Podcasting in Schools

There are a number of ways that podcasting can be used in schools in both classrooms and the media center.  Many media specialists, teachers, students, book authors, and others involved in the education of children have created podcasts that are readily available online.  A quick Google search yields a number of these podcasts that students would find enjoyable and beneficial to listen to.  Teachers, media specialists, and students can locate podcasts related to topics that are studied by in the classroom, children’s books they may want to read, news from their favorite authors, among many other subjects.  Students are able to listen to the podcasts online or even download them to their computer, ipod, cell phone, or other electronic device.

The use of podcasting in schools does not stop with listening to those that are already created.  Podcasts are actually very easy to make and can serve a wide variety of purposes in the school setting.  All you need is a computer or other electronic device capable of recording audio, free computer software for recoding such as Audacity, and a microphone. 

One way that media specialists can use podcasting in the media center is to record booktalks that can easily be archived and accessed by students.  Nancy Keane has a wonderful site were she has stored many short book talks she has created.  The booktalks serve as a method for hooking students into books.  Recording booktalks in a podcast provides as way for the booktalks to be kept for years and allows students access to booktalks they may not have been present to hear at the live recording.

The media specialist can also use podcasts to share news in the media center.  They can be used to announce upcoming events, promote author visits, share new technology and materials, or even as a way to review rules and procedures.  Short reminders or lessons related information literacy may also be delivered through podcasts.  With permission of the speaker(s), live events can be recorded and posted for those who were unable to attend.   Media specilaists may even choose to deliver some professional development through the use of podcasts so that teachers can review it on their own time and as often as needed.

Students can also create their own podcasts in school.  The students at Willowdale Elementary School have created a variety of podcasts on many different topics, which are archived on their site, Radio WillowWeb.  Each episode has a specific theme and within that theme students have shared pieces such as new vocabulary words, poetry, fun facts, as well as jokes and riddles.  Students can use podcasts in a number of different ways such as sharing what they have learned in the classroom, teaching other students how to complete a task, creating their own book talks or reviews, presenting their writing, and announcing school news.

I do have some personal experience with podcasting in schools.  While completing my student teaching back in 2006, I created a Social Studies Unit for fourth graders on Westward Expansion.  One of the projects that I assigned the students was to create a radio show as though they were broadcasting from the trail as they made their way out west as pioneers.  The students reported on topics such as what they were eating, how their family was doing, as well as their struggles and successes.   They based their stories on accounts of real pioneers.  The students created podcasts for each episode.  The Social Studies Professor at Furman University that I was working with at the time, as well as another teacher and I co-wrote an article about our experience with this project, which was published in Social Education in 2007.  I have since used this project as a base and created similar projects in the classroom.  I can attest to the excitement students demonstrate when creating a podcast and the great value in such a project.  When creating podcasts, it has been my experience that students have a stronger desire to revise their work and to get it just right before podcasting than they would if they were just turning in a piece of writing to their teacher.  It gives them motivation to create their best work and provides them with an audience outside the walls of their classroom or even their school.