Podcasting 101 Introduction

Podcast Crew Slide Deck

What is Podcasting?

Podcasting is the audio recording of the talent of the podcast episode discussing a topic, interviewing a guest, or telling a story. Podcasting generally involves the talent creating a series of episodes that are related to a common theme or topic.

These audio recordings are uploaded to an internet based host that generates a feed that can be subscribed to or previewed. The equipment used generally requires a microphone, recording device, a computer, software, and a podcasting platform.

Podcast Terminology

Podcast - audio recordings that are posted to a platform where people can listen to the recording

Podcast Episode - one audio recording of a podcast show publishes each episode to the internet

Podcast Show - the culmination of all of several podcast episodes

Bumper - audio intro or outro that provides audience with important details and may be accompanied by music

Artwork - a graphical representation of what your podcast show is about and what it is named

The Big Picture of the Podcast Process

What You Need to Know About Podcasting

Traditional - a traditional podcast is a series of episodes that comprise a season. The podcast episodes all tie into a related theme or topic. The podcast episodes all air or post on a consistent schedule. For example, daily, every Thursday, or once a month on a specific day. The episodes are uploaded to a podcasting platform that distributes to platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.

Non-Traditional - if your are not trying to build an audience or deliver your podcasts to multiple platforms. You may simply want your students to experience podcasting. You may want your students to produce a podcast as an assignment, project, or assessment. You may provide links to audio files instead of posting your podcasts to a distribution platform. Lastly, you may not be recording and posting episodes on a consistent basis. You may just be recording an episode as a project or as a stand alone artifact. If this is the case, you will still want to apply the content in this resource. You will just publish your podcast differently. We will discuss that in detail later.

Podcast Formats

The Interview

The Interview

An interview style podcast episode features one or more students that interview a guest or subject matter expert. The hosts/students usually begin the episode with brief introductions and then move onto the prepared questions. The questions asked of the guest usually tie back into the topic or theme of the podcast show.

Pros

- Your SME or guest(s) do most of the speaking.

- The conversation can be casual.

- Your guests may help grow your show.

Cons

- Very popular so it's hard to stand out.

- Booking guests can be a challenge.

- You are relying on your guest for good content.

Solo/ Monologue

This particular podcast format is common. Podcasters that are subject matter experts themselves use this format. It is a simple format because the host does all of the speaking. Planning of each episode is important. Some podcasters/students are able to ad-lib while others may have outlines or scripts.

Pros

- A student runs the entire show.

- Your audience gets to know the student well.

- Editing is streamlined with one speaker.

Cons

- The students have to do all of the speaking.

- The student need fresh material and content

- The student may need to rehearse before recording

Conversation / Co-Host

This is the podcast format that we use. It is a common format. It involves two people having a straightforward conversation who generally have great chemistry together because of their personalities, knowledge, experience, and skill set. Unlike an interview podcast format, however, these two people are both hosts of the podcast.

Each of the hosts may take on different roles during the podcast and while working on the production of the podcast. It is good practice to have conversations about who will take on specific roles. It may take trial and error to discover who is best for specific roles and tasks during the podcast, workflow process, recording, editing, and production phase.

Pros

- The roles and responsibilities are divided between the two hosts.

- The audience may enjoy the natural flow of an authentic conversation.

Cons

- It may require more work to edit two voices as opposed to one.

The Panel

A panel podcast show is very similar to the interview podcast. The main difference is that there are more guest or subject matter experts. For example, a student or a couple of students interviewing a group of teachers. Your guests may be members of a business, or your panel could be a group of students.

Pros

- Each episode is unique because you have a new panel each time.

- The student host ask the questions and the panel does most of the

speaking.

Cons

- Finding new panel guests can be a challenge and a lot of work to

organize.

- You need to keep the panel talking and engaging the audience.

- The amount of editing increases with the number of people you have participating in the podcast episode.

Non-Fiction / Story Telling

Non-fiction storytelling/ documentary style podcasts are episodes about real life events. For example, historical events could be retold as stories in this format. Students could tell an entire story in one episode or continue the story over several episodes. This format may also sound like a news report.

Pros

- This format can be very engaging for your audience.

- Students can be very creative by adding in sound effects, music, and

other creative elements.

- There is an abundance of content students can use for their episodes.

Cons

- The duration of your episode may fluctuate.

- Students need to be accurate with their details and story telling.

- This format can be very time consuming for students and the teacher.

- This format can be difficult for a small team to complete in short periods of time.

