What are Podcasts?

A Podcast is a broadcast on the web. There are audio and video podcasts. Podcasts can be embedded into class websites or blogs.

How can I use podcasts in my classroom?

You don't always need to create a podcast. If you have iTunes (and if you don't, you can download it for free) you can access thousands of free podcast episodes. The even have lectures from MIT and Stanford through iTunesU. You can listen on iTunes, or download them for later. These can be played for students or used to learn more on subjects we teach. If you do want to create, here are some ideas.

1. Review lectures can be used to give students another opportunity to hear you, the expert, explain a subject. For English Language learners, this can be a way to listen to spoken language at their own pace (This does not mean you are off the hook for differentiating in the class, just a bonus for the students. Here is an example I made using Apple's Garage Band software for Mac.

2. Here is another podcast using only audio. Listen 

3. Students can create podcasts to tell stories, review concepts or practice vocabulary (have them create a podcast where they use certain target vocabulary).  This works to help students produce academic language.

4. If you are comfortable learning the advanced methods, you can teach students to use images to create a video podcast. Below is a sample of a podcast created by one of my freshmen last year, created to help here write an essay.

Student Podcast

What do I need to get started?

First you need software.  If you have a newer Mac, you can use Garage Band.  Click here to see a Garage Band tutorial from Apple. Or see a screencast on creating podcasts here.

If you are not a Mac user, you can download a free program called Audacity which can also be used to create podcasts.  If you do this you will also have to install a plugin called LAME (See how here).  This will allow you to convert your podcast to an MP3 file.  View the Audacity tutorial for a step-by-step guide to podcasting.