Podcasting by Kids
November 30th, 2006 by 
adminKids say the darndest things, and now they can say them to a lot more people, by making their own podcasts!
Their own podcasts? Yes! While it’s true that they got the help of some adults to help them with the controls and uploading it on the Internet, they were still very involved in the production. They thought of the concept, they chose the songs, they made the script, and acted it out.
Considering there are adults five, six times their age, who can barely figure out how to turn on the computer, these young podcasters deserve a round of applause. They are proof not only of how easy it is to create a podcast, but how it can be such a valuable vehicle for self-expression and a source of enjoyment.
For example, some first grade teachers (first grade!) in Arizona organized a Valentine’s podcast. In this school activity, the students participated in the production of a special podcast that would be sent as Valentine’s gifts for their parents. It was certainly a new spin to the traditional paper heart! The kids made the script, chose the songs and poems, and then spent about three days recording their performances. The teachers then took over editing and formatting the file. The podcast may not win any awards for technical achievement, but we can say one thing—it certainly moved anyone who listened to it.
Other schools are using podcasts as an alternative to papers. The children are assigned a research topic, and then told to create a simple radio documentary. These are then recorded and edited, with the assistance of a teacher. The great thing about these podcasts is that they make even a “boring” topic fun. Writing a paper on Shakespearean drama is dull work, but try putting together a podcast with actual readings of some of the lines from his great work. Suddenly, it’s fun!
There are also podcasts of school performances and plays. All parents look forward to seeing their child perform, but even if they bring a video camera, they might not be able to get a good shot. Some schools provide parents with a short recording of the performance. While they aren’t technically made by the kids, they nevertheless feature the kids as they sing and dance on stage.
It’s true that the podcasts made by kids are a little rough around the edges. They’re kids, after all. But the young generation’s interest in, and familiarity with, the medium says a lot about the future of podcasting. If seven year olds are using them for school projects, by end of a decade the world will view podcasting with the same matter-of-factness that we view television. They aren’t burdened with the fear of new technology, and they are excited about “playing” with this new and exciting “toy”. Given their enthusiasm, and the possibilities inherent in the medium, then podcasting will certainly see a lot of innovations within the next decades.