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Teaching Podcasting: A Curriculum Guide for Educators

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Guidance on planning classroom instruction.

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Students of all ages can podcast!

In this post and podcast episode, you will learn How to Podcast with Your Students, what tools to use, and how easy it is to get started!

Back in 2006, my students created a podcast, "Miss Bell's Chime Time!"

My students named the podcast, they wrote and performed the musical jingle. (I had a lot of talented band and choir students that year.)

I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew there was something amazing about this podcasting thing!

We used the platform for students to share and reflect on writing, improve writing and oral reading skills, and to have some fun.

I still have students that I run into from time and time and say, "Hey Miss Bell, you remember that time we were in iTunes?"

There is something magical about giving students a global audience for their work, and podcasting is a great way to share without any risks to privacy or safety. (You don't have to share last names, photos, or videos, to give kids an audience.

In this week's episode of The Shake Up Learning Show, I'm chatting with the Podfather himself, Chris Nesi, the founder of the Education Podcast Network, The House of EdTech, and many other podcasts and productions.

Chris and I chat about the power of podcasting in the classroom and how easy it is to get started.

You don't need fancy equipment or hot shot technical skills to create a podcast with your students.

You just have to hit RECORD!

Students of all ages can podcast.

Podcasting and learning are perfect partners. Listeners get to connect with the speaker in a much more intimate way. Hosts and podcasters get to express their views and opinions through their voice and telling their unique story.

Podcasts are also a perfect way to get students excited about learning in a whole new way. They not only get the experience of gathering information and organizing it for presentation, but they get to put their own unique spin on the topic using their own voice.

Teachers also have the advantage of getting kids excited about learning by letting them talk about topics that really interest them. If you are wondering how to get your students started podcasting, wonder no more.

My guest today has so much passion for teaching, that he teaches both college and high school level courses concurrently. He is also involved in hosting, editing, or producing at least six podcasts and counting. He is a man who puts his love of technology and teaching into action every day.

Chris is also a good friend of mine and my go-to person for everything podcasting. In this episode, we talk about how to podcast with your students. We go over how to get started, tools to use, types of podcasts to consider, and much more.

Chris is the host of The House of #EdTech Podcast and the producer of the Google Teacher Tribe Podcast that I do with Matt Miller. He has been teaching for 11 years. He is super creative and is always on the cutting edge of education technology. I'm super excited to have him on this show.

. ..

Support for this episode comes from Pear Deck, the tool that helps you supercharge student engagement.

With Pear Deck, you can take any Google Slides presentation, add interactive questions or embed websites directly into your lesson, and send it to student devices so they can participate in real time while you present.

The basic version of Pear Deck is free, but my listeners can now get a complimentary 60-day trial of Pear Deck Premium with no credit card required.

This will give you access to features like the teacher dashboard, personalized takeaways, and more.
In This Episode:
[05:20] - Chris is super excited to be on the Shake Up Learning Podcast.

[05:44] - Chris is a high school social studies teacher in central New Jersey. He has been teaching for 11 years.

[06:01] - He also teaches at the school of communication at Rutgers University. He teaches three courses at Rutgers in addition to the six courses he teaches at the high school level.

[06:16] - Chris has been hosting The #House of EdTech Podcast for almost 6 years. He's been co-hosting for over 2 years. He edits the Google Teacher Tribe Podcast . He edits the Partial Credit Podcast , and he produces the Assist Learning Podcast .

[06:43] - He also plans on producing the Infused Classroom Podcast .

[07:08] - Chris loves what he does. He wanted to be an educator since he was 16 or 17 years old. None of it is work to him.

[08:58] - Chris loves podcasting because it gives him an opportunity to put his perspective and point of view out into the world.

[10:05] - Kasey shares how moving from blogging to podcasting builds a different type of relationship with people. People feel like they know you in a different way.

[11:14] - Creating video or audio is an intimate experience.

[12:50] - Audio is a powerful learning tool for teachers. This makes podcasts the perfect medium.

[15:11] - Students can use audio for any subject in a form that ranges from presentations to reflection tools.

[16:47] - Teachers can record entire lessons for reflection or lectures to give to students.

[18:53] - Kasey shares how podcasting is such a great tool for students from writing to fluency and the all-important reflection piece.

How to Get Started Podcasting in the Classroom

[20:25] - Students can get started podcasting with things they already have like Chromebooks, iPods, iPads, and cell phones. The idea is to create content, so just hit record.

[25:10] - Be careful letting Anchor do everything for your podcast because you give up control and access to stats. Be the one who submits your RSS feed to Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, etc. You want to own your own content or podcast feed. Anchor users need to be at least 13 years old.

[29:17] - PodcastPD lets Chris and his co-hosts talk about any educational topics.

[30:52] - The #House of EdTech is all about technology integration and using it in the classroom today.

[35:18] - Getting students to tell their stories is super relevant. Give kids the opportunity to create podcasts that they are truly interested in.

Podcast Question of the Week:

Why is podcasting a powerful tool for teachers and students? Share one way you could try podcasting with your students or in your role in education?

Post your answers in the Shake Up Learning community or on your favorite social platform.

