Spotlight on SOTL: Podcast Pedagogy – A Sound Way to Learn

This article is based on the following research article:

Besser, E. D., Blackwell, L. E. & Saenz, M. (2022). Engaging Students Through Educational Podcasting: Three Stories of Implementation. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 27(3), 749–764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09503-8

Student-created podcasts involves students taking an active role in producing and publishing their own audio content. By researching, scripting, recording, and editing their podcasts, students not only deepen their understanding of the subject matter but also develop valuable technical and collaborative skills. It provides a platform for authentic expression, allowing learners to share their perspectives, insights, and discoveries with a broader audience, enhancing their engagement and ownership of the learning process. This educational method aligns with the principles of student-centered learning, promoting autonomy and encouraging a deeper connection to the subject matter.

In this article, the researchers delve into how educators integrated podcasting in their classrooms to enhance student engagement, collaboration, and literacy development, providing a comprehensive view of podcast implementation in three diverse educational contexts.

What did the researchers do and find?

The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with three educators and collected narratives to describe each case in-depth. Additionally, they collected field notes, lesson plans, classroom artifacts, and observations as secondary data points to understand each specific case further. The study found that podcasting improves students’ reading, writing, and listening skills, promotes engagement and collaboration, and enhances critical thinking. Their research also revealed that podcasting helps students learn storytelling techniques, emphasizing logical and coherent thinking.

The researchers found that using a systematic approach when implementing podcasting can help face barriers head-on and provide a framework for both the educator and the student. They suggested segmenting podcasting into three distinct phases: pre-production, development, and post-production.

• The first phase, pre-production, is the most critical and involves designing the podcast. This stage includes identifying topic ideas, target audience, episode ideas, visual identity plan, and various storytelling and formatting features that will be included
• The second phase, development, involves recording and editing the podcast. This includes creating a script, selecting appropriate recording equipment, creating a conducive recording environment, and practising their speech with tone modulation and pacing.
• The final phase, post-production, involves publishing and promoting the podcast. This includes adding music or sound effects to enhance the overall listening experience, as well as publishing on podcast hosting services, websites, or educational platforms for broader distribution.

How might you use this research in your teaching?

This research provides a comprehensive guide for integrating podcasting into your teaching.

Here is how you might use it:

1. Understand the Benefits: Consider the goals, learning outcomes, and the skills students will develop. Recognize that podcasting can improve students’ literacy, foster engagement, and collaboration, and boost critical thinking.
2. Plan Thoroughly: Spend considerable time in the pre-production phase. Decide on the podcast format, identify the target audience, and plan episode ideas. Will each episode be sequential, or separate yet connected to an overall theme? Also, think about the organization such as the project timeline, division of labor, podcast length and technical requirements.
3. Leverage Different Formats: Listening to a variety of podcasts will provide examples of the types of styles, formats (storytelling, book reviews, topic discussions, interviews etc.) and features that can be incorporated into a podcast. This variety can cater to different learning styles and keep the content engaging.
4. Provide Guidance and Support: Help students navigate the content-related resources and technical choices involved in podcasting. Provide students with multiple checkpoints for feedback and support throughout the project, especially during the initial phase.
5. Emphasize Scripting and Practice: Encourage students to script out the whole show and provide multiple practice sessions. Have them record their sessions and listen to their show, making revisions, as necessary.
6. Collect and Reflect: Collect various data points such as field notes, lesson plans, and created podcast episodes to understand each specific case further. Reflect on these to continually improve your podcasting implementation.

By following these steps, you can effectively integrate podcasting into your teaching, enhancing student learning and engagement.

Stay tuned for the next Spotlight on SoTL coming to the MacPherson Memo on April 3, 2024