Forums And Pod Casts

Forums are web applications that allow users to share content through threaded discussions on topics of common interest. They encourage discussion and exchange of ideas while being moderated to prevent spamming or hijacking threads. In the classroom, forums allow students to discuss topics from different perspectives while enabling the teacher to monitor participation and gauge understanding. Podcasts are audio and video files that can be accessed online or downloaded to portable devices for listening. In the classroom, they allow teachers and students to create and share educational material while providing flexibility over when and where learning occurs. Both tools have advantages for the classroom but also limitations such as technical requirements and formatting issues.