I've recently started listening to the fabulous Big Finish audio dramas (which I would highly recommend by the way) and it got me thinking - wouldn't it be great if children could record and share their own stories with others as audio books?
There is a free app called Voice Record Pro that would let children record their voice quite easily using the built-in microphone on an iPad/iPod Touch:
All they would then have to do is share this audio file onto Edmodo (either using the 'Open With Other Apps' tool or by emailing it to me so I can upload it for them) and then all their friends could enjoylistening to it!
As ideas go it isn't new but the technology is now available to make the whole process very child-friendly and so much simpler to do!
You read a lot about children sharing their writing online but I also believe that sharing children reading stories out aloud could have just as big an impact in schools since it allows:
- (younger) children to enjoy listening to stories even if their reading skills might have otherwise limited their access to written versions of them;
- the readers to develop their: reading, speaking and drama skills (including using different: volumes, accents and speeds for effect);
- children to learn about the use of foley effects to help add realism to a narratives.
To implement this idea all you need is: an iOS device (which many schools now have anyway), a set of headphones (which I would imagine every school has), the free Voice Record Pro app and possibly a free Edmodo account too if you want to use their service to share the stories on. Consider the price of all this in comparison to the specialist hardware that is available elsewhere on the market being sold to schools for hundreds of pounds!
Just when I thought I couldn't love your blog anymore, you reveal you're a Doctor Who fan! I too love Big Finish audios. Your blog is really inspiring me at the moment. It's proving invaluable in improving the ICT at our school and all my colleagues think your tips and tricks are invaluable. Your ideas on spreadsheets went down particularly well with Year 5.
Posted by: Andrew East | 24 February 2013 at 10:29 PM
What a great blog about recording and sharing audio stories. I hope it inspires more schools and children to do this. I sometimes feel that audio is a much under rated resource and am so pleased that you are promoting its use.
On a different note, I'm aware of Big Finish but never used it myself, I'll have to have another look, thank you for reminding me. I tend to download a lot of audio dramas from the BBC and AudioGo. Children's audio dramas can be really good too.
Posted by: Eleanor Johnson | 12 April 2013 at 03:10 PM