Podcasting

     Podcasting is a web tool that allows people to broadcast  audio and video all over the world. It is like a blog that gives the audience the option to subscribe to the creator of the podcast and even download the file and take it with them on their mobile device. Once you subscribe to a podcast, every time that user makes a new podcast it is automatically downloaded to your mobile device. I think that this is a very useful and efficient tool to use in the classroom. There are a large number of educational topics talked about on podcasts and they can be easily accessed by the instructor.
     Podcasts have both similarities and differences to other Web 2.0 tools that we have talked about. One major differences in podcasts are that they are almost like a YouTube channel. There are poscasts that are educational and some that are just for entertainment. They are similar to other web tools because they give instructors a more efficient way of teaching in the classroom.
     I own an iPod. I mainly use it for entertainment now but I can definitely see myself using it to present educational podcasts in the classroom setting in the future. Podcasts are a very useful tool and should be taken advantage of. Overall, I believe that the advantages of online communication tools defendant out weigh the disadvantages. The disadvantages would be that online communication tools can be misused by students if they are not monitored and some students may have trouble learning to use online tools. But with that being said, online communication tools are faster, more efficient, and easier to use for teachers and students who are familiar with technology.