills, etc.); it assesses the ability to take tests and to memorize facts. Test prep is a game that teaches kids how to "beat" the test, not how to learn more. The way testing is being done under NCLB is making many teachers hate teaching, which is negatively affecting many aspects of education.However...like it or not, testing is an important part of educational success in the system we have. That's why I decided to do this show even though the words "test prep" make a shiver run down my spine. End of rant...feel free to comment and add your own thoughts.

April is poetry month, so we're celebrating poetry in this show. Poetry is always a fun area to study because there is so much variety with something to please everyone. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 22 - Poetry [/coolplayer] Because so many schools enjoy creating podcasts and other multimedia presentations from poetry and other literature, I thought it would be a good time to do a quick review of copyright and to talk about Creative Commons. Anything that under traditional copyright (which includes any created work, even if it doesn't have a copyright notice and even if it's on the Internet) is protected from reuse or distribution by others without express permission. All of the clips included in this podcast are used by permission of their creators. Works that you can use without permission of the creator are those that are in the public domain (older works or ones created by the U.S. government) or those that are licensed under Creative Commons or other alternative license agreements. Creative Commons lets the creator keep copyright while giving others the rights to share it. The creator chooses what rights are shared. For example, a no derivatives license (CC-ND) means that the work can be used or redistributed but not changed. A share-alike license (CC-SA) means that the work can be reused or changed but that any resulting work must be shared under a similar license. A great way to let others share in your work is to license your original writing, photos, or web site under a Creative Commons license. (Check out my Open Ed site for more information on this and lots of great open resources, including music, clip art, photos, video, and more.) We also have a special offer from one of the contributors to this week's shows. The recording of "Casey at the Bat" is from TeacherVisionacirc;euro;trade;s National Poetry Month podcasts. Please visit TeacherVision.com for more lessons, activities, printable books, and worksheets, and receive 25% off a one-year TeacherVision subscription when you use promotion code TVKMU. Included in this show, by permission, are the following: Excerpt from "Afternoon Memory" by Gary Soto from the Poetry Audio Archive of the Academy of American Poets at Poets.org "Hoop Queens" by Charles R. Smith Jr. from the School Library Journal Poetry Podcast series "A Fish in a Spaceship" by Kenn Nesbitt Excerpt from "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest L. Thayer from the 2007 Poetry National Poetry Selections Podcast from TeacherVision "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost read by Seth Woodword from the Librivox poetry collection Excerpt from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe from the Classic Poetry Aloud podcast Transition sound - Windchime by plaggah Here are some more poetry resources that we weren't able to include in this show: The Burley School Poetry Podcast ChiTown Poets' Podcast Librivox audio recordings of poems (all in the public domain) Free poetry ebooks and other resources from K12 Handhelds

Continuing our series of shows focused on specific curriculum areas (see past shows on science and history), today we'll listen to podcasts about math. There are also many excellent video-based podcasts and other resources on math. We'll do a future show on these, but in the meantime, there are some links you can check out at the bottom of this post. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 21 - Math [/coolplayer] Thanks to everyone who participated in this show, including: The Math Factor - excerpt from show with the "Ants on a Rod" puzzle solution This entertaining podcast is produced by University of Arkansas math professor Chaim Goodman-Strauss and KUAF radio journalist Kyle Kellams. Each week, they present fun math puzzles and discuss the solutions in the next show. This podcast also includes interviews and other math tidbits. Jamestown Elementary Podcast - Ms. Blake's class story problems Elementary students at this school podcast math story problems for other students to listen to and solve. Teachers at Arlington Public Schools are producing many interesting podcasts. Check out their podcasts on Famous Americans, Jamestown 2007, a Guide to the Smithsonian Institution museums, a Guide to Monuments on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and more. Dan's Math Cast - segment from show 33 The host of this show is Dan Bach, community college math instructor at Diablo Valley College. Mr. Bach's show is focused on "math for the masses." Each show has special features, a textbook chapter, challenge problems, an advanced topic, and a math joke. Patrick Henry High School Podcast (log in as guest) - excerpt from Ms. Ann Wallace's geometry review This forward-thinking school, under the leadership of Mr. Keith Perrigan, uses podcasts to review various topics, including math. Even though we only included the audio here, these podcasts, hosted in Moodle, are video, so make sure to visit the web site to see the whole production. These review podcasts cover a variety of other subjects, such as social studies and language arts, as well. Math Mutation - excerpt from "The Aliens Among Us" This show hosted by Erik Seligman features fun, interesting, and weird corners of mathematics that you probably didn't hear in school. The Math Mutation web site includes a variety of interesting links and a transcript for each show. Transition sound - ElectroDub01 by geekhorde Here are some other video-based resources for math instruction: Next Vista NASA's KSNN (Math and science for lower elementary) TeacherTube MathCasts If you have other favorite sites, post a comment with the link!

