Enhancing Student Learning with Podcasts: From Consumption to Creation

The digital age has revolutionized the way we access and digest information. In a world where knowledge is right at our fingertips, it can feel as if teaching and learning are in a constant state of transformation. Due to the evolution of technological advances, both adults and kids are consuming information at rapid paces. We think you know that various types of learning consumption including video, audio, and text, coupled with the rise of short bursts of information on social media makes it feel like learning is changing by the moment.

Learners are no longer confined to the pages of a textbook or within the walls of a classroom. Learning has transformed into an immersive experience, where individuals have the autonomy to select learning pathways that work for them.

As a result, educators are continually looking for high impact ways to empower and engage students in the learning process. We have found that by tapping into their curiosities and leveraging multiple learning pathways, students can embrace stepping into the mess of learning.

In our recent Edutopia article, Making Podcasts Part of Professional Learning, we offer a variety of resources, including a curated list of educational podcasts and a thinking routine we adapted titled, Hear, Sketch, Think, Wonder that can support teachers with practical strategies to use podcasts as a vehicle for shifting and/or implementing new practices. You can choose to remix the Hear, Sketch, Think, Wonder Canva Edu template, too!

Our original pitch for the Edutopia article also included student podcasting ideas. Although we ultimately focused on teacher learning in that publication, it occurred to us, Why not extend our podcast-driven learning experiences to empower students to both learn from and create podcasts with you too?

Podcasts in the Classroom

Incorporating podcasts into lessons can deepen engagement through active listening and podcast creation. Leveraging podcasts in the classroom empowers learners as creators, communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Podcasts provide the flexibility of accessing episodes at any time and from anywhere, making it convenient to integrate them into busy schedules. Explore these strategies for utilizing podcasts in the classroom. 

5 Ways Students Can Use Podcasts to Guide Their Learning 

  • Identify the students’ learning needs: Align your students’ learning needs with intention and purpose. Connect those needs to your curriculum, standards, and or learning targets. 
  • Select Podcasts: Curate relevant podcasts based on students’ interests and as a tool to enhance content understanding. Podcasts may feel novel to students and can encourage them to focus on key information while analyzing shared messages. Active listening fosters the ability to think critically and turn consumption into creation. Explore student podcasts HERE.

Podcast Activities: Facilitate activities to engage students in note-taking, discussion, reflection, and questioning. We have adapted the teacher thinking routine for students titled, Hear, Sketch, Think, Wonder.  Students can also develop a visual representation of what they have listened to. We can utilize digital tools such as Canva for Education or Book Creator, where students can use tools to sketch their thoughts, ideas, and new learnings or create graphics using a variety of elements to make visual connections. Students can also add video or audio recordings to share, reflect, paraphrase, or summarize their learning.

CLICK HERE to access the Hear, Sketch, Think, Wonder template

  • Encourage Discussion: Podcasts foster meaningful discussions that support students to think critically and develop a deeper understanding of content. After students create products to make their thinking visible, they can share their creations to contribute to classroom discussion. 

Enhancing Student Learning and Sharing with Podcasts

Podcasting isn’t limited to passive consumption. Students can collaborate with their peers to craft their podcasts in many ways, promoting creativity, writing, speaking, effective communication, and research skills. If you’re looking to get started, you can explore these ideas for student created podcasts. Creating podcasts allows students to share their learning while elevating their literacy and technology skills.

CLICK HERE for direct access to this resource

Now it’s your turn to make podcasts a powerful tool for educators and students to shape the future of learning. By exploring the vast world of podcasts, students can delve into diverse topics, find their voices, and become creators, communicators, and collaborators. The art of podcasting empowers them to take charge of their learning journeys, and the inherent accessibility and flexibility of podcasts enable them to access knowledge anytime, anywhere. Why wait? Let’s embrace podcasts in education and inspire our students to become avid listeners, enthusiastic learners, and confident creators. Together, let’s transform our classrooms into vibrant hubs of knowledge, curiosity, and innovation.

Lauren M. Kaufman’s Bio:

Lauren Kaufman’s passion is to empower teachers to lead & develop lifelong literacy practices in all learners. She’s a Director of Literacy K-12 in Long Island, NY, has served as an assistant principal, teacher, literacy specialist, & instructional coach. Lauren has led teams developing a comprehensive approach to literacy, has provided job-embedded PD, and leads with a coaching mindset. She shares her learning on her own blog and is a contributing author in educational journals, George Couros’ #BecauseOfATeacher & Lainie Rowell’s #EvolvingWithGratitude. Learn more from Lauren.

Elisabeth Bostwick’s Bio:

Elisabeth Bostwick is a multi-award-winning educator passionate about creating the conditions to spark curiosity and unleash creativity to deepen engagement and empower learning. As a Canva Learning Consultant, she serves K-12 educators and students globally. Elisabeth is also the author of Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation and podcast host of Spark Joy in EDU. Elisabeth aspires to create teaching and learning experiences that empower all students to thrive and reach their full potential in our ever-evolving world.