Information for Teachers

The goal of BookPod is to help students increase their interest in reading via Exploring, Interacting, and Creating online and podcasted excerpts of books. BookPod is an interactive web site and podcast all in one designed to engage students and teachers in the collaborative process of peer reviews and creative presentations about books."

Explore.

Students can Explore books that interest them through watching and hearing about the book on downloadable podcasts hosted on the BookPod page or Interacting with the content provide for the students to view. We also hope that after reading their book of choice, students will have found joy in that book and will be able to Create a podcast for the BookPod site so that their peers will be able to see their work and joy in the book they have read.

The BookPod Model

BookPod, in theory, is not a static process for the students. We view BookPod as a continuing process including: Creating the Material (Content Production), Sharing their Knowledge (Posting Podcasts), and Reacting to Content (Commenting on Podcasts). Not only are there these three continuous steps, but students are also: exploring their interest in reading, interacting with the reading for future content production, and creating the material for future students to view.

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Application to the Classroom and Library

So, you may be wondering how BookPod can apply to your classroom curriculum. We hope that you have understood the process and purpose behind BookPod, but now wish to give you ideas on how this is directly applicable to your classroom. As standards began to filter throughout school systems, books were placed in numerical categories specifying which reading level they are a part of. BookPod hopes to use the idea of an Accelerated Reader classification in order to conform to the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) in students’ reading. The ZPD can help you, the educator, focus on the students’ current reading level and what they can do versus what they can do with help. This is where BookPod and the numerical classifications will help. For example, we believe that if Sarah S. can read comfortably in zone four (4) on the reading scale then she is able to move to zone five (5) with guidance. BookPod can serve as that guidance for Sarah so that she can begin to find books on her own that are in her ZPD and move into the next numerical classification. Now, after continued practice, Sarah can do zone five without guidance and is ready for the next step. The idea of BookPod and the Zone of Proximal Development is that the students are being stretched in their learning, especially that tied to reading. We hope that you will use BookPod as a reference and a framework for your classroom. We can offer no guarantee that BookPod will improve the ZPD of students in your classroom; however, we do believe that BookPod can be utilized in the growth of your students’ reading capabilities through our interactive BookPod environment.

Isn’t this just a blog?

You may be asking yourself this exact question as you Explore what BookPod has to offer. As BookPod mimics the concept of a blog, we believe that it is much more than just a place for students to go and input information. With the Interaction of streaming podcasts, students are able to see and hear parts of books as opposed to just reading a post from a teacher or the inside cover of a book. BookPod also allows students to Create their own posts on a book and also respond to post on other books by students in their classroom. BookPod also allows students to Explore their interests by searching literature by the students’ interests, for example: sports, comedy, mystery etc. BookPod has a multitude of possibilities for classroom integration. It is our hope that BookPod will ignite the students’ interest in books; therefore giving them the tools to become avid readers for the rest of their lives.

It is also our hope that BookPod does not stop with the student interaction and participation. BookPod thrives on three distinct areas of involvement and participation including first the student, the teacher, and then the BookPod staff. The students read the books, create all the content for BookPod, and comment on other items on the BookPod discussion board. The teacher then uses these discussion topics to springboard new ideas or concepts his or her students may be missing. Finally, although only a small role, the BookPod staff will monitor entries of podcasts for accuracy as well as the development of quality sources. With these three areas, we believe that BookPod can and will become a successful tool to use in your classroom.

Overall Remarks

Finally, the main goal of BookPod is for all students to gain an interest in books and reading. We believe that creating an interactive library environment will help students further their reading abilities. Although students will need help in learning strategies to better comprehend the books they read, BookPod gives them a tool to Explore books in an exciting and Interactive environment. We hope that you and your students enjoy as you begin to Explore, Interact, and Create with BookPod.

Becoming a BookPod Explorer [information about how to use the RSS and Podcast feeds]

Becoming a BookPod Commenter [information about making comments]

Becoming a BookPod Creator