About Chris Nesi:

: Twitter@mrnesi

School District/Campus (or Employer): New Brunswick Public Schools

Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
The Shake Up Learning Show The Shake Up Learning Community on Facebook Join the Shake Up Learning Book Study! Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic by Kasey Bell Education Podcast Network #House of EdTech Podcast House of EdTech on Instagram Feedback@ChrisNesi.com The Teacher's Guide to Podcasts Podcast Questions of the Week On-Air Coaching] - Staying Focused on the Learning Goals, Not the Technology - SULS006 How to Choose a Digital Assessment Strategy - SULS010
Get a complimentary 60-Day Trial
Google Teacher Tribe Podcast Partial Credit Podcast Assist Learning Podcast Infused Classroom Podcast @ShakeUpLearning with Kasey Bell - HoET021 How to Create a Class Brand (and much more!) with Tony Vincent - SULS011
Questions & Comments

Do you have a question you would like me to answer on the show? I'd love to hear from you!

I also love to hear from students!

Leave me a voicemail and your message could be played on the podcast!

Do You Want to Be on the Podcast?

To learn more about our process for selecting guests, please visit our show page here.

Sponsorship and Other Inquiries

If you have other questions or inquiries about the podcast, please use this contact form.

© Shake Up Learning 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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How to Podcast with Your Students - SULS014

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Podcasting and learning are the perfect partners. Listeners get to connect with the speaker in a much more intimate way. Hosts and podcasters get to express their views and opinions through their voice and telling their unique story. Podcasts are also a perfect way to get students excited about learning in a whole new way.

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Your School Needs A Podcast - Christopher J. Nesi | House of #EdTech

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﻿ HOW-TO PODCAST MINI-SERIES ADDITIONAL EPISODES ABOUT PODCASTING POSTS ABOUT PODCASTING 10 Segment Ideas For Your Classroom Podcast 7 Benefits

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Podcasts are a powerful tool for capturing learning on the go. Let's see how as we adapt a few strategies from Edutopia's article Smart Strategies for Student Success.

Smart Strategies

The authors, Donna Wilson and Marcus Conyers, assert that working smarter is possible. How? Use specific success strategies that can't help but have a profound influence. They outline several strategies, including these two:

Explain it to your brain.

Take brain breaks while learning

Let's explore these strategies in the context of classroom podcasting. First, let's reflect on why podcasting is so valuable.

Podcast Strategy #1 - Meta-Cognitive Learning

In this strategy, students use self-explanation to tell themselves what they are thinking. I like this approach since students speak aloud to solve a problem. This reflective, meta-cognitive dialogue can be audio-recorded and planned out. Using simple tools like Voxer, students can record themselves as a "Note to Self." As a teacher, I would set up a class account for Voxer. Students would use a device with microphone logged into the class Voxer account. The device could be a cheap Chromebook, an old iPad, or computer.

These audio perambulations are one-take recordings. Students walk and talk themselves through a problem. As Donna and Marcus point out, there are benefits to this effort. Those benefits include blending new information into students' existing mental schema. Students may generate inferences where information gaps exist. This promotes self correction and the change of inaccurate information.

Podcast Strategy #2 - Move and Share

The take brain breaks while learning strategy suggests movement. We already know that moving is learning. Edweek alludes to this in their article . Studies show, Edweek points out, that children who are more active gain these benefits:

Exhibit better focus

Enjoy faster cognitive processing, and

Have more successful memory retention

This happens because the body is kept active. Doing that promotes mental clarity due to increased blood flow. This makes activity, Edweek says, "vital" to learning, physical, and neurological health.

In the Move and Share strategy, students get up. They find a partner and take turns sharing one thing they learned moments before.

One great tool to record vidcasts is Flipgrid.com. Available free to educators thanks to Microsoft's largesse, it makes safe sharing easy. Students can record themselves then other students can view and respond. To complete the process, teachers can save the video exchange as MP4 video files. Then, using a free tool like Sway or Seesaw's built-in blog, for example, the teacher can publish them. This can be a phenomenal approach for students. Students can use their own BYOT devices, such as smartphones or tablets.

Walk and Talk Podcasts for Learning

These are only two smart strategies. Blend others with podcasting technologies to speed up student learning. Be sure to read about other ideas in Donna's and Marcus' article that you can adapt. Want to learn about other podcasting tools? Investigate Anchor.fm as another free source for podcast hosting. Blogging plus podcasting yields engaged learning.

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Podcasts are a powerful tool for capturing learning on the go. Let's see how as we adapt a few strategies from Edutopia's article Smart Strategies for Student Success . The authors, Donna Wilson and Marcus Conyers, assert that working smarter is possible. How? Use specific success strategies that can't help but have a profound influence.

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As we seek to enhance instruction with technology, one tool we might not think of is podcasts. These can be used in flipped classrooms or blended learning models in the same way you might use videos: to deliver content, provide enrichment, or explain topics in a different way for students who don't get a concept the first time around. As podcasts become a more popular medium, a growing number of them are being produced just for kids. Today we're going to look at eight of them that you can share with your students tomorrow.

If you know what podcasts are and you already listen to them, then you can skip this part. If not, this section will introduce you to the wonderful world of podcasts.

