Creating podcasts using the microphone feature would be the most useful aspect of GarageBand in my classroom. I was not able to access the app on my iPad, but downloaded it to my iPhone and found the general interface pretty straightforward. I looked at a few tutorials on YouTube and found ways to easily increase the amount of recording time and to silence the metronome. Once those two issues were resolved I recorded a few general information podcasts. Publishing was very simple. I would probably not utilize the instrument features often, if at all.
I think this has great potential in the classroom. After viewing the sites referenced in the assignment, I feel a weekly or unit summary of key content would be an appropriate use. Students could be selected on a rotation basis or be required to provide a script that would be selected. I could see introducing this with a basic template and allowing small groups to draft a podcasts. Podcasts would be a good tool for students who have been absent and also for sharing new learning with parents and other classes. The podcasts could contain a general summary of the week or focus specifically on a key event or lesson. As a content specialist I can see creating a podcast of a general overview of the upcoming objectives for the marking period or unit. This would benefit new teachers who can get overwhelmed with information on the pacing guides.
I would probably host the podcasts on the class eChalk page and archive them after a few weeks for space issues. I could also create a class blog assuming it could be accessed at school. Alternately I may archive them on my Google Drive and share them with students there. I will have to play with this a bit more in the fall.
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