Creation of podcasts in the classroom

Key points:

Finding innovative ways to involve students while maximizing learning is a goal why many educators fight. In the current digital age, it is necessary for educators to think outside the box when they plan learning opportunities based on students.

There are many digital tools with which teachers count to involve students, and create more every year. Wouldn't it be great to find a tool or project that is attractive to students while helping them practice their receptive and productive linguistic skills?

Enter the podcast. Although podcasts have remained a solid contender in the way we consume information in the last two decades, they also provide a simple but powerful means that can help students in their literacy and communication growth.

Many educators currently use podcasts for students to listen. However, real power lies in using podcasts created by students as a project -based learning opportunity. Studies, as one conducted in 2023 by Chaves-Yuste and De-La PeñaThey have found that students who learn English as a foreign language have demonstrated significantly higher scores compared to a control group after creating and using podcasts in the classroom. It has also been shown that the creation of podcasts improves reading, writing and
listening skills, while promoting the participation and collaboration of students, according to Better, Blackwell and the Take (2022).

By creating podcasts, students practice receptive and productive skills. They must listen to their work while editing, writing and reading their scripts to prepare for their
Production and, of course, speak to create your podcast. The 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.” In addition, podcasting allows students to implement the 4C skills of the 21st century skills: communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.

Classroom podcasting tools

Creating a podcast may seem like a discouraging task, but it is quite simple with the right tools. All you need is a way of recording and editing audio. If you want to take another step with your students and publish your podcast to share with the public, you will also need a publication platform. Fortunately, there are many options, from free alternatives for people who begin to pay solutions all in one for professionals.

Popular tools to start recording a podcast include Garage band and AudacityBoth free options. Garageband is very easy to use and includes a simple interface with built -in presets. Audacy is an open source audio recording and edition platform. To publish your podcast episodes, hosting platforms such as Spotify for creators, Brokerand Podbean Offer free plans with a lot of storage for students who start. A unique popular solution to record, edit and publish is Podomaticwhich also offers a free plan. All these accommodation platforms also offer paid plans with additional benefits and functionality. However, these are not necessary to start podcasting with students, free options are fine.

The Podcasting Plan

Teachers can begin by presenting their students to podcasts. You can listen to any multitude of podcasts made specifically for children. Here, students become familiar with the format and have access to a model. Then, students can collaborate in groups, assigning roles within their group to carry out different works and responsibilities.

The groups can take the following steps described in Spotify so that creators begin to plan their podcast:

Choose a topic: Students have an option and a voice by selecting a topic of interest to them, one that passionate and can speak long term. Here, you can listen to your voice and tell your story from your perspective.

Determine your format: Is your podcast a round table with several students who talk about the subject? Will they interview someone? Will they narrate a story? Will it be a serious podcast or a more humorous format?

Define your audience: Provide an authentic audience for students encourages them to see the purpose of their work. Take a step further and publish their work on the web helps students connect their work with the real world.

Develop your brand: Students can use a free graphic design platform such as Canva to create their logo and graphics, work on their introduction and signature outro, and define their podcast description.

The next steps are working on your script and starting to record. Then, to edit your audio and publication on the web. Students will dictate how teachers in depth can take this project. At first, it may seem a discouraging task. But trust the process and disposition of students to be creative. Start with little, make a podcast and learn from experience. Then, build in him. Ask students to include the next episode and where they want to take this project. Include them in the conversation to determine the results. Then, go back and see that magic happens.

References

Besser, Ed, Blackwell, Le and Saenz, M. (2022). Involve students through educational podcasting: three implementation stories. technology, knowledge and learning, 27 (3), 749–764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09503-8

Chaves-Yuste, B. and De-La Peña, C. (2023). Effects of podcasts in 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 students' participation in these schools. Education Week. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/technology/what-podcasts-did-for-student-engagement-in-these-schools/2023/07″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>https://www.edweek.org/technology/whatpodcasts-did-for-student-engogement-in-these-schools/2023/07

Spotify for creators. (2024). How to start a podcast: The creator's step by step. Spotify. https://creators.spotify.com/resources/how-to/start-a-podcast