What is a podcast?
A podcast is a lot like a radio show. It has episodes, like a TV show would have, and it's usually in audio-only format, although video podcasts do exist. The length of a podcast episode can vary drastically, anywhere from two minutes to two hours, and they produce on a schedule that ranges from daily to "whenever." Listeners will typically subscribe to favorite podcasts, so that new episodes are delivered to them through whatever app they use.

How does one listen to podcasts?
Although you can listen to them right through a desktop or laptop computer, many people listen to podcasts on a smartphone, on a tablet, or in their cars, using a podcast app that can grab just about any show you're interested in and update that series whenever a new episode is published.This overview from Digital Trends explains how podcasts work and what your options are for listening.

Got it? Now let's dig in to these eight fantastic podcasts.
tumblepodcast.com
Age Range: Best for ages 6-12, appropriate for any age

Tumble is a science podcast that shares the stories behind science discovery. It explores how science actually works as a process. With stories ranging from reaching the deepest part of the ocean to hunting for black holes in distant galaxies, Tumble is co-hosted by a science journalist and a teacher.
Sample Episode: The Mystery of When Brains and Sports Collide
bookclubforkids.org

Age Range: Best for ages 9-14, appropriate for any age
Sample Episode: abc.net.au/radio/programs/shortandcurly Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
In every episode of this podcast, a different group of kids discusses a young adult book. Each episode also features a celebrity reader and an interview with the book's author.
Sample Episode: soundcloud.com/the-show-about-science Is it ever okay to lie?
Age Range: Best for ages 7-12, appropriate for any age

Short & Curly is an ethics podcast from Australia. The hosts investigate dilemmas relevant to kids, like whether you have to love your sibling or whether Pokemon Go is actually playing you.
shabamshow.com
Age Range: Best for ages 3-9, but fun for curious minds of any age!

This science interview show is hosted by 6-year-old Nate, and while it has some serious science chops, it's also just plain adorable. Nate talks to scientists about everything from alligators to radiation to vultures, in his distinctly original interviewing style.

Sample Episode: Ants with Mikey Bustos
brainson.org
Age Range: Best for ages 8-18, but entertaining for older ages as well

This fast-paced, quirky podcast uses fictional stories to teach listeners about science. It's hosted by an emergency medicine physician, a science journalist, and a filmmaker. Season 1 tells the story of three kids who are separated from their parents during a zombie apocalypse.

Sample Episode: Episode 1: Brain Traps
(Note: The audio player on this site takes some time to kick in after you press play.)
digital.vpr.net/programs/why-podcast-curious-kids
Age Range: Best for ages 6-12, but interesting to all curious minds

Each episode of this science podcast is co-hosted by a different kid, tackling their questions with interviews, fun segments, and the occasional musical number. Episodes cover a wide range of topics like carnivorous plants, interpreting dog and cat sounds, and life on other planets.

Sample Episode: Mosquitoes: What are they good for?
classicsforkids.com
Age Range: Best for ages 5-10, but interesting to all curious minds

Produced by Vermont Public Radio, each episode of this podcast starts with an audio recording of a child asking a question (listeners are invited to send in their own), such as why people have different religions, why the sea is salty, and whether bumblebees have hearts. The rest of the episode goes on to answer that question by inviting experts to share their knowledge on the topic in simple language kids can understand.

Sample Episode: Why is soccer called "soccer" instead of "football"?

Age Range: Materials available for grades K-5, but content would be interesting to anyone wanting to learn about composers

The short episodes of this classical music podcast introduce listeners to different composers, often taking several episodes to study specific pieces or aspects of a composer's work. The site also offers lesson plans, games, and other activities to supplement the show.

Sample Episode: Scott Joplin: Ragtime Music

This list is just the beginning: Let's keep growing the collection in the comments! If you know of a great educational podcast that teachers and parents can share with their kids, tell us about it below, and feel free to provide a link so other readers can find it quickly.♦

I'd like to give a BIG thanks to Lindsay Patterson of the Tumble Podcast for putting this awesome list together for me, and providing many of the descriptions!

Learn something new every week.
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As we seek to enhance instruction with technology, one tool we might not think of is podcasts. These can be used in flipped classrooms or blended learning models in the same way you might use videos: to deliver content, provide enrichment, or explain topics in a different way for students who don't get a concept the first time around.

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Summer is a great time for PD! While the sun is out, let's dive into one of the hottest trending topics in education, PODCASTING! Here are some quick ideas.

If you have 5 minutes...

1. Watch the Soundtrap for Storytellers Crash Course from our partners at Soundtrap. This video is great for first time podcasters looking for the tools to get started.

If you have 10 minutes...

2. Listen to an episode of the Student Podcast PODCAST to hear examples of student podcasts, with reflections from their teachers on the project, hosted by former public radio reporter and Listenwise CEO, Monica Brady-Myerov. Tip: You can even do this one on the beach!

If you have 20 minutes...

3. Watch our webinar How to Teach and Assess Listening and learn how you can use podcasts to engage students and assess listening progress.

If you have 30 minutes...

