QUESTION: How and why would you use voice tools to communicate with teachers, students, parents or the community? Mention a few topics you would want to talk about with different audiences.
ANSWER:
Communicating via podcast sounds fun and fast for both parties, sending and receiving. Adding sound or music is interesting, and it seems to be a bit more personal, since there is a human voice on the other end.
Since I am focused a lot on teacher morale, I could send podcasts through text messages, emails, or on a blog letting teachers know how important they are, or how they are doing a wonderful job. A little note of praise, no matter the form, is nice and makes for an uplifting day.
Another way, as a school library media specialist, is to market the media center. I am all about marketing, and this is just another avenue to do so. I decided that since people in advertising have to get a message across in thirty seconds to a minute, why not find creative ways to do it myself? In my podcast, or phonecast, example, I created a one-minute explanation of a great technology tool called Glogster. Teachers are always asking how to get in more professional development. Well, this could be quick way, first thing in the morning, along with announcements. It sends out a hook without stopping them in the hallway, creating posters to hang around the school, or getting in the way of a faculty meeting. Although, I could also create videos to play at the beginning of faculty meetings advertising the media center’s program.
I could also post podcasts on my professional website about how parents can help their children build reading comprehension or how to even find time during the day to do so.
Something an administrator could do is have a box for parents, teachers, students, and the community to place questions in, or people could email questions to him or her, and he or she could answer the questions over a podcast. An administrator could also turn the tables and ask people in the community questions or have a simple conversation about a topic, such as, thoughts about business advertising on buses or how could the school and community be more involved with each other.
I enjoy listening to podcasts and audiobooks a lot, because I can multitask. As parents with occupations other than their housework, finding time to read important messages can be daunting. Listening to information can be beneficial, because you can keep moving.