Podcasts

 Podcasts-What They Are All About: 

I thought it was interesting what Dr. Lesesne said in her blog regarding listening to an audiobook instead of reading it. Comparing audio books to cheating is like meeting a friend at Disneyland and saying they cheated because they took a bus there and you drove yourself. The point is getting to and enjoying the destination, not how you travel. However, you notice different things when you listen to an audiobook versus reading the text. Listening to the audio of a book and expanding into the world of podcasts has many benefits for students in the classroom and library. The act of listening to a good narrative helps students become better learners. Podcasts are a screen-free, movement-enabling, ear-stimulating, and eye-opening way to deliver content. Research tells us that better listeners are better readers, also that listening while reading improves text reading rates and leads to higher comprehension. Listening to stories helps students hear grammar and syntax and understand how stories work. 


Different ways podcasts can be used in the library or classroom are to have students create a podcast about current events and play it during the morning announcements at school. Students can also discuss a book they read or create a podcast of book reviews for others. Librarians can use podcasts to share author interviews with students. As with anything used in an educational setting, you would have to approve the content students will be listening to or creating before it is published. If the students are new to podcasting, there will be a learning curve, and you will have to teach some minilessons on how to speak on a podcast, the editing, and other details that go into making a podcast. If students listen to a podcast, you will ensure it relates to their current curriculum.  


Educational podcasts are easy to find. I read different librarians’ blogs to find out which podcasts they recommend. School Library Journal created a poster about the podcasts they love in their May 2021 edition. 2105-Kidcast-Classroom-Ready-Podcast.pdf Listenwise is an online platform with podcast lessons and listening comprehension questions afterward. Their collection of podcasts is over 2500 and they are all curriculum aligned for grades 2-12. Pinna can also be used by educators to find podcasts for students ages 3-13. There is a free option as well as a paid, ad-free version to choose from.   
 
 

Podcasting Platforms- 


  • Buzzsprout: 

Pros: User-friendly interface, a great option for new podcasters, 90-day free trial, plans starting at $12/month, provides detailed analytics, allows you to schedule episodes in advance, automatic episode transcription, integration with popular third-party services like Slack and Zapier, ability to distribute your podcast to multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts 

Cons: More expensive compared to other platforms, limited upload times for cheaper plans  

 

  • Anchor: 

Pros: Free platform, offers advanced features while providing a simple, streamlined interface, great if you are on a budget, ability to distribute your podcast to multiple platforms, automatic episode transcription, built-in tools for recording, editing, and mixing audio, integration with popular third-party services like Spotify and Soundcloud 

Cons: Limited podcast analytics compared to other platforms, no monetization options, or advanced features unless you are accepted into the Anchor Partner Program 


  • Podbean 

Pros: Unlimited storage and bandwidth, detailed analytics, the ability to monetize your podcast, offer a free plan, paid plans starting at $9/month, provides customizable podcast templates, built-in audio editor and voice effects, ability to distribute podcast to multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google, integration with popular third-party services like Amazon Alexa and PowerPress 

Cons: Some of the interfaces are difficult to navigate, and the free plan has limited features 

 

My partner and I chose Anchor, which has recently collaborated with Spotify, as the platform to use to create our podcast. We appreciated how easy it was to create an account and start a podcast episode immediately. They also offer free music and sound effects that can be added to your recording. Each of these platforms has its own unique strengths, so it will depend on your individual needs and goals as to which one is best for you.  

 

Podcast Episode:

Library Leaders Podcast


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