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Podcasts

Materials required
Implementation procedure
Strategy in practice

  • Devices (computer, tablet, or mobile)

  • Internet connection

  1. Ensure that you review your district's appropriate use policies before you choose a podcasting site. Since podcast sites are usually open to the public, not all content will be suitable for your students. If required, enlist the help of the technology team in your school.

  2. Review the different podcasting site options and select one that you feel would best suit your requirements.

  3. Ensure that students create and/or maintain email accounts which they can use to set up an account with the finalized podcasting site.

  4. Test the podcasting site with your students. Podcasting site options include blogging sites such as Blogger and course management software sites such as Blackboard, Ning, or Moodle. You can also use iTunes to publish podcasts. 

Eric teaches history to ninth grade students. For today's class on World War II, he has divided the students into groups of five. Each group represents one of the countries participating in the war. He then asks the students to nominate one member from each group to be the leader of the country that they are representing.

 

Eric gives the students one week to study the country's socio-economic, defense, and political situation at the time of the war. At the end of the week, each group has to create a podcast narrated/enacted by the nominated group member in the role of that country's leader. Eric gives the students guidelines around how to make a podcast and also the content that needs to go into it. 

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The class listens to each podcast at the end of the week, poses questions to the group, and offers feedback.

Things to keep in mind

  • Pros

    • Can fit any genre

    • Can be a useful medium to teach language and communication

    • Can be effectively used for activities such as story-telling and reporting on recent events

  • Cons

    • May not be suitable for all students, like those with limited confidence in their oration skills

References:

Gardner, T. Teaching with podcasts. Retrieved December 14, 2016, from http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/teaching-with-podcasts-30109.html

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