Podcasting - Transforming T & L in Schools
Date: 15 July 2018/Sunday
This time my blogpost explores Podcasting with some insight into why I believe it has the power to transform teaching and learning in schools. So lets begin by digging a little and finding out what are actually podcasts, how do you create them? a look into websites that let you host free podcasts? a list of advantages for using in schools and much more. Join the ride people :)
So how do you begin, think of a purpose why do you need to create a podcast? think of the audience for whom you plan inspire with your podcast, think of a theme/topic that you would like to talk about with your students, teachers, parents, clients etc, streamline people involved in your project and set up a time line to launch the whole project. Once done, the next step is to write a script. Its always good to start with a sketch note, it guides the way. Select audio recording and editing software for example you could download and install Audacity (free download available and easy to use interface). Connect your microphones and check if its working with Audacity. Once all set up, start recording your first podcast, edit and save your podcast as a project and then convert to MP3 format in order to share on podcasting websites. One last thing, think of a strong name for your podcast because this will give your audience a flavor of your podcast, also it will be easy for people to search your podcast, also look for an attractive image to go with your podcast. The last step is to find a website to host your podcast. I personally like #Podbean, have used a few years back and found it extremely handy for both teachers and students. Its free and has a very easy to use interface. There are others including SoundCloud, Podomatic, Libsyn which also offer free podcasting services. You can submit your podcast to various podcast directories like iTunes, Stitcher, Miro etc
Now the important question why should we aim to introduce podcasting in schools? several reasons and we will take a look at each here. Firstly, it offers new ways of communicating. Schools spent dozens on printing newsletters, at times parents even do not read them. A better way could be to share information or news or even students progress reports through podcasts. Schools could have a weekly or monthly bulletin board online where staff share important news update with parents, parents can respond in the form of comments on podcasts. Second, teachers can use a podcast for professional development , share teaching and learning strategies on their weekly or monthly radio station online.
Teachers can also use their podcasts as flipped lessons. They can create and share podcasts of different topics and let students explore them, and they can work with the students who might they need their support and help. Its a new way to distribute learning content (can be in the form of audio, videos, sounds), making it easier for teachers to address the needs of mixed ability students in their class.
Third, students or teachers are actually creating content for an actual, real and authentic audience which can provide them with real feedback that can help improve and make things better. Usually students make presentations in front of the class, and the only feedback they get is from people they know, so there are less chances of emerging divergent ideas. In order to grow, they must share, discuss and analyze content in the light of different perspectives. Fourth , its empowering students to be creators of the content and moving away from being only consumers of the content. Students usually find YouTube videos, presentations, research articles, documentaries etc online and reuse for their own assignments, which is actually a drill/practice exercise. With podcasting they record interviews of famous personalities, historical figures, debate on real world issues, talk about implementing UN SDGs in their schools, have weekly community shows (interview important change maker sin the community), develop revision libraries online, develop digital libraries of stories, run own news shows and much more.
Fifth , students are learning different skills like digital skills,technical skills, they are editing their podcasts, recording and converting to mp3, hosting on a public site, communicating with a wider audience, experimenting with new ideas, collaborating with a global audience, learning to work as entrepreneurs , all skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. Sixth, the podcasts can be easily downloaded to a device like a mobile, students can download and listen to the podcasts anytime, as many times they want to. Its the 24/7 availability and the flexibility which makes learning with podcasts much engaging.
The only concern that needs to be taken care of is that of the background noise while recordings Preferably the podcast should be recorded in a quiet place. Filters can also be used to remove noise.
Find below link to my own podcasts that I created while I was teaching to grad 6 - 8 somewhere in 2011 - 2012. Students created podcasts about earthquakes interviewing earthquake victims, one of the class recorded the history of the Urdu language, some students explored the layers of earthquakes etc.
https://sheebaajmal.podbean.com/
Your turn to explore now, try creating your own podcasts, who knows you might be able to create your own radio station or a digital library online and share with your students after summers.
Enjoy reading till my next blog soon Inshallah :)
Thank you as always.
Regards and prayers
Sheeba Ajmal
6. Audacity https://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
7. Podcasting in Education - What are the benefits? https://www.thepodcasthost.com/niche-case-study/podcasting-in-education/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
8. What are the benefits of podcasting in the classroom? https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/what-are-the-benefits-of-podcasting-in-the-classroom/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
Date: 15 July 2018/Sunday
This time my blogpost explores Podcasting with some insight into why I believe it has the power to transform teaching and learning in schools. So lets begin by digging a little and finding out what are actually podcasts, how do you create them? a look into websites that let you host free podcasts? a list of advantages for using in schools and much more. Join the ride people :)
Just to make it as simple as possible, a podcast is a digital file (audio/video) available online and can be downloaded to any device computer , mobile or an portable media player and you can listen to it whenever you want to using our speakers or headphones while driving, sitting, walking , during exercise etc. In other words its on demand radio , the content is different every time, not the same as usual radio station episode every week. It has content to either inspire you, motivate you, increase your knowledge and understanding about a particular/specific content, shares new ideas, entertains you etc. It can be one file or a a series of small files. You can subscribe to podcasts and the next episode in a series of podcasts will be downloaded automatically to your device using the RSS feed. Each podcast episode can be run by either one presenter or a group of presenters. Presenter can choose to discuss any specific topic and in the next episodes dig in further in the details of the topic or explore other topics related to it. Mostly podcasts are simple but there are others that include background music, might have sound effects, professional editing etc.Both presenters and listeners can communicate with each other through comments on podcasts, making it more interactive.
