"NPR" Anytime, Anywhere, Anyplace, Any pace! Listen to Radio Broadcasts on any Cell Phone.

Lately I have come across a few different websites where you can listen to your favorite radio shows for free on your cell phone. You dial in a number (for example you can call Lexy radio at 415-692-4933), where you can select from a menu of shows OR you can create a "playlist" online or by phone and listen to your favorites at anytime. Additionally, many of these sites (such as http://cellecast.com or http://foneshow.com) allow you to stop listening, hang up, and when you dial in again you can resume listening to your show at the place where you stopped! Nice.

I think listening to radio shows at anytime, from anywhere (waiting at the DMV or in the doctor's office...), at any pace (stop and start on the go) works well for the 21st Century student. Teachers can have their students create playlists of NPR, CNN, or other news-worthy shows.

One additional feature that many of these sites has is the ability to send segments of a particular show or Cellecast calls them "cell grams" to anyone else on their phone (recipients do not need to be registered with the service to do this). Teachers could send students segments to listen to as homework, or they could ask students to send them segments as a homework assignment. For example, teachers could ask students to find a broadcast that debates a historical issue or event. While waiting in line at the bus stop, students could listen to radio shows that focus on history using Cellecast, Foneshow, or Lexy and send the segment via phone to their teacher. The best part is that you do not have to register with Cellecast or Lexy in order to listen to the programs.

Create your own Cell Phone Radio Show...or just hear your favorite podcast on your cell!

Thanks to Rick Weinberg, I have found a new favorite mobile resource. It is called Foneshow. The way that it works is that you can subscribe to podcasts on your cell phone! You go to the Foneshow website, find a podcast (there are many to choose from including NPR and even the presidential candidates), type in your cell phone number, click on subscribe and you are done. You will receive a text message with a phone number in it. Hit reply to the message and your phone will automatically dial the number where you will get instructions to listen to the podcast. Every time there is a new episode available, you will recceive a text message (you can also stop this function if you would like). While that is pretty cool, even more exciting is the ability to create your own cell phone podcast! And it is so easy! You just click on Create your own Foneshow. Add your podcast (you can upload it), and then publish. When you finish, others can subscribe to your podcast. Also, you can call in to Foneshow (you will get a text message on how to do this) and record an episode in your podcast. Finally, you can "reply" to any foneshow you listen to and leave a voicemail comment. Wow! I think I have already thought of about a dozen educational applications for this cool FREE tool.

Classroom Applications:
1) Student Radio Shows
Students could publish their podcasts and share them with parents (especially those who do not have Internet access at home...which often inhibits some parents from being able to hear their kids podcasts). Additionally, parents could use the reply option to comment on the show!

2) VI students
Students who are visually impaired could participate in commenting on podcasts by using the reply option in Foneshow. They can also produce their own Foneshow since all they have to do is call in to Foneshow and record an episode (rather than having to use a computer to upload and navigate difficult Java Script).

3) Subscribing to NPR/Topical Shows
Students studying current events or specific topics that are highlighted on NPR programs could subscribe to the NPR Foneshow on their topic. They can "learn on the go" by getting a text message every time a new episode is published. As a result, students do not need Internet or even Radio access to keep up on these topics.

4) Homework Hot line
Schools could use Foneshow and set up a homework hot line. Parents and students could subscribe to the hot line through Foneshow and get a phone number to call when homework is posted. This could also be used for school news. Parents who have questions could "reply" to the show (where the reply will go to the school).

5) Collaborative Storytelling
Students in an English class could start a poem or short story, and then others could call in and hit "reply" and add a new portion of the story! For example students could be asked to create a new ending...the next day in class, the students could listen to all the different endings that everyone came up with!

6) Brainstorming
A podcast could be set up for brainstorming. The teacher could post "episodes" where they ask an inquiry question. Students could respond with the "reply" button.