Video Podcasts in the Classroom

For my video podcasts I chose subjects from a variety of different areas in science. I chose: Characteristics of the Suns, Energy Transfer in a Trebuchet, and Homo Sapiens vs. Neanderthals. The first video shared some very interesting facts about our sun and the solar system. It was a terrific way to reach out to the students that are visual learners by showing them just how massive the sun is and just how small the sun is compared to other stars.

The second video, Energy Transfer in a Trebuchet is a terrific video for getting students interested in science. The video is about two individuals who decided to build a Trebuchet which is a medieval siege weapon using only methods available to people living in the middle ages. The video shows terrific footage of cannon balls, and old pianos being flung across great distances. This video is ideal for showing students that science and engineering can be cool.

The final video Homo Sapiens vs. Neanderthals provides an interesting look into pre-civilization. It studies the early competition between Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals and offers clues as to why Homo Sapiens emerged victorious. First it argues that Homo Sapiens were much more inclined to explore than Neanderthals and spread across vast areas rather than staying local like the Neanderthals. Secondly many Homo Sapiens sites were found on hilltops, allowing them a greater view of the surrounding area so they could better plan and strategize. Neanderthals on the other hand remained in low areas and valleys and lacked this advantage. After roughly 10,000 years of competition, the Neanderthals eventually went extinct.

Podcasts like these are a terrific resource for teachers. It provides the students with a visual aid in supporting the teachers lecture while the teacher is offered a brief break. It will help the visual learners in the classroom excel and show students the "cool" side of science that teachers sometimes cannot describe (like throwing a piano).

Finally, by using this resource that students can access from home, students are encouraged to learn outside of the classroom. Watching a ten minute video about science or any other subject is often much more enjoyable than reading a chapter in a text book. Certainly if it is more entertaining then students will be more inclined to do it. These are several reasons why video podcasts are a valuable resource to teachers in the 21st century.