Reading mixes with technology – Students create podcasts of book reviews

Salem Editor — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:34:00 GMT

Madison Enos, a sixth-grader, has completed a book review of “Magyk,” a book by Angie Sage, that she enjoyed reading.

Her short summary of the book – and thoughts on it – will be available to be heard on the Internet.

Madison, 12, is one of several Windham Middle School students creating podcasts of their book reviews.

“We get to record our own opinion of books we’ve read,” said fellow student Bobby Parsons.

Using technology available to them at the school, the students are aiming to make about 15 podcasts before the end of the school year.

Their program, “Book News,” is an enrichment activity – mixing a love of reading with technology – for this group of advanced reading students. And they’re excited that their words will be heard by others.

“A lot of kids have iPods,” said Meagan Eccleston.

Diana Greenleaf, the school district’s media specialist, was inspired to start the program after attending a workshop at last year’s Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference, which promotes technology in education.

The Windham students, all of them sixth-graders, typically meet weekly to work on their podcasts.

“It promotes reading, and it makes them excited to do something about reading,” Greenleaf said. “I think to do something with iPods makes reading a desirable activity.”

Recently, the students gathered with Greenleaf in the school’s library. Madison was getting ready to record her review of “Magyk.” Jon Spanos, 12, manned the computer keyboard.

“Do you want to practice it once? I think you should,” Greenleaf told her.

After she did, Jon quietly said “one, two, three” and started recording. Madison’s reading went smoothly but her friends told her she needed to talk louder.

“Yeah, pick up the volume,” said Sean Joseph.

After Madison read it again, Meagan quietly clapped and Jon played back the recording.

“This series opener is an on-the-edge-of-your-seat can’t-put-it-down exciting book,” Madison told listeners.

“Wonderful writing and vivid descriptions take you into a truly imaginative story that you won’t want to leave.”

The students started their work a couple of months ago. They use Audacity, an audio editing computer program, to record their reviews. An encoder known as LAME is used to turn the recordings into MP3 files.

Each podcast begins with a short introduction of “Book News,” followed by a book review.

Each review is kept short – no more than two-and-a-half minutes – so listeners won’t get bored.

Sean has reviewed Erin Hunter’s “Into the Wild,” which he read last summer and recommends to others.

“I couldn’t put it down,” he said.

Bobby intends to record his review of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

“Practice helps a lot,” Greenleaf said. “Doing it cold isn’t good.”

But if a student mispronounces a word, they don’t have to re-record their entire review. They can cut out their mistake, record a fix and make a substitution.

There is, however, one problem, students trying to work out – the volume of their introduction is louder than the reviews.

Although only five students are currently recording reviews, more students are expected to become podcasters. Greenleaf hopes to bring the activity to other students at the school.

Windham News : books

Reading mixes with technology – Students create podcasts of book reviews