Arthur Phillip High School
A powerful literacy tool
In a school where more than 85 per cent of students are from non-English speaking backgrounds, the use of GarageBand is proving to be a particularly powerful literacy tool. Ms Goodwin explains: “For students experiencing difficulties with literacy, we can record their progress over time then play it back to them so they can actually listen to how well they have improved. This is a wonderful method of building their self-esteem, which is so essential in learning.”
Interestingly, podcasts at the school are often providing incentives for learning and self-improvement without teacher intervention; and one podcast project in particular is proving to be a valuable experience for all concerned.
In partnership with Parramatta Council’s volunteer-based Park Committee, the school is developing a narrative- and guide-style podcast that can be listened to by people as they wander around the famous Parramatta Park. Similar to the taped guides that have become popular in museums around the world, Arthur Phillip’s podcast represents a classic example of technology-based learning with real world outcomes.
An initial script for the podcast was provided by the Park Committee, yet students have still undertaken their own research to enhance the final result. For many of them, hearing their voices as they undertake initial recordings of the narration reinforces to them the need to speak clearly and succinctly – something that teachers have striven for on a daily basis.
A student involved in the project, states: “Once we start recording narration, we’re constantly playing it back and listening for things such as correct tone, pauses and everything else that will make sure the podcast can be understood and heard clearly.
“The result is that quite often, the people who do the narrations hear for themselves how poorly they speak. So they go back and do it again, all the while teaching themselves how to speak better.”
One of the school’s teachers, Kerry Sondhu comments: “The students are very involved in every aspect of the project. Aside from reading scripts, they’re also constantly thinking about what changes need to be made in order to make the script even better.
“They’re interacting with the community, communicating via e-mail, making sound effects, creating their own music, and even using Gantt charts for project procedures and management guidelines. This is an incredibly powerful and effective learning experience for everyone involved.”
Next page: Podcasting for the future