Key factors:
Discovering revolutionary methods to have interaction college students whereas maximizing studying is a purpose many educators attempt for. In right this moment’s digital age, it’s mandatory for educators to assume outdoors the field when planning project-based studying alternatives for college students.
There are lots of digital instruments lecturers depend on to have interaction college students, and extra are created annually. Wouldn’t it’s nice to discover a instrument or undertaking that’s partaking for college students whereas serving to them follow their receptive and productive language abilities?
Enter the podcast. Whereas podcasts have remained a stable contender in the best way we devour info within the final twenty years, in addition they present a easy but highly effective medium that may assist college students of their literacy and communication development.
Many educators at present use podcasts for college students to take heed to. Nonetheless, the actual energy lies in utilizing student-created podcasts as a undertaking primarily based studying alternative. Research, like one carried out in 2023 by Chaves-Yuste and de-la Peña, have discovered that college students studying English as a overseas language have demonstrated considerably greater scores in comparison with a management group after creating and utilizing podcasts within the classroom. Creating podcasts has additionally been proven to enhance studying, writing, and
listening abilities, whereas selling pupil engagement and collaboration, in accordance with Besser, Blackwell, & Saenz (2022).
By creating podcasts, college students follow receptive and productive abilities. They have to take heed to their work whereas enhancing, write and browse their scripts to organize for his or her
manufacturing, and naturally, converse to create their podcast. All 4 domains (studying, writing, listening, and talking) are current. College students have the chance and freedom to specific themselves, and as Arianna Prothero explains, “podcasts assist college students discover their voice.” Moreover, podcasting permits college students to place into follow the 4Cs of twenty first century abilities: communication, creativity, collaboration, and significant pondering.
Classroom podcasting instruments
Making a podcast might appear to be a frightening process, but it surely’s fairly easy with the suitable instruments. All you want is a solution to report and edit audio. If you wish to take it a step additional together with your college students and publish your podcast to share with the general public, additionally, you will want a publishing platform. Fortunately, there are lots of choices on the market, from free options for folks beginning out to paid all-in-one options for professionals.
Widespread instruments to start out recording a podcast embody Garageband and Audacity, each free choices. Garageband may be very person pleasant and features a easy interface with built-in presets. Audacity is an open-source audio recording and enhancing platform. To publish your podcast episodes, internet hosting platforms like Spotify for Creators, Spreaker, and Podbean provide free plans with loads of storage for college students beginning out. A well-liked one-stop answer for recording, enhancing, and publishing is Podomatic, which additionally presents a free plan. All of those internet hosting platforms additionally provide paid plans with added advantages and performance. These usually are not mandatory to start out podcasting with college students, although–the free choices are simply advantageous.
The podcasting plan
Lecturers can begin by introducing their college students to podcasts. They will take heed to any multitude of podcasts made particularly for youths. Right here, college students get familiarized with the format and have entry to a mannequin. Then, college students can collaborate in teams, assigning roles inside their group to hold out completely different jobs and tasks.
Teams can take the next steps outlined in Spotify for Creators to start out planning their podcast:
Select a subject: College students have a alternative and a voice in deciding on a subject of curiosity to them–one they’re captivated with and may discuss long-term. Right here, they’ll have their voice heard and inform their story from their perspective.
Decide their format: Will their podcast be a roundtable with a number of college students speaking in regards to the subject? Will they interview somebody? Will they narrate a narrative? Will it’s a severe podcast or a extra humorous format?
Outline their viewers: Offering an genuine viewers for college students encourages them to see the aim of their work. Taking it a step additional and really publishing their work to the net helps college students join their work with the actual world.
Develop their branding: College students can use a free graphic design platform like Canva to create their brand and graphics, work on their signature intro and outro, and outline their podcast description.
The subsequent steps are to work on their script and begin recording. Then, on to enhancing their audio and publishing to the net. College students will dictate how in-depth lecturers can take this undertaking. At first, it could appear to be a frightening process. However belief the method and college students’ willingness to be inventive. Begin small, get one podcast carried out, and study from the expertise. Then, construct on it. Ask college students what the subsequent episode ought to embody and the place they need to take this undertaking. Embody them within the dialog to find out the outcomes. Then, step again and watch the magic occur.
References
Besser, E. D., Blackwell, L. E., & Saenz, M. (2022). Partaking College students By means of Academic Podcasting: Three Tales of Implementation. Expertise, Data and Studying, 27(3), 749–764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09503-8
Chaves-Yuste, B., & de-la Peña, C. (2023). Podcasts’ results on the EFL classroom: a socially related intervention. Sensible Studying Environments, 10(1), 20–18.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-023-00241-1
Prothero, A. (2023). What Podcasts Did for Pupil Engagement in These Colleges. Training Week. https://www.edweek.org/expertise/what-podcasts-did-for-student-engagement-in-these-schools/2023/07
Spotify for Creators. (2024). Tips on how to begin a podcast: The creator’s step-by-step information. Spotify. https://creators.spotify.com/sources/how-to/start-a-podcast
