Week 7 Readings, Podcast and Jonassen

I am a big fan of books on CD, so I thought I would be able to turn on the podcast of "How Digital Media is Changing Kids and Learning," and really be able to focus on the content of the forum. However, I never found myself completely devoted to the speakers, instead I was frequently distracted by the change in volume, the feedback that drowned out the speakers, and the lack of a focal point. The degree of technical difficulties kept me from really paying attention to the content of the podcast but I did recognize a lot of the terms we have been talking about; tools of assessment, critical feedback, participatory culture and the use of games. But I was most interested to listen to what Howard Gardner had to say.
Gardner is, of course, the author of "Multiple Intelligences," which is a key component to my teaching. In Jonassen's book, Gardner is quoted as saying "How are you smart?" The idea that podcasting is the ideal tool for verbal learners is obvious. Just because I had a bad experience doesn't mean I would discount podcasting for those students who learn best by listening. It would be an incredibly effective tool for students who missed some lecture, or who want to deliver their report orally. Either way, it was no coincidence that Gardner was one of the participants. It was great to hear some of his ideas on Digital Learning and to think about how podcasts can be a part of students' learning.