Student Podcasting Project - Global Voices Provinces of China

I was awarded a mini grant from NICE to help purchase equipment to assist students with a project to produce enhanced podcasts on a Windows PC using compatible software. Kessel Laoshi's third year Chinese Language class created podcasts showcasing the culture and attractions of several China's Provinces as a campaign to entice visitors planning to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics to travel and experience the unique offerings of other provinces.

This project actually began in 2006 when Judy Gressel (a New Trier librarian), and I created a Chinese Provinces wiki project using pbwiki software. We worked with Kessel Leoshi and her second year students to develop a collaborative site for students to post information about many of the Provinces of China:

A. Overview of the Province--geography, natural resources, population, demographics, culture, tourism
B. Background --historical significance, Communist Conquest & Reforms made during post-Mao era
C. Current Situation--economic, political and social conditions
D. Special Focus --what makes this province unique? distinctive strengths/weaknesses?

E. Outlook --predictions for the future

• Click here to view the Global Voices assignment web site.
• Click here to access the China Provinces class wiki.
• Click here to view the Introduction to the China Provinces Podcast.
  

Now in their third year of Chinese language, we asked the students to revisit their wiki and use the content to produce a 3 minute podcast enhanced with Chinese language, photos and music to capture the culture and traditions that each province has to offer.