Podcast Ideas

Listen together in class

• Have students create sketch notes as they listen

• Have students listen for specific information and fill in a graphic organizer

• Use a podcast to stage a debate. Pose an open-ended question and have students take notes as they listen. (I usually assign sides, but you can also have students find evidence for multiple perspectives.) Then, after listening, have students use evidence from the podcast to fuel quality classroom conversation.

• Use the QFT model, with the podcast as the Q-Focus. Students will listen and write down as many questions as possible that are prompted by the podcast content, format, etc.

• Use podcasts for rhetorical analysis. Try these free rhetorical analysis graphic organizers!

• Have students listen to a podcast episode together, then extend their learning by conducting research and creating an infographic.

• Have students listen for important words and create a “found” poem using these words. The poem should represent the podcast’s theme or message.

Educational Podcast

KidCast- A community of educators who are podcasting in K-12 schools. Books and workshops are available.

Education Podcast Network- Directory of podcasts produced by educators.

Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom- An article from Edutopia.org describes podcasting in a fifth-grade classroom.

Tips for Podcast Fans- Apple’s iTunes site gives helpful tips on creating and subscribing to podcasts.

Podcast for Teachers- Professional development podcasts for teachers.

PodSafe Audio- PodSafe Music Network

PodSafe Music Network- Find music that is license-free and legal to put in a podcast in these two directories.