Through the wonder of modern technology, Dr. Brady Barr, National Geographic reptile expert and world traveler to more than 50 countries, visited with science teacher Randy Fullington's students at Greenville High School last Wednesday.

Through podcasting - a method of distributing multimedia files over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers - Fullington's students were able to don headsets and interview Barr via the computer, learning from the master himself all about the wild, wild world of reptiles.

Ninth grader Sheena McCloud was one of those who got to personally interview the renowned reptile expert and former classroom teacher. “To be able to come in contact with someone who knew so much about reptiles was really interesting.”

Fellow ninth grader Taylor Thornton agreed. “I was pretty nervous at first, then it was fun. Talking to a famous person I never met, I thought I might mess up...not a lot of people can say they did something like that.”

Fullington was chosen last November as one of only ten teachers in the state to participate in the 21st Century Schools Initiative, a project of the Alabama Best Practices Center. The organization, which aims to move state classrooms into using the very latest in tools and strategies to teach, is supported by a grant from Microsoft Corporation Partners in Learning Program.

As a 21st Century Fellow, the science teacher says he is always looking for ways to promote new technology with his students. Podcasting seemed like a perfect way to marry the technology many students already enjoy outside of school, such as MP3 players, with academic studies.

“I wanted the kids to do a podcast on reptiles, so we could create an online broadcast that can be downloaded in MP3 format and posted on the Web...that way anyone can download and listen to it all over the world,” Fullington explained.

Now that the interviews are over, the recorded material will be put in MP3 format and uploaded to the Internet “so people can listen to it when, how and where they want to,” Fullington said.

When the finished product, which Fullington likens to a radio show, is done, it will be posted on his classroom blog at www.ghshonorsbio.blogspot.com.

Barr, a former high school science teacher, is featured on several shows on the National Geographic Channel, including “Reptiles Wild.” In 2005, Barr's history-making achievement of capturing all 23 croc species in the world was recorded in “Dangerour Encounters: Countdown Croc.”

“For the kids to have the chance to do this with Dr. Barr is just awesome. Not many students or teachers are doing podcasting yet.”