4. Download the Teacher's Guide to Podcasting in the Classroom, with step-by-step guidelines for podcasting in class.

5. Watch our 30 minute webinar Creating Podcasts in Class with K-12 administrator Mike Godsey. This webinar will show you how to create a podcast makerspace in your classroom.

For more in-depth podcasting professional development, we are offering a new PD opportunity in partnership with Soundtrap, delivered by experts in podcasting and public radio with flexible online sessions and personalized coaching for a teacher cohort. If you want to learn more or are interested, fill out this form.

Bookmark the permalink.

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5 Quick Summer Podcast PD Ideas - Listenwise Blog

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Summer is a great time for PD! While the sun is out, let's dive into one of the hottest trending topics in education, PODCASTING! Here are some quick ideas. If you have 5 minutes... 1. Watch the Soundtrap for Storytellers Crash Course from our partners at Soundtrap.

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Post below to share ways YOU have used podcasts in your class, ideas that you have, etc.

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Feel free to click the plus button below to add more suggestions!

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Feel free to click the plus button below to add more suggestions!

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The Rise of Podcasting and Storytelling INFOGRAPHIC - Listenwise Blog

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We've updated this info graphic with more recent data in August 2018. Find the updated one here.

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🤔Wondering how to use our new export to mp3 feature in your classroom?

We've got you covered with 1️⃣0️⃣ ideas💡including 

📢Podcasting
⏺Recording Class Discussions 
📖 & Narrating Google Slides

We can't wait to hear👂your ideas!  https://t.co/ZR19lBvgd0

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Make Lessons Even More Dynamic with Audio Files | Screencastify

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Audio files can be shared directly with your staff, and students and their families. students, staff, and families. Plus, you can add them to classroom materials you’ve already created. And, creating them is super simple!

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🤔Wondering how to use our new export to mp3 feature in your classroom?

We've got you covered with 1️⃣0️⃣ ideas💡including 

📢Podcasting
⏺Recording Class Discussions 
📖 & Narrating Google Slides

We can't wait to hear👂your ideas!  https://t.co/ZR19lBvgd0

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🤔Wondering how to use our new export to mp3 feature in your classroom?

We've got you covered with 1️⃣0️⃣ ideas💡including

📢Podcasting
⏺Recording Class Discussions
📖 & Narrating Google Slides

We can't wait to hear👂your ideas! https://t.co/ZR19lBvgd0
— Screencastify 🎬 (@Screencastify) June 3, 2019

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🤔Wondering how to use our new export to mp3 feature in your classroom?

We've got you covered with 1️⃣0️⃣ ideas💡including 

📢Podcasting
⏺Recording Class Discussions 
📖 & Narrating Google Slides

We can't wait to hear👂your ideas!  https://t.co/ZR19lBvgd0

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
🤔Wondering how to use our new export to mp3 feature in your classroom?

We've got you covered with 1️⃣0️⃣ ideas💡including 

📢Podcasting
⏺Recording Class Discussions 
📖 & Narrating Google Slides

We can't wait to hear👂your ideas!  https://t.co/ZR19lBvgd0

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
🤔Wondering how to use our new export to mp3 feature in your classroom?

We've got you covered with 1️⃣0️⃣ ideas💡including 

📢Podcasting
⏺Recording Class Discussions 
📖 & Narrating Google Slides

We can't wait to hear👂your ideas!  https://t.co/ZR19lBvgd0

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Have you wondered how to create podcasts with your students? Looking for podcasting project ideas?
You may be asking yourself these questions and we have the answers!

We are excited to release a new teacher's guide to get you started podcasting in your classroom or support your current podcasting efforts if you've already started. Learn the benefits of podcasting within this 12 page PDF resource.

Not only is podcasting fun to do, but podcasting supports important 21st century skills for communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Your students will love podcasting as a medium to tell their story and share their ideas, all while practicing their speaking and writing skills.

As teachers, this guide will empower you to use podcasting technology and will give you the resources to teach your students to be podcast writers, recorders, and producers.
What's included in this teacher podcasting guide?

Section 1 will explore the benefits of podcasting in your class.

Section 2 will explore how to use podcasts in your classroom: with sample classrooms podcasting lesson ideas, along with student podcast examples you can listen to.

Section 3 will walk you through how to teach through a podcast lesson. This section will provide a step-by-step walkthrough on how to structure a podcasting lesson in class and the tools your students can use for producing and publishing a podcast.

Use this guide to get started podcasting in class, or explore more advanced podcasting lesson ideas and topics along with the podcasting tools to get you started. Whether you are a beginner or have already taught podcasting in your classroom, this teacher's guide will have something for you.

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Download a Free Podcasting Guide: The Teacher's Guide to Podcasting in the Classroom - Listenwise Blog

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Have you wondered how to create podcasts with your students? Looking for podcasting project ideas? You may be asking yourself these questions and we have the answers! We are excited to release a new teacher's guide to get you started podcasting in your classroom or support your current podcasting efforts if you've already started.

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New research offers compelling evidence that suggests we should make more use of podcasts, while a podcast search engine makes it easy. Here are three curated lists that dovetail with this year's summer reading theme.

