Podcasts

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, but to audio-learners, a sound or a spoken word might be worth more than that. Podcasts and audiobooks are an emerging trend that in recent years has become popular not only for leisure, but also for use in educational settings.

Once used primarily for students with visual disabilities, podcasts and audiobooks are making their way into general education populations. The ways teachers and students can use podcasts are endless. Their versatility includes use as instructional tutorials, commentary on social events, and even for story-telling. Podcasts are like the audio version of a blog, much in the same way that an audiobook relates to a print book. One podcaster, Mignon Fogarty, has used her podcasts to marry the two and has published an audiobook of a book that she had not yet written as described in the following article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/07/technology/07audio.html?ex=1336190400&en=457517b5a439228a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rsshttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/07/technology/07audio.html?ex=1336190400&en=457517b5a439228a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

One challenge in having students listen to podcasts is making sure that the speaker is dynamic and entertaining. Quality matters and a reader or podcaster’s voice can make or break it for students.

One reason to use podcasts in the library or classroom is that they can help auditory learners who might have a hard time sorting through the same information in text. Although listening to a podcast and reading an article can get students to the same destination, a podcast can be a refreshing change of pace depending on the source, students may continue listening and learning on their own, which is a big plus as an educator!

Podcasts can be used as a tool in the classroom both when produced by the teacher, and when produced by the students. Students can practice communication skills when creating podcasts, and they can be created to comment on any applicable topic. Many students have never been exposed to podcasts before, so teachers and librarians need to introduce the concepts to students before expecting them to create one of their own. A way to do this might be to have students listen to some example podcasts and then discussing how they are set up, what the speaker does, etc. Teachers should walk them through the process on their first podcast project, like showing them how to create notes or a script in order to plan our what they will say. Here is an article that contains a step-by-step tutorial on how to create a podcast: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-create-your-own-podcast-2843321

It is also a great idea to check out the school district’s acceptable use policy before any time students are publishing products online.

Another consideration for using podcasts in the classroom is the materials that are required to create a professional-quality product. Teachers will need to make sure that they are adequate computers and microphones available. They will need to make sure that these computers are well-equipped to create a podcast. I say this because I have found that unfortunately, some schools are behind in technology and the computers that they have available are slow or almost unusable for more than Microsoft word.  Headphones to cancel out noise should also be available if students are expected to record and edit their projects in a classroom setting with others editing at the same time.

 Some websites that allow users to create free podcasts include Soundcloud, Audioboo,  and Podomatic.

Audioboo – This is an app so it would require being downloaded on a device. This is a possibility for schools that have tablets available for students.

Podomatic – This neat website create a podcast feed much like Twitter or Instagram. This is cool because as students create their own podcast, they also will have access to other podcasts and may even begin following other podcasts. Podomatic is also available in an app form for students to download, but from the website they need to upload their sound files rather than being able to create them online.

Soundcloud – This website also allows users to follow podcasts on a feed. I think that it is probably the most popular site for podcasts, so students will have access to the widest variety of podcasts to follow. Users have up to 3 free hours of podcast time available. This is my website of choice for creating podcasts because it is easy to record straight from the website itself. Check out my podcast below, where I interview some fitness experts about my current workout of choice, kickboxing!

I Love Kickboxing Interview