The cassette tape recorder is a robust, cheap, versatile and easy to use piece of equipment. It has a wide range of possible uses in the classroom.

There are many ways in which tape recorders may be used to enhance teaching and learning. They may be used alone, with multimedia computer based software, with a variety of media, or used as the key element in a training programme. On all of these occasions, the tape recorder will be encouraging children to gain knowledge, develop attitudes and learn new skills,

On other pages in this web site ideas for developing a class FM Radio Station are outlined.

Contents of this Page The Basic Audio Recorder. Listening Posts. Wireless Loops. Using the Tape Recorder in the Classroom. Sound Effects. Developing Interview. Questions. Taking Care of your Audio Cassettes. Good Planning is necessary

Related links How to Copy and Edit Audio Tapes. Setting up a Classroom Radio Station. Educational benefits of. using audio How to make Good Audio Recordings. Interview Techniques. Ideas for Using Audio Recorders. Using Sound Effects.

Project to Make for your Classroom. Enhancing Audio Presentations in your classroom. Making the Right Connection. Using Video in the Classroom. Using External Microphones and an Audio Mixer Producing a Radio Advertisement How to build a simple Audio Mixer How to make a FM Radio Transmitter Understanding how a 'VU' meter works Writing an Audio Scripts

Classroom Presentation

The cassette tape recorder is a cheap, easy to use and very versatile piece of equipment to have in the classroom. It may be used separately or combined with other equipment to make a significant contribution to research and communication.

Explore some of the following ideas and see how you can develop essential skills and curriculum outcomes in your class.

Listening Skills

Children live in a world of sound, not only with the sounds from their physical environment but also with words from adults. It is not long before they develop a "non listening" attitude and are able to 'Tune out" because too many people are firing too many ideas at them.

Research indicates that the listening skill has a much more important role to play in learning than the average New Zealander teacher is prepared to concede. Perhaps the most significant finding from recent research in listening is that it can be trained and that a better response is gained when care is taken in structuring the listening situation.

Create opportunities within your own classroom programme whereby children are introduced to carefully designed listening skill situations. These should not, except on rare occasions, be separated from your normal everyday programme. Summing up, the question you must face and answer is "How can I improve children's ability to listen with comprehension and appreciation within normal classroom programmes?"

Students need to learn to listen and listen to learn. Listening may be considered in four categories: mood learning; relaxing; information gathering; analysis and critical listening. Hence we must devise our recordings to contribute appropriately to these.

There are many way in which tape material may be used in a classroom but effectiveness varies depending on the method of presentation.

1 Basic Recorder

The average cassette recorder has a fairly low output in terms of volume. Unfortunately when used at a level for comfortable classroom listening, distortion occurs and once again clear listening becomes difficult. This difficulty can be overcome in either of two ways.

(a) Use a better quality speaker in a suitable cabinet. Plug this into the monitor socket of the tape recorder.

(b) Use a 'Booster" amplifier, a device which takes the tape signal and boosts it to a very comfortable level, ideal for classroom use. Because of the amplification available, little distortion is produced.

(c) A popular choice for classroom, small hall, outdoor use is the readily available 'Ghetto Blaster". These provide portability and ample volume for most situations. The high speed tape dubbing facility, often found on this type of equipment is a useful feature.

2 Listening Post

A junction box which allows up to ten headphones to be fed from one cassette tape recorder. Because of the isolating effect of the headphones - listening is enhanced, no outside noises distract the listener and concentration is improved. The listening post may also be plugged into a computer or video cassette recorder.

3. Wireless Loop (sometimes called an Induction Loop)

Similar to a listening post in that headphones are worn but other than that, pupils are mobile and not tied by connecting leads to a listening post box. Each headphone contains a small receiver which picks up signals from a loop of wire round the room. The loop can be fed from any audio source, tape recorder - cassette - radio - record player - film projector - video player etc.

