Getting our Ears around Podcasting

Here are what I consider exemplary school podcasts. Have a listen, but let’s put our analytical hats on and come up with some criteria, jobs and processes that might make a podcast a sustainable contribution from our students.

• Willowcast #19: “Spotlight on Sound and Light” – from Fifth graders in Ms. Sanborn’s on Radio Willow Web
• Experiment of the Week – by Robert Kampf
• Podkids.com.au – Year 4 / 5 students in Perth, Australia
• KidCast.com – from Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
• Easy French Poetry Podcast – from Learn French in Boston

After listening through at least some of these podcasts, divide into groups and brainstorm around the following questions:

1. What topics / subjects could you build a podcast series around?
2. What would be main jobs students cold learn to produce the podcasts?
3. What skills would need to be developed?
4. How could creating a podcast series achieve other goals you have for students?

Look to the Podcasting Resources page for more!