Imagine traveling with your students to the Moon or the Milky Way. Through stories, our imaginations can bring us to the far reaches of the cosmos-to discover what zero gravity would be like, to consider what it would take to build an outpost on Mars, and perhaps, to better understand how it might feel like to be a stranger in a strange land.

Stories, whether grounded here on Earth or in imaginary realms, are essential for learning and for building community. When we read about or listen to the experiences of others, we are empathizing; and as we learn about ourselves and others, we build narratives that propel us to act collectively and to solve complex problems.

This year's Collaborative Summer Library Program reading theme, A Universe of Stories, offers unlimited opportunities to connect with students and to build community. This summer is also the 50th anniversary of the July 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing. As you include related fiction and nonfiction titles on your summer reading lists, consider adding a listening guide that explores the theme and anniversary through podcasts. New research provides compelling reasons to recommend them, and our curated lists will get you, your students, and their families started.

Listening together

Unlike oral storytelling, or the radio programs of the past, podcasts can be delivered on-demand. According to a March 2019 Edison Report, the number of people who have listened to a podcast just topped 50 percent, and podcast content for kids continues to grow as creators are learning more about the way kids and families listen. In a survey conducted by Kids Listen, a grassroots organization dedicated to promoting high-quality audio for kids, responses indicate that when kids listen to podcasts, they listen to them over and over again. (Eighty percent reported listening more than once to an episode, while 20 percent listened to the same episode more than 10 times, vs adults who generally listen only once to an episode.)

But the most exciting findings are that 75 percent of the kids start a discussion about what they listened to, 58 percent quote or reenact a portion of the episode, and more than half request more information about what they learned.

Students interested in science, and particularly, space science, have hours of listening available to them. They can tune in to astronauts, scientists, and engineers talking about space exploration or listen to myths surrounding the Moon. Pique their and others' interest by sharing a podcast episode or two. For example, try introducing middle school students to "Margaret Hamilton - Apollo Mission" from Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli's Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls. When they ask for more information, point them to the library shelves for Dean Robbins's Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing or Dominica Di Piazza's Space Engineer and Scientist Margaret Hamilton, then encourage them to find out if their public library or community offers summer coding classes.

Curated playlists

While more people are becoming familiar with podcasts, another recent Edison report revealed that 65 percent of non-listeners don't know where to start. As teachers and librarians, we can help. A new search engine, Listen Notes, designed specifically for podcasts, is making it easier to create, curate, and share playlists for on-demand listening on topics from fictional stories and science to history and biography. Anyone can now put together and share a playlist based on topics covered in class or suggestions for summer (or anytime) listening .

Here are three curated playlists we've created using Listen Notes, inspired by this year's summer reading theme.

Elementary -This playlist contains 13 shows and approximately four hours of listening. Specific episodes include "How Was the Universe Created?" (But Why); "Earthrise: The Picture of Our Planet That Changed the World" (Brains On!); "Space Junk with John Crassidis" (The Show about Science); and "Curious About the Moon" (Curious Kid Podcast).

Middle School-History, literature, music, science, and storytelling are some of the subjects featured on this list, which includes such offerings as "Kennedy Announces Plan for Manned Moon Landing" (HistoryPod); "Jupiter's Moon Total Hits 79" (60-Second Science); "UFOs: What the Government Covered Up" (Science Vs.); and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Book Club for Kids). The full playlist contains 13 shows and approximately four hours of listening.

High School
Eight shows and seven hours of listening are offered on topics ranging from design and economics to history and technology. Episodes include "Apollo 8," Parts 1 & 2:" (NASA's Houston We Have a Podcast); "A Conversation with Dr. Mae Jemison" (StarTalk Radio); "Building 29" (Orbital Path); and "DIY Space Suit" (99% Invisible).

The importance of summer reading and learning can't be overestimated, and podcasts offer a powerful platform to help build bridges of interest and motivation for students that can guide their own learning after they leave the classroom. Step-by-step instructions on using Listen Notes, and tips on curating quality playlists follow.

Feel free to share our lists or to create lists of your own. Playlists can be created by teams or by students by using the "Contributors" function in Listen Notes. Enjoy exploring, curating, and sharing a Universe of Listening with your community.
Youth Technology Integration Consultant, Anne Bensfield, helps libraries and schools implement new models for innovation. Librarian and Buttons & Figs podcast creator, Pamela Rogers, inspires creative expression from elementary school kids by reading, writing and playing with words.
illustration iStock / Getty Images

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A Universe of Podcasts: A Summer Listening Guide for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students

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New research offers compelling evidence that suggests we should make more use of podcasts, while a podcast search engine makes it easy. Here are three curated lists that dovetail with this year's summer reading theme. Imagine traveling with your students to the Moon or the Milky Way.

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Listenwise News Bites is a current events podcast for young listeners featuring fun, interesting, relevant news stories that keep kids engaged, informed, and entertained. Veteran public radio journalist Monica Brady-Myerov poses thought-provoking questions following each news story that listeners can ponder or discuss with family members, teachers, or classmates. News Bites is produced by Listenwise, an award-winning learning platform using podcasts to improve students' listening and literacy skills in grades 2-12. In partnership with NPR and other podcast producers, Listenwise News Bites brings you the highest quality, most engaging audio news stories.