In this show, we're listening to educational technology-oriented podcasts, one of the richest areas of podcasting. There is much more out there than we could fit in this show, so make sure to check out the list of additional resources below. This year has been one of the toughest I can remember in terms of providing professional development. Time priorities are fierce, and budgets are being cut, and professional development is suffering as a result. Podcasts like these are one way to provide just-in-time professional development for yourself and your staff members.

February is Black History Month, a time to remember the many contributions that African Americans have made to our nation. In this show, we'll hear from some inspiring people, talking about events that have shaped our history. I think you'll also enjoy the beautiful music in this episode. Please visit the artists' web sites and learn more about them. As a special offer this month, the first listener who emails us will get a free copy of Lawrence Watson's new CD, American Fruit with African Roots. You can download additional curriculum resources for studying African American history at K12 Handhelds. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 19-Black history [/coolplayer] Included in this show are excerpts from the following: Intro music - "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Kenny Rampton and the choir Interview with Fountain Hughes from "Voices from the Days of Slavery" from the Library of Congress, American Memory Collection This recording with ex-slave Fountain Hughes was made by Hermond Norwood in Baltimore, Maryland on June 11, 1949. This is from the vast collection of African American narratives from the Library of Congress. Recording of Langston Hughes from the Black Media Archive podcast In this recording, Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes talks about writing his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and then reads the poem aloud. Article on Rosa Parks from Spoken Wikipedia Wikipedia has a collection of spoken articles, including this one. These poems can be downloaded and used in projects or other works of your own. (If you have difficulty with the .ogg files, they can be converted with Zamzar.com or Audacity.) Recording of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speaking about Montgomery, AL from the Black Media Archive podcast Barack Obama's 2004 Speech at the Democratic National Convention Closing music - "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Lawrence Watson Listen to Mr. Watson's new CD "American Fruit with African Roots" and stay tuned for more information about a forthcoming curriculum guide. Transition sound - Trumpet by kaponja -------- Here are some additional resources (not included in this show) that you might find useful: Black History Month Collection from Profile America from the U.S. Census Bureau - daily one-minute vignettes from key events, observances, or commemorations for each day in history; For the month of February, profiles from black history are featured. The Voice of King - a collection of speeches, sermons, and talks from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Say it Plain - A century of great African American speeches from American RadioWorks Black History Month Programming - a variety of resources from the Public Radio Exchange -------- As with all Internet content, you should screen any materials before sharing them with students. Some of these broadcasts may include language or other content that may be objectionable to some audiences.

