Podcasts in the Classroom

With our students' constant 24/7 access to the digital world, introducing them to podcasts would be a natural addition to the classroom or library.  Students can tap their own creativity and earn themselves a bit of local fame by creating their own series of podcasts.  Here are few ideas for incorporating podcasts into lessons:

1.    Students make a series of interviews with teachers during teacher appreciation week.

2.    Students create a series of book talks on those they read throughout the year.  Librarians can highlight these book talks to help increase circulation of the books.

3.    Students create their own "fireside" chats to chronicle current events (or historical events).

4.    Students record top 10 topics of study for each unit.  The series can then be used as a midterm or final exam review guide.

5.    Students create digital storybooks that progress with each successive podcast.

6.    Students practice dialogue in a second language and teachers use the recorded dialogue for listening comprehension assessments of other students.

7.    Teachers record short lectures and lessons for absent or homebound students.

8.    Librarians create “podcast pods” equipped with laptops, headphones, and links to student created podcasts or others on the internet.

How will you use podcasts in your classroom or library?

Here is an inspiring podcast.  Guy Raz interviews Rita Pierson (educator of over 40 years) about her TED talk and the importance of making connections and forming relationships with students. She supports celebrating students’ successes, rather than dwelling on their failures.   Her positivity, humor, and anecdotes are inspirational.  Ms. Pierson’s message is bold and powerful and has resonated with educators well after her passing in 2013.