For more stories from the news selected for young listeners go to www.listenwise.com

Listenwise News Bites is a current events podcast for young listeners featuring fun, interesting, relevant news stories that keep kids engaged, informed, and entertained. Veteran public radio journalist Monica Brady-Myerov poses thought-provoking questions following each news story that listeners can ponder or discuss with family members, teachers, or classmates. News Bites is produced by Listenwise, an award-winning learning platform using podcasts to improve students' listening and literacy skills in grades 2-12. In partnership with NPR and other podcast producers, Listenwise News Bites brings you the highest quality, most engaging audio news stories.

For more stories from the news selected for young listeners go to www.listenwise.com

So accessible!

Engaging and appropriate news stories, with some educational instruction 👌a great listen!

First rate!

Always great content and educational for kids!

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‎Listenwise News Bites on Apple Podcasts

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‎Listenwise News Bites is a current events podcast for young listeners featuring fun, interesting, relevant news stories that keep kids engaged, informed, and entertained. Veteran public radio journalist Monica Brady-Myerov poses thought-provoking questions following each news story that listeners ca...

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🎧 Six Minutes is an addicting podcast drama–my 5th graders are obsessed! Read more: https://t.co/05wDeuVS4R

Make sure to start with Season 1, Episode 1 
https://t.co/KrfsrO1iIq

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🎧 Six Minutes is an addicting podcast drama–my 5th graders are obsessed! Read more: https://t.co/05wDeuVS4R

Make sure to start with Season 1, Episode 1 
https://t.co/KrfsrO1iIq https://t.co/tgHdS2ZPl6

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🎧 Six Minutes is an addicting podcast drama–my 5th graders are obsessed! Read more: https://t.co/05wDeuVS4R

Make sure to start with Season 1, Episode 1 https://t.co/KrfsrO1iIq pic.twitter.com/tgHdS2ZPl6
— Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent) May 17, 2019

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🎧 Six Minutes is an addicting podcast drama–my 5th graders are obsessed! Read more: https://t.co/05wDeuVS4R

Make sure to start with Season 1, Episode 1 
https://t.co/KrfsrO1iIq https://t.co/tgHdS2ZPl6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
🎧 Six Minutes is an addicting podcast drama–my 5th graders are obsessed! Read more: https://t.co/05wDeuVS4R

Make sure to start with Season 1, Episode 1 
https://t.co/KrfsrO1iIq https://t.co/tgHdS2ZPl6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
🎧 Six Minutes is an addicting podcast drama–my 5th graders are obsessed! Read more: https://t.co/05wDeuVS4R

Make sure to start with Season 1, Episode 1 
https://t.co/KrfsrO1iIq

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Do kids even enjoy podcasts? Lindsay Patterson wrote in Current that "kids are far from passive listeners. Podcasts are a perfect medium to engage children's natural curiosity, engagement and delight."
Molly Bloom, a producer of a kids podcast called seems to think so as well...

"There are a lot of kids who love . Kids are read stories that don't have pictures and they can follow it, easily," said Bloom. "So kids can definitely consume audio-only content and enjoy it. It engages their imagination in the way that watching a television program probably doesn't."

At Listenwise, most of our content is curated from NPR stories that is produced for an adult audience. The content and the vocabulary doesn't always fit a young audience below 5th grade - so we've compiled a list of educational podcasts for kids if you have a younger child who you want to teach listening! And we just partnered with Tumble, so we plan to have more Tumble curated content! Did we miss any of your favorites? Share with us in comments below-

Podcasts for Preschool to Elementary

Tumble: a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family. Hosted & produced by Lindsay Patterson (science journalist) & Marshall Escamilla (teacher).

Brains On!® a science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media. Co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, this podcast is appropriate for all ages.

The Radio Adventures of Eleanor Amplified: An adventure series for the whole family brought to you by WHYY. Eleanor is a radio reporter going after the big story, and she values good journalism, seeking the truth, and sparking conversation. Appropriate for all ages, but recommended for kids 8-12.

The Show About Science : Hosted by 6 year old Nate, each episode features interesting facts about science and interviews with scientists. From ants to evolution, Nate make science fun and approachable for both kids and adults alike.

Podcasts for Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers
These aren't curated specifically for the classroom, so it's always best to look into the content before you listen with your kids.

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Educational Podcasts for Kids - Listenwise Blog

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Do kids even enjoy podcasts? Lindsay Patterson wrote in Current that "kids are far from passive listeners. Podcasts are a perfect medium to engage children's natural curiosity, engagement and delight." Molly Bloom, a producer of a kids podcast called Brains On! seems to think so as well...

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Beyond the obvious convenience factor of listening on the go, what is it that makes some audio storytelling so engaging? And what happens in the brain when someone hears a really compelling story?

"A good story's a good story from the brain's perspective, whether it's audio or video or text. It's the same kind of activation in the brain," says Paul Zak, the director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University. Zak has studied how watching and listening to stories influence our physiology and behavior.