Our last show featuring student-produced podcasts was so popular that we're doing another one. This show spotlights work from middle and high school students. In this show, you'll hear podcasts of school news, student interviews, book talks, and musical performances. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 18 - Secondary student productions [/coolplayer] Included in this show are: San Francisco University High School Jazz Ensemble - "Night in Tunisia" (opening music) This high school is a coed, college prep, independent secondary school with an enrollment of just under 400. Their talented student musicians and music department staff members have made a variety of podcasts available to the community. SMS Podcasts from Scott Middle School - "Sliding Into Home" Students at Scott Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska are using podcasting for book talks. The podcasts "help the students practice their oral reading fluency, improve their speaking skills, and get motivated to read and share their books." These podcasts make me want to go to the library and get these books! Pathfinder Mix from Pathfinder Middle School This podcast from Pathfinder Middle School includes student interviews about various activities they enjoy. Pathfinder has several teams who collaborate on this podcast including the journalism students who conduct the interviews and the SWAT team (Students With A Talent) who are the tech geniuses who do the production. This is just one of the podcasts from Pinckney Community Schools. They also podcast their morning announcements and teachers' professional learning community activities. San Francisco University High School Chorus "Fly Me to the Moon" Visit SFUHS's web site for more great music from their Camerata, Chorus, Jazz Combo, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Sextet, Musica Lingua Quartet, Sinfonia, and Quintet. SP Radio Show from Switzerland Point Middle School This middle school in Switzerland, FL has been podcasting for over 2 years. Mr. Moseley and th SPMS Tech Squad produce the show that includes features like "Upcoming Events," "Battle of the Grades," "Anything Goes," "Dire Questions Answered" and more. Including a musical break and using new themes for selected shows provides entertainment for listeners. SAS Pudong Podcast from the Shanghai American School in Pudong This podcast by middle school students at SAS is just one of several podcasts the school produces. Check out their podcasts by elementary and middle school students, their principal, a counselor, various teachers, and tech specialist extraordinaire Jeff Utecht for a range of examples of the benefits podcasting can bring. San Francisco University High School Jazz Combo - "Basic Basie" (closing music) Transition sound - Indian percussion by R Humphries

It's a busy time of the year for many of us, so on this show we're going to take a little break and listen to some podcasts strongjust for fun/strong! (No school-related content this time.) There are podcasts about almost every leisure activity you can imagine from movie reviews to cooking, travel to sports, comedy to knitting.

On this show, we're spotlighting podcasts and other digital audio resources for learning a foreign language. What better way to learn a new language than to listen to it spoken? There are podcasts on everything from basic beginning vocabulary and beginning grammar to advanced conversational speech. Many of these podcasts include print resources as well. Some charge for additional services like lesson guides, pronunciation practice programs, and even interactive sessions with tutors. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 16 - Foreign Language Instruction [/coolplayer] Some of the groups we've included on this show are even using innovative new technologies like Skype and Twitter for language learning. This has me thinking about all kinds of new ideas for teaching a variety of subject areas. Foreign language classes are also producing their own podcasts. These include teacher-produced and student-produced podcasts. This is a good way to provide reinforcement and practice in an easy-to-use format. Another good way to keep up your language skills is to listen to one of the many podcasts of news shows or other content produced in a foreign language. Included in this show are: Coffee Break Spanish This podcast has a large library of shows available for learning Spanish. Most are about 20 minutes long. The podcasts here are free. A premium membership can be purchased to receive enhanced podcasts, lesson guides, and bonus materials. There are also podcasts for Coffee Break French, My Daily Phrase German, and My Daily Phrase Italian. This group also offers a cool service that uses Twitter to reinforce language learning. JapanesePod101.com This innovative group offers many series such as the newbie series, survival phrases, a culture series, and various levels including beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Some of the content is free of charge, while premium content is available as a paid subscription. The full program includes not only podcast lessons, but PDF transcripts, an opportunity to practice your own pronunciation, vocabulary review, assessments, flashcards, and interaction with an instructor. The French Ecole French for Beginners' Podcast The French Ecole is a group founded to teach French to children, and they now have a podcast for both children and adults. Each show includes a PDF vocabulary sheet. One of interesting option this group offers is Skype-based language lessons. For an additional charge, you can take advantage of these 45-minute one-on-one sessions with a live tutor. Mandarin Chinese with Serge Melnyk Each of these lessons covers a different kind of practical situation, such as being at the post office or going to the hospital. Each podcast begins with a situational dialog, which is followed by the introduction of new vocabulary and the situational dialog translated. As with many other language podcasts, transcripts and additional resources are available for purchase. Swahili lesson from the Foreign Service Institute These are a series of digitized language instruction courses originally developed by the United States government. A wide variety of languages are offered, including lesson common offerings such Amharic, Chinyanja, Hausa, Igbo, Twi, and Yoruba, as well as most of the more mainstream languages. All of these courses are in the public domain, which opens up some interesting possibilities for remixing into derivative courses or podcasts. Transition sound - Massive phase sweep by sandyrb Since December will be a busy month for everyone, we'll just be doing one show, but it will be a FUN one so make sure to tune in.

