Module 5 - Podcasts/Vodcasts-The Virtual Teacher (and student?)

I've had a hard night of family drama's - changing bed linen at 10-30 pm as a result of an ongoing stomach virus that reared it's ugly vomiting head across the doona of my 6 year old certainly was not on my list of things to do this evening. It seemed my two year old never wanting to miss out on all the fun decided to join in and suddenly the 'quiet' household was a pumping nightclub of activity. I just needed yia-yia and papaou to join in with the podcast download of bazooki music and a few ' hopah's and away we go!!
The hustle and bed time bustle resulted in a no-show for work the next day- however- if I was forward planning ahead (other then the emails and 7am telephone calls outlining my textbook task for year 9 as opposed to their database activity in pre-booked computer labs) I would have indicated to them to go to SOLE and upload the podcast for that lesson.

'Good Morning year 9' - (can you imagine their faces? they look around- look at each other quizzically) 'That's right boys- I'm not here, but Geography can always prevail in difficult times- now for that database procedure...'
I could have (and I say 'could have' because only after reading and exploring podcasts and vodcasts do these ideas come to mind) recorded the task using mp3 mics and then uploaded the podcast to the school's intranet.
Imagine their faces - initial (insert big smile) 'great- she's away- bludge time! to 'oh no....she's away but not really away..... or would they even notice?
Add in a video and edit (audacity / movie maker) and the question arises..'do I really need to be at school at all?' Could I not pre-plan all my lessons, video edit them and upload them and the students just download them to access each task - Perhaps the students do not need to attend at all if they can do this from their own home- a bit like virtual school of the air or online uni- studies?
So many questions and possibilities.

Anyway my next task is to try out the podcasting with my year 6 ICT class. They are completing research on a famous world leader as part of their HSIE studies. One option for research delivery is to conduct an interview in pairs with their world leader.
I plan on them recording the interview (MP3) and then editing their work using movie maker. We have edited clips using movie maker prior in the junior school (and the boys have loved it) but not with the boys doing their own voice-over recordings. I think they would enjoy both the recording and the subsequent editing.
If we can video their interviews (as opposed to editing stills), insert background music, add transitions it would make a fantastic and engaging end result. I'll keep you posted!

Don't you love you-tube! - Year 9 Geography Community Studies