In a study published in The Annals of the New York Academy of Science in 2009, Zak and his colleagues had participants watch short video clips featuring an emotional or unemotional scene. Afterwards, they filled out a survey about their emotions, played a game designed to test their level of generosity toward a stranger, and had their blood drawn. Those who reported feeling empathy for the characters in the clip were found to have 47 percent more of the neurochemical oxytocin in their body than those who didn't feel empathetic toward the characters.

The researchers reason that experiencing tension in a story makes people feel stressed, which makes their bodies release the hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin. Since oxytocin has been shown to increase empathy in some experiments, when things get tense while listening to a story, reading a book, or watching a TV show or movie, you may begin to empathize with the characters and get "transported" into the story.

Which means, according to Zak, that the best stories will always have an increasing level of tension, and that there exists a type of universal story structure-one in which a protagonist faces some sort of stressful challenge or conflict-that draws attention because it's engaging emotionally and intellectually.

"What we have found in our research is that people require some sort of stressor, some sort of arousal response in the brain to have this type of narrative transportation where we begin to share the emotions of the characters in a story," Zak says. "It makes sense that we need some sufficient reason to have that response. Our brain is trying to save resources and energy and having this arousal response is costly. Therefore we only want to give attention to something when it matters, when there's something going on."

He describes transporting into a story as a "neuro ballet" in which the reader, viewer, or listener knows she's not physically part of the story, and yet she still physically responds to it in a way that can change her behavior in the future.

Since oxytocin has been shown to make people more sensitive to social cues, Zak says that stories that keep people's attention have to be character-driven. "You can tell a war story or something with a lot of action that will grab your attention," he says, "but you still need a personal story, someone to empathize with. We need to have that social aspect for it to resonate with us."

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This Is Your Brain on Podcasts: Why Audio Storytelling Is So Addictive

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Beyond the obvious convenience factor of listening on the go, what is it that makes some audio storytelling so engaging? And what happens in the brain when someone hears a really compelling story? "A good story's a good story from the brain's perspective, whether it's audio or video or text.

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28 Podcasts That Kids Will Love and Parents Can Tolerate

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Have you ever told someone, "Hey, I read that book!" then continued with a guilty, "...well, I listened to the audio version."

It's time to wash that guilt right out of your soul, because in this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and , talk about how our brains process information differently based on how we consume it.

When you read something, you are looking at symbols on a page, and your brain is busy filling in all the blanks. Like the sounds of the voices, the scene, the inflection, the deeper meaning, the plot, etc. When you're listening to something, a lot of those spaces are filled for you, and when you in turn watch something, even more things are put together for your brain.

What does this mean? Basically, the memories you form differ based on the way you consume information. None are necessarily better or worse for your brain, they're just different experiences.

Markman even sited an experiment, conducted in his lab, which shows that when we hear proverbs, like "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," you're more likely to connect this to other proverbs that have the same deeper meaning. When you read that "squeaky wheel" proverb, you're more likely to be reminded of proverbs that have wheels in them; your brain picks out the literal elements.

Why? It turns out that because you can't go back and re-read, when you listen you are more likely to extract the deeper meaning from things quicker.

So read, listen, watch, touch...it's all working your brain in different and wonderful ways. There's no need to be ashamed that you listened to the audio version of War and Peace - plus, it's lighter anyway.

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Why 'Reading' Audiobooks Isn't a Shortcut: Listening vs. Reading, and Your Brain

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Have you ever told someone, "Hey, I read that book!" then continued with a guilty, "...well, I listened to the audio version." It's time to wash that guilt right out of your soul, because in this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and , talk about how our brains process information differently based on how we consume it.

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* Other websites / apps may claim that they have way more than 3,181,881 podcasts in their database. This is because they inflate the number by including A LOT of 1) podcasts that were already deleted long time ago; 2) super low-quality podcasts (e.g., no episodes at all, only one 10-second episode in the RSS feed for testing, or machine-generated audio); 3) non-audio contents distributed via rss (e.g., RSS feeds with only PDF files, not audio). On the other hand, we deploy automatic scripts (24/7) and human moderators (daily) to clean up data. We try our best to minimize the number of such bad "podcasts" in our database.

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Listen Notes: The best podcast search engine

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The most comprehensive podcast database online. Discover best podcasts. Search podcast show notes and audio transcripts by people, places, or topics.

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Boosting Achievement Podcast: Carol Salva

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Boosting Achievement Podcast: Carol Salva

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SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+. AudiobookSYNC gives participants two thematically paired audiobooks each week.

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Listen to my podcast interview with Monica Brady-Meyerov (transcript):

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I have been a fan of public radio for decades. The quality of reporting, the depth of storytelling, the luxurious length of time spent on a single feature, it helps me to dig in, to learn with my senses, to actually care about a topic because I've gotten to know the people involved.

Every day, dozens of exceptional stories are published on public radio, and they have the potential to offer our students that same rich experience, helping them connect to the content in ways written text can't reach them. Imagine listening to an interview with Elie Wiesel when learning about the Holocaust, or having your study of the Civil Rights Movement include activist Franklin McCain's description of participating in a lunch counter sit-in. If you happen to catch a broadcast on a topic you're teaching, that's lucky. If not, you might try to find something in a station's website archives, but otherwise that outstanding content is tucked away, hard to find unless you know exactly what you're looking for.

