Distance Learning, mLearning, Digital Education, Technology

Do you like podcasts? Chances are, either you or someone you know is a fan of listening to podcasts. According to a 2018 Nielsen study, not only is the number of people listening to podcasts growing rapidly, but the level of engagement is also increasing.

Podcasts and education go hand in hand!

This guide will help you understand what podcasts are, why they’re popular, and how to access or create your own podcasts. We’ve also included a PDF with 50 ideas for student created podcasts.

"I just learned that New York City doesn’t actually have alleys. Okay, they have a few private alleys. However, after listening to the latest 99% Invisible podcast, I learned that the idea of alleys throughout NYC is a bit of a myth. Does this matter? Probably not. But it’s what I love about podcasts. I love the surprise of learning random historical facts on Hardcore History or rethinking creativity from 99% Invisible. In other words, I love geeking out.

But it’s more than that. My favorite podcasts push my thinking and help me see things from a new perspective. I discover new frameworks and blueprints. They can be purely geeky or imminently practical.

As a former teacher and current professor, I’ve spent years having students create podcasts. While the platforms and audiences have evolved, I love the idea of students sharing their voice with an audience."

Audacity is a free, open-source program for recording and editing audio. It's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. For classroom podcasting projects or other classroom audio recording projects, it is hard to beat Audacity. The only trouble is that it can feel a bit overwhelming the first time that you open it up on your desktop. Fortunately, there is no shortage of YouTube videos that will show you everything you need to know and then some.