Audio Tools in the Classroom or Library

Using audio tools on a classroom blog or library website is a welcoming touch, especially in this extremely connected 21st century world. Audio tools can be used in a variety of ways. Below I took a look at several audio tools to use to create podcasts.

Podcasts are a growing format to receive information or entertainment. There are many popular podcasts our there across different platforms that people use to listen to podcasts. Today there are podcasts that cover a wide range of topics from education, news, true crime, entertainment, and more.

Students can create podcasts in the classroom or library as a project. This type of project would help students become opportunity ready in a 21st century world and is a skill that some companies may look for in a resume.

Audio Pal

www.audiopal.com

Audio Pal is a free service that students can access on their laptops or library computers. With Audio Pal, you have several options to record a message. They provide a phone number for which you can call to record your message over the phone. You can use the built in microphone on your computer. They also have a text to speech feature that may be beneficial to an ESL student. Finally, on this website, you can even upload your own MP3 file. Another plus to this website, you don’t have to download any software. However, on Audio Pal, you are limited to only a one minute message.

Vocaroo

vocaroo.com

Vocaroo is a fairly simple site to use to record a message. You don’t have to download software. In fact, when you open the site, you are simply greeted with a record button. The simplicity of this site makes it great for students. They don’t have to enter an email address. They can even share their voice recording through a QR Code. They also don’t have to download the recording. The site gives you a link to copy. After you get the link, enter it into your browser and it takes you to a page where you can listen to the recording. It also does not appear like there are time limits, so students could effectively record a podcast that is longer than several minutes.

Because of the simplicity of this website, it is one of my favorites and one that I would recommend to other teachers and one that I could see myself using in my own classroom or future library.

See the link below to listen to an audio message recorded on Vocaroo.

https://voca.ro/htximIx5RXI

Speak Pipe

https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder

Another simple voice recording tool to have students use to create podcasts is Speak Pipe. This tool is very similar to Vocaroo in its simplicity. When you are ready to start recording your message, simply click start recording. The only downside to Speak Pipe is that your audio messages are limited to 5 minutes.

Speak Pipe offers two levels of paid services that offer different features such as more space, customization tools, and more. However, for a student project, the paid services are not necessary. If you are having students complete a podcast project, you are likely not going to have them speak for very long and a 5 minute limit might be a great restriction to include in project requirements. This site would help students make sure that they do not go over that requirement.

https://www.speakpipe.com/voice-recorder/msg/07zaj4njs25f1elz

Bonus Tools!

Voki is a fun site that adds a character to your voice. Students can create their own or choose from several presets. Many of the presets are even historical figures like presidents and famous leaders. Students can change the background image, hair color, skin color, lip and eye color, and outfits. Of course, there are a few limitations because there are paid services on this site as well. Because of that, the free service has limited choices.

Once students have chosen their character, they can create an audio message. This tool is very interactive and one that students of any age would probably enjoy. When you move your mouse, the character’s head and eye site follows the cursor.

This site also limits students to one minute audio recordings. If you want to restrict students from speaking for too long, this might also be a great option.

http://tinyurl.com/yah83fnk

Another audio tool feature that you probably already have on your computer is right in Microsoft PowerPoint. In the newer versions of Microsoft PowerPoint, there is a feature called Office Mix that allows you to screen record your lectures with audio. You even have the option to turn on your laptop’s camera as you lecture. In addition, you can use a pen to highlight and underline information as you record.

If your school has a 1-1 program, you could have students create presentations and record them using Office Mix. The possibilities are many.

Final Thoughts

When choosing an audio tool, think about what kind of project students are creating. If students are creating podcasts, it might be best to choose an audio tool that has a longer time limit than one that has a short audio message. However, if you are wanting students to express their information in a shorter time limit, consider what that time limit is and choose your tool based on that.

Remember, there will be a learning curve for you and your students. When I was exploring these tools, I ran into some roadblocks. For example, in Audio Pal, my microphone didn’t work so I chose the text to speech option. In order to download my recording, it asks for your email and I’m still waiting on that email! In Speak Pipe, I had to record my message several times. In Voki, I kept messing up my character by clicking on different features like backgrounds and t-shirts.

In the end, it is probably best to explore audio tools and play around with them yourself before sending students to those sites to complete projects. You wouldn’t want a group of students to create their projects and then lose them because they never got an email from one of the sites or lose their project because they hit the wrong button. All of these things, happened to me. If you run into snags while trying out an audio tool, chances are your students will, too.

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