Of course your children need to learn to sit at their classroom desksand pay attention. They learn a great deal in school and this information is handed over in many ways. What many parents don’t realize, however, and wouldn’t necessarily consider is that students can enhance their classroom learning in some creative ways. Driven by today’s technology, there are many podcasts that can keep kids occupied for hours after school while teaching them fascinating information. Here are a few examples.

1. Radiolab: This podcast location looks at some of the world’s most interesting scientific questions. The show is at WNYC from New York City’s Public Radio Station. It lasts for an hour and has 5-6 episodes each season.
2. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History: If your kid loves history, then this is the place to be. Carlin leads the way with these podcasts as a veteran journalist who is now a podcaster. He tells some of history’s best stories and does so with energy and enthusiasm. It’s actually one of the most downloaded podcasts on iTunes.
3. For students who need some extra assistance after they read a book (not instead of!) they can get the Cliff Notes Cramcast. These free podcasts review some of the information you’ll need from various books for your classes. They are only three to four minutes long and really pack in the information.

Our kids love their computers and use them for all sorts of activities. Why not get them involved in using the computer for something productive by introducing them to podcasts. These can be done from home, or the classroom teacher can be encouraged to show these as the kids sit at their classroom tables and take notes.