Podcast Theater

Podcast theater is also known as fictional storytelling. Some stories may be told across several podcast episodes. Some of these are like a dramatic TV show and some are narrated by a single student. Some students will use multiple sound actors, sound effects, and other theatrical elements. These podcasts generally follow the traditional fictional five stage plot.

This format is perfect for students that are very creative. They can create the characters, plots, and even worlds.

Pros

- The audience tends to follow your students' podcast show because of the threaded story that is told over multiple episodes.

- This is not a very common format so it will be easy for the show to stand out.

Cons

- Building an audience can take time to grow.

- Your students will be competing against TV shows, YouTube, and movies.

-If your story is threaded over multiple episodes you will need to plan out your entire season in advance.

- This format is very difficult for students that are not creative.

Repurpose / Recap

The repurposed contact format is when students take already existing content and material and alter or transform it to make it entertaining, relevant, and engaging to the audience. For example, students could repurpose movies, books, speeches, the news, problems, inventions, or historical events.

Pros

- Students may have an easier time planning episodes because they are repurposing existing content or material.

- Students can be created by adding a unique twist or concept to their show.

Cons

- Students will need to keep engage their audience with content they may have already viewed, read, or listened to.

- Students need to be accurate with their details and story telling.

- This format can be very time consuming for students and the teacher.

- This format can be difficult for a small team to complete in short periods of time.

Educational

Educational podcasts are very similar to non-fiction podcasts but feature educational content. Students can easily repurpose what they are learning to use as content for their podcast. Students will want to be creative in order to engage their audience.

Pros

- Students can use content they are currently learning in school.

- The audience of the podcast can learn from the podcast show.

Cons

- The content of the podcast may be niche which can make it hard to develop your audience.

- Students will need to be creative in order to engage their audience with educational content.

Hybrid

Podcasting is for all students and has no rules. Students can be as creative as they want and bend genres and formats in order to create new ones. Students can be presented with the traditional formats and then encouraged to experiment and develop their own.

Pros

- Students can be creative by experimenting with format options.

- Students may develop a hybrid format that engages their target audience.

Cons

- Students may encounter obstacles and even failure as they work on

developing their hybrid format.

- Changing your format during your season may affect the following of your audience.

The Benefits of Podcasting

The student workflow will develop an inquiry-based mindset. Students need to use critical thinking skills when planning for their podcasts. There are many variables involved such as tone, audience, content, purpose, and format. Students will think through all of these elements as they move through the student workflow process.

The student workflow process helps to develop marketing and design skills. Students will engage in marketing activities as they determine the name of the podcast, the artwork, branding, and the promotion of their podcast.

Students will practice their researching skills. There is much groundwork to be done to prepare for a podcast. Students will need to know the content they plan to include in their podcast. They may need to conduct research in order to be prepared to engage in conversation about a wide variety of topics. They may also need to draft questions and talking points.

Students explore engaging ways to share what they have learned.

Part of the workflow process involves students deciding on the format they will use for their podcast. The format, content, personalities, and talents of the hosts and guests will help their podcast engage their audience.

Students explore topics that they are interested in and passionate about. Podcasting can be about any topic. Students have the freedom to explore topics they are interested in and passionate about. This freedom will help to engage students and get them excited about podcasting because of their passion for the topic.

Podcasting helps students find and cultivate their voice and style. Podcasting provides students opportunities to share their voice. Students will find and develop their voice during their podcasting experiences. Students can craft their individual style.

The workflow will help students practice their writing techniques. Students will engage in informal and formal writing during the workflow process. Planning a podcast series will require students to brainstorm what each episode will be about. Students will use graphic organizers and notes as they brainstorm. Students will use formal writing to write the description of their episodes, questions for their guests, scripts, and talking points.

Students will foster their technology literacy. Producing a podcast involves the use of several technologies. A word processor, slide show creator, or spreadsheet can be used to create the podcast schedule, episode description, show notes, script, questions, and talking points.

Students can practice digital citizenship. Students need to be aware of the content they will share during their podcast and what they will say. They will want to also be aware of their tone. This experience will provide students the opportunity to flex their digital citizenship skills.

Students will strengthen their interpersonal skills. Students will communicate with their audience but also each other. Students will be able to collaborate with one another which will develop their interpersonal skills.

The entire process provides students with an authentic learning experience. Students will go beyond the traditional learning model as they navigate through the podcast workflow. This experience will provide them an authentic learning experience because of the depth of knowledge and experience they will have with the subject or topic.

Students that are involved in the workflow process will be engaged. Students get excited about podcasting. They may like one aspect of podcasting more that another, but they will find something that excites and engages them in the podcasting experience.

Page updated

Report abuse