On this show, weacirc;euro;trade;re listening to audio books. Audio books are a powerful educational tool for building literacy and increasing the love of reading for readers of all ages. They have great applicability to special needs students and can help build literacy skills for all readers. (Specially classified students may qualify to receive audio versions of textbooks and other instructional materials free of charge.) [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 15 - Audio books [/coolplayer] There are many free sources for audio books like LibriVox and Project Gutenberg, as well as commercial sources. One great place to get commercial audio books for free is from your public library. Many libraries now offer audio books as well as ebooks for checkout through their web sites. There are also free podcasts of serialized books delivered to you on a schedule provided by groups like Podiobooks.com. As with all Internet content, it is recommended that you pre-screen individual shows before sharing them with students. (Some of the sites below do include explicit adult content, as well as children's content.) Included in this show are: Excerpt from The Flown Sky by Matthew Olshan, available on Podiobooks.com Podiobooks.com provides free, serialized books delivered to you chapter-by-chapter on your schedule. What a great idea! This site features a variety of genres, including ones for children, young adults, and adults. Each book's content is marked with ratings such as "family friendly" or "adult." The books at this site are generally from contemporary authors (not public domain), but they are free. The site gladly accepts donations if you like what you hear. Excerpt from Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, produced by OverDrive, available through many public libraries Many public libraries are now offering audio books available for checkout through their web sites. These books include many best-sellers and are available free for library patrons. Excerpt from The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton as read by Elizabeth Klett, available on LibriVox.org LibriVox.org is one of the best-known and most extensive collections of public domain audio books on the the Internet. LibriVox also has a podcast, and you can volunteer to record portions of books to give back to the community. Because these recordings are all public domain, there are many ways you might use them in the classroom with students. One idea is to have students make their favorite portion of a book into a multimedia presentation with accompanying music and images. Excerpt from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson available from Lit2Go and the Florida Center for Instructional Technology Lit2Go from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology is a free online collection of recorded stories and poems. The books in this collection are primarily out of copyright print materials that have been turned into MP3s with the help of professional narrators. This site also includes text versions of each chapter, PDFs of classroom resource materials, and correlations to Florida state standards. Excerpt from The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, read by Jane Aker with music by Kevin MacLeod, available on Literal Systems Literal Systems offers MP3 and FLAC files of great literature. They work with a small group of voice talent and have an emphasis on high quality, which results in a rich listening experience. Literal Systems accepts donations to help support this free service. Transition sound - Wind chimes by www.offthesky.com Here are some other sources for audio books: LoudLit.org (free) Manybooks.net (free; most of these audiobooks are actually from LibriVox, but this site also includes ebook versions) Audible.com (commercial) Amazon (commercial) If you have other favorites, post a link! Thanks for listening.

