What is it?
A podcast is a series of online audio files you can subscribe to. Educational podcasts come in many different forms, e.g.:
- Lectures
- Interviews and dialogues (where a specific theme is discussed or explored with an expert in the field, or perhaps a student interviewing a teacher)
- Monologues (e.g. explaining scientific research or “real-life case studies”)
- Student productions (using podcasts as a medium for hand-in assignments).
In this video you can follow a podcast recording followed by a discussion (at 45:30) of the educational advantages of the medium:
What is the value?
The primary benefit of podcasting is that the material are online and can be accessed and listened to anywhere – “on the go”-learning. Podcasting allows you to convey many types of academic information – formal or informal. It’s easy to get started with podcasting, and the medium can add variety to a course and support learning between lectures or classes.
Examples
If you haven’t heard a podcast before, try listening to some. Here are a few of our favourites:
You can subscribe and listen to podcasts on your computer or in a podcast app on your phone (Podcasts, Pocketcast etc).
Before recording your podcast we recommend writing a manuscript of what you plan to say. Podcasts can have recurring elements that catch the listener’s ear – so bear this in mind when writing your script. Here is a suggestion for how to structure your content.
- Audio – Start your podcast with a short intro jingle. You’ll find intro/outro music at jamendo.com. Use a fade effect between tracks to make your podcast sound more professional. Abrupt stops and starts in music or background sounds ruin the flow.
- Intro – Start with a brief introduction to the current episode, explaining who you are and what you’ll be talking about. Explain the relevance of the subject matter, why you produced the podcast, or why it’s important for the students to know about the subject.
- Subject – Now it’s time for your main subject. We recommend that you set the scene by outlining the theme and explaining where the podcast is being recorded. If you have guests, get them to introduce themselves.
- Background music – Use background sounds or music to set the scene. For instance, if your podcast is set in a hospital, use sounds from machines or background chatter from patients. If it’s set outdoors, use sounds like birds or traffic.
You can find appropriate audio files with sound effects at freesound.org
- Outro – At the end of your podcast, summarise, briefly review what you’ve covered and say goodbye.
- Audio file – Play the same audio file (5–10 seconds) that you used for your intro.
It is extremely important to keep reinforcing the what/where/whom/why of your podcast, because it is via your voice that listeners navigate through the material.
Get the best audio quality you can:
As podcasting is an audio medium the sound quality is extremely important. Use the best microphone you have access to, interview people in quiet settings as background noise can not be edited out afterwards. Always record a short test sample and listen to it, before recording a full take. Soft furniture, curtains and duvets soften the sound and make things sound better than sharp edges and bare walls.
Which Software Should I choose?
The best software for creating your own podcast is Audacity, which is available for free at: http://audacityteam.org/
Getting started:
Quick guide to creating a podcast with Audacity