Lets move to discussing the basic requirements for creating a podcast and looking into how you could record your very first podcast. The basic requirements include a theme or a topic (carefully planned and researched), any device (computer), audio editing software, a set of microphones and that's it. Whats important to remember here is that you need to take podcasting seriously, it requires a lot of time and effort and therefore needs to be carefully planned. This is exactly what Pat Flynn (host of the Smart Passive Income Podcast) recommends, he further says that podcasting is something fun and exciting and you must do it with full commitment and passion and treat it as a huge project.
Now the important question why should we aim to introduce podcasting in schools? several reasons and we will take a look at each here. Firstly, it offers new ways of communicating. Schools spent dozens on printing newsletters, at times parents even do not read them. A better way could be to share information or news or even students progress reports through podcasts. Schools could have a weekly or monthly bulletin board online where staff share important news update with parents, parents can respond in the form of comments on podcasts. Second, teachers can use a podcast for professional development , share teaching and learning strategies on their weekly or monthly radio station online.
Teachers can also use their podcasts as flipped lessons. They can create and share podcasts of different topics and let students explore them, and they can work with the students who might they need their support and help. Its a new way to distribute learning content (can be in the form of audio, videos, sounds), making it easier for teachers to address the needs of mixed ability students in their class.
Third, students or teachers are actually creating content for an actual, real and authentic audience which can provide them with real feedback that can help improve and make things better. Usually students make presentations in front of the class, and the only feedback they get is from people they know, so there are less chances of emerging divergent ideas. In order to grow, they must share, discuss and analyze content in the light of different perspectives. Fourth , its empowering students to be creators of the content and moving away from being only consumers of the content. Students usually find YouTube videos, presentations, research articles, documentaries etc online and reuse for their own assignments, which is actually a drill/practice exercise. With podcasting they record interviews of famous personalities, historical figures, debate on real world issues, talk about implementing UN SDGs in their schools, have weekly community shows (interview important change maker sin the community), develop revision libraries online, develop digital libraries of stories, run own news shows and much more.
Fifth , students are learning different skills like digital skills,technical skills, they are editing their podcasts, recording and converting to mp3, hosting on a public site, communicating with a wider audience, experimenting with new ideas, collaborating with a global audience, learning to work as entrepreneurs , all skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. Sixth, the podcasts can be easily downloaded to a device like a mobile, students can download and listen to the podcasts anytime, as many times they want to. Its the 24/7 availability and the flexibility which makes learning with podcasts much engaging.
The only concern that needs to be taken care of is that of the background noise while recordings Preferably the podcast should be recorded in a quiet place. Filters can also be used to remove noise.
Find below link to my own podcasts that I created while I was teaching to grad 6 - 8 somewhere in 2011 - 2012. Students created podcasts about earthquakes interviewing earthquake victims, one of the class recorded the history of the Urdu language, some students explored the layers of earthquakes etc.
https://sheebaajmal.podbean.com/
Your turn to explore now, try creating your own podcasts, who knows you might be able to create your own radio station or a digital library online and share with your students after summers.
Enjoy reading till my next blog soon Inshallah :)
Thank you as always.
Regards and prayers
Sheeba Ajmal
References
1. What is a Podcast? https://www.thepodcasthost.com/listeners-guide/what-is-a-podcast/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
2. What is a Podcast? https://internationalpodcastday.com/what-is-podcast/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
3. How to start a podcast? https://lifehacker.com/how-to-start-your-own-podcast-1709798447
Accessed online 16/07/18
4. Why every school should be podcasting https://www.theguardian.com/education/2007/sep/18/link.link16
Accessed Online 16/07/18
5. Podomatic - Create a Podcast https://www.podomatic.com/
Accessed Online 16/07/184. Why every school should be podcasting https://www.theguardian.com/education/2007/sep/18/link.link16
Accessed Online 16/07/18
5. Podomatic - Create a Podcast https://www.podomatic.com/
6. Audacity https://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
7. Podcasting in Education - What are the benefits? https://www.thepodcasthost.com/niche-case-study/podcasting-in-education/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
8. What are the benefits of podcasting in the classroom? https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/what-are-the-benefits-of-podcasting-in-the-classroom/
Accessed Online 16/07/18
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