Now that has changed. The people at Listenwise have made it their mission to bring public radio podcasts directly to the classroom. They curate a growing collection of professionally produced podcasts, organize and tag them into categories, and build a set of outstanding instructional resources around each one. With Listenwise, teachers can easily use podcasts as classroom texts, amplifying content and giving students practice in required listening skills.

Suppose I'm a science teacher wanting to teach about ecosystems. I can plug that term into the search bar on Listenwise, and I'll get a list of all the podcasts in their library that have some connection to ecosystems. Here's just part of my search results:

Let's say I choose the one about overfishing. When I click on that, I go to a page where the podcast itself is embedded in a player right on the page. I also get free resources to use with my students: a graphic organizer that helps students follow along as they listen plus a list of listening comprehension questions, so I can monitor whether students are really paying attention.

Notice that some of my search results were marked with a content area label, while others were called "Current Events." The Current Events stories, which are added every weekday, don't have the player embedded on the page; instead, these link right to the original podcast on the page of whatever public radio outlet originally produced them. Listening comprehension questions are provided for these as well.

So far, everything I've described is completely free, an excellent set of tools for finding just the right stories to complement your content. But Listenwise also has a premium subscription for schools and districts that offers so much more.

Listenwise Premium, which is only offered on a school-subscription basis, includes an incredible set of support materials and tools to help you and your students get the most from the podcast library. The supports include:

Interactive transcripts that allow students to read along with the podcast while they listen, highlighting each word as it is spoken. This offers incredible scaffolding for English language learners, not to mention any other student who just wants a little extra support. Because the vocabulary used in public radio reporting tends to be more challenging, seeing those words written down can go a long way toward boosting comprehension for any student.

Variable playback speed, giving students the option to play the podcast at its original speed or slowed down. This is another feature that's wonderful for English language learners.

Vocabulary lists defining key terms that appear in the podcast. The lists are divided into several tiers, which allows you to differentiate for students if desired.

Standards-aligned lesson plans for science, social studies, and English language arts, which help teachers build solid lessons to accompany each podcast. Lessons can also be searched for by standard.

Listen to this lesson on Child Soldiers here.

Another key feature of Listenwise Premium is the ability to create student accounts. This allows teachers to set up classes, assign podcasts to some or all of their students, customize lessons and discussion questions however they like, and assess student responses, all inside the Listenwise platform. Using the site this way makes the most of flipped or blended learning, allowing your students to consume content on their own and freeing you up to interact with students one-on-one or go more in-depth with class discussions of the content. This video demonstrates how to set up a lesson with Listenwise Premium:

Aside from the fact that public radio podcasts are superlative in quality and simply offer students a break from the way they typically consume content, these podcasts help teachers satisfy state and national standards that require students to develop listening skills. As a former English language arts teacher myself, I will admit that these were the standards that often got left behind. It was easy to find ways to have students work on writing, reading, and even speaking, but I rarely made time to explicitly teach listening skills, as the Common Core requires. Part of the reason for this oversight is that I didn't have a lot of materials available for listening practice. With the podcasts on Listenwise, such as the story about the Freedom Riders, or the legal impact of Upton Sinclair's book, The Jungle, that problem is solved.

We live in a time when digital content-in the form of text, video and audio-is available to us like never before. Still, we only have so many hours in a day to find the materials that are just right for our students; that lack of time can keep us doing the same things the same way. With a tool like Listenwise, you can easily bring your classroom into the 21st century without sacrificing time or quality. In fact, with the years of experience public radio stations already bring to the table, you get the high standards of old-school journalism delivered with high-tech efficiency; truly the best of both worlds. ♦

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Listenwise: Bringing World-Class Podcasts to the Classroom

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Listen to my podcast interview with Monica Brady-Meyerov (transcript): This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. I have been a fan of public radio for decades.

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Creating Podcasts in Class - 2017 Webinar

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https://learn.mote.com/podcasting-with-mote/

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Fostering Creativity with Audio

Podcasting in the classroom is a creative outlet that educators can leverage to allow students to share their thinking, tell a unique story and express their perspective through the creative use of audio. Traditionally, podcasting is a relatively complex and often a multi-step process that requires not only planning for content, but a comfort level with capturing audio, editing and publishing. For some the technical process may be too great a barrier to provide students with the opportunity to express themselves through audio.

Mote in Google Slides is the ideal solution that allows students to create micro-podcasts. Instead of getting bogged down with the technical barriers, by using Mote in 90 second audio clips to act as the single podcasting tool, the barrier to entry for classroom creation is lowered, increasing accessibility for all students to create.

Check out the full video walk-through on the purpose, setup and process of creating micro-podcasts with Mote.

The team at Mote has created a micro-podcasting template in Google Slides that can be used as a turn-key solution that allows students to begin creating multi-episode podcasts today!

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Fostering Creativity with Audio Podcasting in the classroom is a creative outlet that educators can leverage to allow students to share their thinking, tell a unique story and express their perspective through the creative use of audio. Traditionally, podcasting is a relatively complex and often a multi-step process that requires not only planning for content,...