I’ve never been a big podcast guy. I like reading and I like listening to music, and so you would think it would have been a natural progression for me at some point. I think that in some ways, I feel like I’ve missed getting on the podcast train, and it can be a little awkward hearing people discuss their favorite podcasts when I have nothing to offer. However, a presentation from some classmates helped me start to catch up. Through class input and discussion, my eyes were really opened up to the huge potential for this form of media. For personal use, I think scientific podcasts sound really interesting – one that peaked my interest was hidden brain. I’ve also been a huge fantasy nerd my entire life, so the idea of a Dungeons and Dragons podcast is also super intriguing. Again, I don’t have a huge breadth of knowledge in this area, but I believe Critical Role is the most popular.
I can also see uses for podcasts as educational tools in the classroom. Similar to YouTube videos, the topics covered in podcasts are virtually endless. Whether you’re teaching an English, History, or Home Economics class, I believe that there would be a relevant podcast to share with your students. However, having students listen to podcasts during class would take up a lot of time. Another idea shared in my classmates presentation was using podcasts as tool for assessment. The idea of giving students the option to create a podcast as an alternative to traditional essays is interesting. This multi-modal approach could potentially have great benefits for students if implemented correctly.
If I were to implement podcasts into my classroom, I think the most effective usage would be for assessment. This is something I’m definitely looking forward to researching more and potentially trying out with my future students.
Check out this guide for starting and distributing a podcast using only your phone!
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