On this show, weacirc;euro;trade;re going to listen to podcasts for school administrators. Time is at a premium for busy administrators and yet there is so much important information that is critical to their jobs. There are updates on policy issues, NCLB, state legislation, legal updates, personnel issues, funding, school improvement, and much more. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 14 - Administrators [/coolplayer] One way to stay on top of it all is with podcasts from education experts, like state DOEs, NSBA, TICAL, and others. These podcasts are a good way to stay on top of vital information while managing your time effectively. At the bottom of this post is a list of state departments of education that have podcasts. If you know of others, let us know. Included in this show are the following: Radio TICAL from the Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL) (segment on cell phones) This monthly podcast from TICAL provides school leaders with professional development, covering a range of interesting issues related to educational technology. Recent shows have included technology trends, exemplary technology use, online issues, and finding high quality technology staff. State Superintendent Mike Flanagan's podcast from the Michigan Department of Education (excerpt from podcast on budget cuts) This forward-thinking state superintendent is using podcasts to communicate about key issues he deals with on a daily basis. His podcast airs monthly, and the shows are generally under 10 minutes long. This podcast is also available in a video format. If you'd like to share your thoughts on this, they'd love to hear from you. BoardBuzz from NSBA (excerpt from show on a legal case concerning school newspapers) The National School Boards Association is a trusted source of important information for school boards and administrators, and now they are producing a podcast. This monthly podcast provides a quick 10 minute summary of news, information, and updates of interest to administrators. There is also an easy-to-use widget that you can use to listen or embed it on your own site. BoardBuzz also provides an informative daily blog. Indiana Department of Education Podcast (show on AYP) Indiana is another innovative state department of education providing information via podcast. Their podcasts feature rebroadcasts of press conferences and state board meetings, as well as program updates and other information important to school leaders and the general public. There are audio and video podcasts available through this web site, and they vary in length and frequency. School Leader's Review from NASSP (segment on transforming school culture) This is a new podcast from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. It covers a variety of issues of interest to middle and high school principals. It is a weekly show that typically runs about 15 minutes in length. Transition sound - Electric school bell by John Sauter Thanks to everyone who contributed to this show. --------------- These state departments of education have podcasts that may be of interest to school leadership: Arizona Hawaii Indiana Iowa Kansas (KSDE conference) Michigan Missouri (MORENet) New York (tech prep) North Carolina (high schools standards) South Dakota (I am surprised there aren't more. This is such an inexpensive and effective way to communicate information!)

In this week's show, we're listening to science podcasts. Science is a very rich area for podcasting, and there are many that have classroom application from elementary through adult levels. Some include teacher resource materials as well. Podcasts like these are a great way to get kids excited about science and motivated to learn more. There are so many good science-related podcasts that we couldn't include them all in this show. At the bottom of the list below are some additional science podcasts to check out. We'll also be doing another show on science video podcasts in the future. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 13 - Science [/coolplayer] As with all Internet content, it is recommended that you pre-screen individual shows before sharing them with students. Included in this show are: Why? the Science Show for Kids from Dr. Dave Brodbeck (excerpt on why dinosaurs became extinct) Each episode of this show begins with science-related question submitted by a child. This topics are of high interest and suitability for lower elementary students. The shows air once or twice a month and are generally 5-10 minutes long. Science @ NASA Feature Stories Podcast (excerpt from show on Mars rovers caught in severe dust storms) These short 3-5 minute podcasts are produced a few times a week and include news stories on research being done at NASA. Transcripts are also available on the web site. The readability level of these shows varies, but they are probably most suitable for middle school and up. The Discovery Files by NSF (excerpt from episode on wireless power) This podcast from the National Science Foundation covers new advances in science and engineering. Its short 1-1/2 minute podcasts air weekly and are produced in a light, high interest style that makes them accessible to students from middle elementary up. The web site includes transcripts for each show. Brain Food Podcast from Kyle Butler (excerpt from show on cell phones) This show explores interesting topics from everyday life by using science and math to understand the world around us. Most shows are about 30 minutes long, and the show generally airs weekly. It's been on a hiatus lately, but there are some great back episodes available online. Quirks and Quarks from CBC Radio (excerpt from a show on Mars and other topics) This weekly science podcast is from CBC Radio, Canada's national public radio. The shows are just under an hour long and feature several segments on a variety of topics. It is probably most useful for middle school students and up. One nice this about this podcast is that you can subscribe to or download the entire hour-long show or you can just get individual segments you are interested in. This is a nice feature for teachers who want to use a specific piece related to something being studied in class. Science and the City from the New York Academy of Science (segment from lecture by Steve Wozniak) This weekly podcast features interviews, conversations, and lectures by noted scientists and author. Among the work shared in this show, this podcast contains some of the highest level of content and is most suitable for high school students and adults. Transition sound - Glass Break 03 by R Humphries Here are some other science podcasts you might want to check out: Science Friday - the well-regarded science show from NPR; one great feature of this podcast is the Science Friday Kids 'Connection site that includes a topic index that is correlated to science standards National Geographic podcasts - a wide variety of audio and video podcasts NOVA podcasts - scienceNOW from WGBH NOAA podcast - short reports on NOAA science and research, including information related to weather and the oceans

