The Podcast Connection

A powerful avenue for student voice

The Web 2.0 focus at a recent conference got me thinking about the endless ways teachers and students can use interactive web technology, and podcasting in particular, to enrich the learning experience and address student achievement. I used a social network to ask other educators about the effects of podcasting on student motivation, and received an overwhelmingly positive response. “Students really buy into the fact that they are creating a product for a larger audience,” shared Tina Bulleigh, an educator from Salina, KS. “They take the project seriously, and also invest time to make sure that the project stands out in content and creativity.”

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a presentation that people can download to listen to at their leisure or view online. Podcasts can contain audio, audio combined with images, or video (a “vodcast”). Often users have the ability to subscribe to podcasts so they are notified when new episodes are published.

Podcasting is writing with a purpose! It can help transform the classroom into a venue where students create and publish content and share information with their peers and the world.

What is a podcast?

I like to think of podcasting as a connector. Podcasting allows students to connect with their own learning and with others who are interested in hearing their thoughts. Providing an avenue for “student voice” emphasizes the importance of student work, develops self esteem, and enhances learning. When students develop work for audiences beyond the walls of the classroom, their motivation increases and they become more engaged in their learning. The process of developing a podcast requires research, scripting, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, analysis, and synthesis.

Learning came to life for students at Killeen ISD in Texas when they began podcasting. At Brookhaven Elementary, Debbie Alston worked with students to research life in the various levels of the rainforest and used Pixie to share their learning as a “Rainforest Researchers” podcast. At Cedar Valley Elementary, Guin Feutz’s students used podcasts to create their own virtual museum of Alaskan wildlife. After participating in a virtual fieldtrip to the Alaska SeaLife Center, they researched more Alaskan animals, created models of the animals from recycled materials, and developed podcasts about the animals that visitors could use as they toured this student-created learning environment.

How can you introduce podcasting?

Select a theme and begin to address your content and timeline. Classes can create a weekly or monthly ’cast about what they are learning and skills they are developing, such as research, communication, and publishing.

Consider themes like:

It’s My Opinion
Cooking for Kids
Traveling Through Time
Learning through Literature
Today’s Heroes
Current Events

Where will podcast travels lead students and what will they learn next?

I can only begin to imagine where this type of learning will lead, but I am sure it will be an exciting trip. Podcasting unleashes the power of learning, allowing students to share their voices, reach a greater audience than ever before, and positively impact the learning of those students who will follow in their footsteps.