“While podcasts have remained a solid contender in the way we consume information in the last two decades, they also provide a simple yet powerful medium that can help students in their literacy and communication growth,” writes Hugo Johnson, an elementary school educator, in eSchool News.
“Many educators currently use podcasts for students to listen to. The real power is in using student-created podcasts as a project-based learning opportunity.
“Students practice receptive and productive skills when creating podcasts. They must 1) listen to their work while editing; 2) write and 3) read their scripts to prepare for their production; and 4) speak to create their podcast. Students have the opportunity and freedom to express themselves, and as Arianna Prothero explains, “podcasts help students find their voice.” Podcasting also allows students to practice the 4Cs of 21st century skills: communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.
“Popular tools to start recording a podcast include Garageband and Audacity, both free options. Garageband is very user friendly and includes a simple interface with built-in presets. Audacity is an open-source audio recording and editing platform. To publish podcast episodes, hosting platforms like Spotify for Creators, Spreaker and Podbean offer free plans with plenty of storage for students starting out. A popular one-stop solution for recording, editing and publishing is Podomatic, which also offers a free plan.
“Teachers can start by introducing their students to podcasts. They can listen to the multitude of podcasts made specifically for kids. Students get familiarized with the format and have access to a model. Then, students can collaborate in groups, assigning roles within their group to carry out different jobs and responsibilities.
“Groups can take the following steps outlined in Spotify for Creators to start planning their podcast:
“Choose a topic: Students have a choice and a voice in selecting a topic of interest they are passionate about and can talk about long-term. They can have their voice heard and tell their story from their perspective.
“Determine their format: Podcast can be a roundtable with multiple students talking about the topic; an interview with someone; a narrated story; it can be serious or more humorous.
“Define their audience: Provide an authentic audience for students to motivate them to see the purpose of their work. Publishing their work to the web helps students connect their work with the real world.
“Develop their branding: Students can: 1) Use a free graphic design platform like Canva to create the podcast’s logo and graphics; 2) work on their signature intro and outro; and 3) define their podcast description.
“Next, students work on their script and start recording. Then they edit their audio and publish it on the web. Trust the process and students’ willingness to be creative. Start small, get one podcast done and then build on it. Ask students what the next episode should include and where they want to take this project. Include them in the conversation to determine the outcomes. Then, step back and watch the magic happen,” writes Johnson.
eSchool News