It’s time for the 2nd Annual 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition for students. The challenge is to make an audio or video podcast answering the question “What do you think is NASA’s greatest exploration achievement in the past 50 years and why?” The competition starts on Oct. 1 and ends after they’ve received 1,000 entries in each [...]

In this show, weapos;re spotlighting podcasts targeted toward parents. For many, itapos;s the beginning of a new school year and the time for back-to-school nights and other parent and student activities. We know, both from research and practical experience, that when parents are involved in their childrenapos;s education, achievement improves. But, like all of us, parents have many priorities competing for their time. Podcasts provide one way to facilitate home-school communications in a way that lets parents participate on their own schedule. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 12 - Parent Info [/coolplayer] This show includes a variety of podcasts for parents. Some are produced by schools. These include podcasts from administrators and teachers to help let parents know about everything from overall academic goals to day-to-day classroom activities. There are also podcasts from other organizations that talk about topics ranging from parenting tips to sports to getting kids in to college. The work featured in this show includes: Podcast Central from Dr. Tim Tyson and Mabry Middle School Dr. Tyson and Mabry Middle School have been pioneers in the area of podcasting. They have put together a variety of student- and teacher-produced podcasts, as well as podcasts for parents. The show featured here offers a good model for using a podcast to tell the community about all the great things your school or district is doing. Family Sports Life Today with Coaches Tom Newell and Guy Perry This podcast focuses on youth sports and has information for parents, coaches, and student athletes. If covers variety of topics related to having a positive sports experience at all grade levels. Tech Time from Bob Sprankle, Wells Elementary Podcast pioneer and technology integrator Bob Sprankle hosts this podcast that talks about upcoming technology lessons for each week. This is a great way to keep kids, parents, and other staff members updated on what's going on. For some busy parents, it is more convenient to listen to a podcast than to check into a web site. (And with services like Gabcast, teachers can record a podcast right from their phone. What could be easier than that?) Princeton Review Parents from the Princeton Review This monthly podcast offers parents tips related to college admissions, including choosing the best school, getting the most from campus visits, and obtaining financial aid. The Princeton Review also has podcasts on getting ready for the LSAT and learning vocabulary words. Iowa Department of Education podcast - Director's Back To School Message This podcast provides an innovative way for the state to communicate with parents, administrators, and teachers. This episode is a great example of how to use a podcast to set the tone for the upcoming school year. Transition sound - Bongo 14 by Hubert Michel Our next show will feature science podcasts. If you have a favorite or an idea for a topic for another upcoming show, let us know by posting a comment! Thanks for listening.