4. Ideas for Using the Tape Cassette Recorder in the Classroom

• Recording and presenting plays - written and produced by children -
• Miming to a recorded play or story.
• Dictation exercises - tree the teacher to assist other children.
• Careful study of speech - tape provides opportunity to note details of pronunciation, and other weaknesses.
• Recording lectures for later evaluation or presentation to class.
• Developing creative expression - tape record in dramatised form 2 or 3 minute stories ending in a climax. Class completes stories either as individuals or in groups.
• Group memorising of songs or poems.
• Background atmosphere to poems, stories, interviews, concerts, reports, or class presentation of material in Social Studies.
• Class Magazine for variety can be recorded on tape rather than in written form. After editing, play over the school sound system.
• Taped broadcasts - from radio or perhaps television (sound only).
• Class Discussion on current events - news taped then pupil discussion after reference to maps, previous events.
• Providing sound for film strips and slides or multimedia computer based software. Following study of a topic children can prepare a commentary using information they have gained.
• Documentary type programs - groups of the class can contribute information they have acquired to review an entire study topic.
• Exhibits and display are often used as a culminating activity to a Unit study. A short tape of 5 minutes can be prepared to accompany this.
• Book Week - several children can read excerpts from their favorite book. The tape is played during the book week.
• Sound tracks of film,5 - prior to showing a film the sound track can be taped and discussed with the class. Can also be used after screening for revision purposes.
• Recording dramatised historical events - either teacher or pupil prepared.
• Guest speakers - it is not always possible to have your guest visit the school. Have a group prepare questions and tape the replies for later replay.
• Listening skills can be practiced by pre recording very short stories or news bulletins which are followed by a number of short but searching questions. Practice in note taking from a recorded speech. Children can check with the written transcript later. Also a good listening exercise.
• Motivation and creation of atmosphere for Written Language and Art work. This can be done by using music or sound effects e.g. a storm.
• Verse speaking can be rehearsed and criticised by children when tape is played back.
• Evaluation of television or radio broadcasts - this is a fine way of developing critical awareness of the suitability of entertainment programs.
• interviews - teacher creates a situation e.g. item of news from newspaper - group prepare interview.
• Simple singing broadcasts - a collection of class songs can be built up.
• Choir and recorder band rehearsals.
• Folk dancing - preserve original quality of records.
• Musical appreciation passages can be selected from suitable records.
• Mood music - background music to provide atmosphere.
• Diagnostic tests -questions tape recorded.
• Remedial drill exercises - number combinations, tables, problems - can be used with either a group or the entire class.
• Assessment - for any work in which children are progressing at an individual rate and the same test must be administered at different times, the tape recorder provides a means whereby this can be done. As each child needs the tests, so he can sit by the recorder and take the test. Recorded tests are of particular value in spelling and in mathematics.
• Evaluating prepared talks for Speech Contests or like - private recordings by individuals before the important occasion will allow speakers an opportunity to discover whether all points have been covered, and weaknesses generally.
• Puppet plays - many children find it difficult to work puppets and speak parts at the same time. Record the script and play back during actual performance. As children gain experience and confidence, the tape recorder will play a smaller part and can be used for sound effects or background music.
• Teaching new game- for the busy teacher who wishes to teach a new game to young children who are not old enough to read instructions, a games tape can be recorded and used by children during tree time or interval.
• The tape recorder can be used to record explanations of displays or experiments that are current in the classroom. Children can listen in their tree time. Note the possibilities of bird calls, cicadas, crickets, or even the animals from the zoo.
• Singing accompaniments - for those teachers who do not play a musical instrument, a useful method of providing accompaniments is to have someone record the music for the songs that are to be sung.
• Taping important speeches and conferences - parent conferences, staff conferences,in-service meetings, refresher course lecturers, are but a few instances where a portable audio recorder is invaluable.
• Evaluation of teaching practice - many teachers study their teaching techniques and procedures by recording lessons and analyzing them after school. Try taping a teacher trainee taking a lesson. In your discussion later, the tape can be used to illustrate the points that you wish to make, i.e. Repeating of children's answers. Do you give children enough time to think before supplying the answer? Are your questions well-framed, etc.
• Tape Exchanges - The idea works in this way: A tape is recorded and mailed to another school (here or overseas). Here the tape is heard and a return tape is prepared for the originating school. The following is a plan to show how the initial tape may be compiled:
• Short introductory talk by teacher or class captain.
• (b)Brief discussion on New Zealand, the school district, the organisation - number of children, teachers, special features, etc.
• (c)Singing a national song
• (d)Brief dramatisation of the work of an early explorer - Cook, Tasman, 'Coming of the Maori.
• (e)Dramatised or spoken national legend
• (f) Short recital by School Orchestra or Choir
• (g)Present basic facts about a native animal
• (h) On the spot description of some school sporting event
• The preparation of the tape involves the class in much thought, planning and discussion, and assists in oral and written expression.
• Sound situations A combination of several intriguing sounds e.g. a clock ticking, footsteps, a door slamming -which suggests a situation, the basis for a story.
• Story Starters.: A short extract, accompanied by a picture if you like, is put on tape. The child finishes the story. A good free writing activity. A stock of endings can be built up for other children to read and/or listen to.
• Record a competent Maori speaker for the correct pronunciation of Maori words.
• Compile a tape-slide show or multimedia presentation on a field trip. This is ideal to use with a listening post where only a group working independently from the rest of the class wish to review the material.
• Use the tape to turn Claris slide shows into "sound- slide sequences"- Even young children can then view a slide show and use the commentary in a small group situation to gain information.
• Older children can prepare blown up books and accompanying commentary for cooperative reading sessions with infants. This is invaluable where 'Shared Book Experience' is a part of the reading programme.
• Sound Effects can be added to stories read by children. The use of a sound mixer or the Language Lab will allow for more professional results. Gives great motivation to the writing of ghost, mystery, sea, space stories etc.
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• The Wonderful World of Sound Effects

  Boiling water - blow gently Into a glass of water with a straw. Something falling into water - fill a bucket with water and immerse a large tin can into the bucket until it is full. Keep tin under water and turn upside down so that bottom is facing upward. Pull the inverted tin sharply out of water. Crash - place bottle tops and small tins in an old roasting dish. Firmly hold dish and shake vigorously. Telephone vote - hold tumbler at one end of mouth. Talk across the end and partially into it. Fire - screw up pieces of cellophane near the microphone. Crushing a plastic strawberry punnet produces the effect of a burning building. Waves and surf- tilt some lead shot in a cardboard box, allowing the shot to roll around. Walking in mud - soak crumpled newspaper in a bucket. Push and pull hands in and out of wet newspaper. Breaking door - crush a punnet near the microphone. Horses' hoots - patting thighs or chest with a galloping rhythm. Car brakes - inflame rubber balloon and pull fingers slowly but firmly over the surface. 1 1 Rain - rice dropped on board or tin. 1 2 Motor - pour dried beans or peas on board or cake tin. Use a funnel to assure constant rhythm Man running - pounding chest with clenched fists. if you can make use of an "open-reel" recorder with different speed settings, many more possibilities open up (e.g.: gunshots, "Chipmunk" - style renditions). Return to Top of Page