Key points:
Finding innovative ways to engage students while maximizing learning is a goal many educators strive for. In today’s digital age, it is necessary for educators to think outside the box when planning project-based learning opportunities for students.
There are many digital tools teachers count on to engage students, and more are created each year. Wouldn’t it be great to find a tool or project that is engaging for students while helping them practice their receptive and productive language skills?
Enter the podcast. 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.
Many educators currently use podcasts for students to listen to. However, the real power lies in using student-created podcasts as a project based learning opportunity. Studies, like one conducted in 2023 by Chaves-Yuste and de-la Peña, have found that students learning English as a foreign language have demonstrated significantly higher scores compared to a control group after creating and using podcasts in the classroom. Creating podcasts has also been shown to improve reading, writing, and
listening skills, while promoting student engagement and collaboration, according to Besser, Blackwell, & Saenz (2022).
By creating podcasts, students practice receptive and productive skills. They must listen to their work while editing, write and read their scripts to prepare for their
production, and of course, speak to create their podcast. All four domains (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) are present. Students have the opportunity and freedom to express themselves, and as Arianna Prothero explains, “podcasts help students find their voice.” Additionally, podcasting allows students to put into practice the 4Cs of 21st century skills: communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Classroom podcasting tools
Creating a podcast may seem like a daunting task, but it’s quite simple with the right tools. All you need is a way to record and edit audio. If you want to take it a step further with your students and publish your podcast to share with the public, you will also need a publishing platform. Luckily, there are many options out there, from free alternatives for people starting out to paid all-in-one solutions for professionals.
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 your 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. All of these hosting platforms also offer paid plans with added benefits and functionality. These are not necessary to start podcasting with students, though–the free options are just fine.
The podcasting plan
Teachers can start by introducing their students to podcasts. They can listen to any multitude of podcasts made specifically for kids. Here, 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 to them–one they are passionate about and can talk about long-term. Here, they can have their voice heard and tell their story from their perspective.
Determine their format: Will their podcast be a roundtable with multiple students talking about the topic? Will they interview someone? Will they narrate a story? Will it be a serious podcast or a more humorous format?
Define their audience: Providing an authentic audience for students encourages them to see the purpose of their work. Taking it a step further and actually publishing their work to the web helps students connect their work with the real world.
Develop their branding: Students can use a free graphic design platform like Canva to create their logo and graphics, work on their signature intro and outro, and define their podcast description.
The next steps are to work on their script and start recording. Then, on to editing their audio and publishing to the web. Students will dictate how in-depth teachers can take this project. In the beginning, it may seem like a daunting task. But trust the process and students’ willingness to be creative. Start small, get one podcast done, and learn from the experience. 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.
References
Besser, E. D., Blackwell, L. E., & Saenz, M. (2022). Engaging Students Through Educational Podcasting: Three Stories of Implementation. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 27(3), 749–764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09503-8
Chaves-Yuste, B., & de-la Peña, C. (2023). Podcasts’ effects on the EFL classroom: a socially relevant intervention. Smart Learning Environments, 10(1), 20–18.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-023-00241-1
Prothero, A. (2023). What Podcasts Did for Student Engagement in These Schools. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/technology/what-podcasts-did-for-student-engagement-in-these-schools/2023/07
Spotify for Creators. (2024). How to start a podcast: The creator’s step-by-step guide. Spotify. https://creators.spotify.com/resources/how-to/start-a-podcast
