CH8 Response: 'Casting in the Real Stream

No, this isn't fishing, but in some ways it is. Think about it. 'Casting can be podcasting, videocasting, or screencasting, or all of the above... Always looking for an audience to catch. The idea of adding video and audio genre's to our ability to teach and communicate is good...but doing it with the technologically gifted tools outlined in this chapter is GREAT!! Note- I couldn't help the fishing reference - with tearms like casting, reel (or real), streaming, etc. I couldn't resist.

I think podcasting is just the ticket to get in the show. Teachers should understand its power of scale and repeatability. However, the real impact of this media is to combine the visual and audio through either a video podcast or a screencast. The music industry went through this when songs began to be accompanied by a video and MTV was born in thet early 1980's. We all were treated to an enhanced look at the artists rendering of their music through images and storylines that enhanced both the lyrics and the rythm of the songs. Who can forget "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. The artistic impression of the video was MUCH different for me than just listening to the song on the radio.

Screencasting in particular will allow teachers to reach audiences that aren't in the classroom or computer lab at the time of the lesson. This could be the absent students, students in another school or classroom, or could even revolutionaize the home school model of the future.

Now if you'll excuse me, a trout is calling my name and I need to get back to 'casting in the real stream....