In this show, weacirc;euro;trade;re listening to podcasts from museums. Many museums are offering audio and video podcasts, covering topics including art, history, science, and more. Museum podcasts are a great way to get ready for a field trip. Some include listening guides or other classroom activities that can be used with the podcast. Even if you arenacirc;euro;trade;t visiting, they provide a wonderful multimedia supplement for your classroom lessons and a great way to bring virtual field trips to life. Some schools even have their students produce their own podcasts about museums or historical sites theyacirc;euro;trade;ve visited. [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="utf-8" download="1" mediatype=""] Show 11 - Museums [/coolplayer] The MuseumPods portal is a great place to start looking for museum podcasts. Featured in this show are: The Smithsonianacirc;euro;trade;s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Prototype Online podcast - Segment from interview with Dr. Robert Jarvik This twice-monthly podcast highlights a variety of fascinating inventions and inventors. The Lemelson Center has prepared a Teacher Listening Guide for its podcasts, which will also find a home at a new education site set to debut soon from the National Museum of American History. The Smithsonian also publishes many other podcasts. Gordon Current Science #38; Technology Center at the Museum of Science, Boston - Excerpt from show on dolphin communications This weekly show covers a wide variety of science and technology topics, including the brain, biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, A.I., robotics, and more. The museum offers audio and video podcasts and a long list of back episodes. The Museum of Modern Art, New York and Acoustiguide, Inc. - Intro to Red Studio Teen podcast, followed by a discussion of Gunter Uecker's "White Field" This is an amazing podcast produced by MoMA's Youth Advisory Council (YAC), content for teens, by teens. MoMA has a series of six different programs to share. This podcast (as well as others by MoMA) is divided into segments for each piece of art. I love the idea of using these in the classroom by showing a piece of art, discussing it as a group, and then listening to the podcast while looking at the piece. Adler Planetarium #38; Astronomy Museum, Adler Night and Day podcast - Excerpt from Adler Night for early August, 2007 This bi-weekly podcast is from the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Adler Day covers recent solar weather and forecasted activity; Adler Night discussed current events in the night sky. New episodes include an enhanced podcast with images. Transition sound - Medieval fanfare by tobyk Here are some other museum podcasts that we couldn't fit in this episode: Clinton Presidential Library - Search iTunes for "Clinton library" to find these fascinating audio guides recorded by President Clinton. Museum of African Diaspora - Includes a collection of slave narratives and first person narratives; downloadable through iTunes; transcripts included on the web site. National Gallery podcast - From London, several podcasts on a variety of works of art Arizona State Museum podcast - Includes interviews about masks of Mexico; enhanced versions

It's the time of the year when many of us are focusing on professional development for the upcoming school year. In this show, we look at audio podcasts for professional development. (If you missed it, Show 6 focused on video podcasts for professional development.) [coolplayer width="300" height="50" autoplay="false" loop="false" download="show"] Show 10 - Professional Development [/coolplayer] Each year it seems harder to schedule workshops. Subs and release days are difficult. Everyone has busy schedules. And there are so many important topics to cover, but time and space is limited. Audio and video podcasts can help provide a solution to this. They also have the benefits of allowing time shifting and providing just-in-time support. The following items are featured in this show: PD to Go - SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast - excerpt from Show 84 This is a very teacher-friendly podcast that is packed with practical classroom suggestions. Lower Merion School District Podologue - episode on Understanding by Design This is a good example of recording a F2F PD session for use by those who couldn't attend. LMSD also uses its RSS feed to distribute PDFs and other resources. These are important pieces that provide extra information. Greater Manchester Professional Development Center podcast- excerpt from show on the ICT standards and cognitive proficiency The GMPDC is a regional center, initially funded through Title IID. It serves a variety of districts in the state (and beyond). Their offerings cover a wide variety of topics. Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement - segment on improving learning and unpacking state standards This is a part of the "Harnessing the Scientific Spirit to Improve Learning" series, which was developed in conjunction with North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. Transition sound of a Tibetan singing bowl struck with a wooden mallet by suburban grilla