Podcasting in the Classroom

Educators have not been slow to take advantage of social media, and podcasting in the classroom is a great tool for students and teachers alike. Creating a podcast is easier than you think, and the benefits can be long-ranging.

At its most basic, a podcast is an audio file – the equivalent of a tape recording, though usually created using a computer. Podcasts are usually in a file format such as MP3, AIFF, or AAC – it really doesn't matter that much, as most computers can play a variety of file types.

There is more to a podcast than just the digital file. Two more criteria need to be met to actually be considered a podcast:

1. Public Hosting – Your file needs to be uploaded to a server somewhere that it is accessible via the internet.
2. Really Simple Syndication – Also known as an RSS file, this is the way that people subscribe to your podcast using programs like iTunes.

A good way to think of an audio file versus a podcast is to think about the difference between a book and a magazine. A book you have to go out and get, but a magazine is something you subscribe to, and gets automatically delivered to your door.

This is probably both the easiest and most difficult part of podcasting. There will be a temptation to make everything scripted, to try and make your podcast sound like a play or a radio show. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but one of the things that sets podcasts apart from radio is the authentic, raw voices of the podcasters. It has been called "digital storytelling" and is a great tool for letting students and teachers express their individuality, rather than trying to sound like someone else.

Podcasting in the classroom should start with a simple question: what do you want to say? Everyone has a story. For example, the students in Mrs. Wieland's Class Podcast have shared their excitement in learning about the life of monarch butterflies, Martin Luther King, Jr., and their class play, among other topics.

The key is not to try and find things that are interesting to other people; rather, talk about things that are interesting to you, and let other people find you.

Teachers all over the world share many educational tools via the web, and podcasting is no exception. Aside from many websites and articles, there are also downloadable resources such as: Tony Vincent's Podcast Segment Planning PDF and audio tutorials. There are even podcasts about podcasting (that particular one is using GarageBand, but other free podcasting software is available).

One of the most comprehensive resources for podcasting is Wes Fryer's Podcasting page. This page has links to resources such as

• Podcasting software (both free and paid)
• How-to guides
• Sample podcasts, both professional and amateur
• Articles on podcasting
• Publishing tools
• Other resources

Creating a podcast in a classroom is not an quick process. While there are small barriers to creation in terms of equipment, there is a learning curve for teacher and student alike. Why take the time? Here is a list of some of the skills creating a podcast can teach:

• Global citizenship: podcasts are available all over the world.
• Communications skills in social media.
• Digital media and editing both written and spoken word.
• Team interaction and delegation of tasks to complete a project.
• Copyright and online privacy – learning principles of safe digital citizenship.
• Fostering creativity and producing content on a regular schedule.

Finally, a class podcast can provide parents, students and other faculty a connection to the podcasters that is unique and informative. Podcasting brings the ancient art of human contact into the 21st century.

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