Podcasts

 The Age of Podcasts

Podcasts are becoming very popular. You can now find podcasts on any topic and for any interest that the listener may have. At a time when the world seems to be on the go, it is nice to be able to pause sometimes and listen to topics, new concepts, reviews, and suggestions of choice. Podcasts can also be used in classrooms and maybe a way to go as education seems to be leaning toward a hybrid of virtual and in-person sessions. 

I never saw myself as someone who could actually record and create a podcast, but it is not as difficult to do as it seems. There are great applications and sites which make it easy for anyone to join the vlogging world. I would recommend that you play around with podcast platforms. Become familiar with them because some are more user-friendly than others. As I played around with a few platforms, I noticed that I was drawn to some more than others. Additionally, I had previously created a podcast and later found that I had to go back and really look through various sections to understand how to edit my material. Overall, I have enjoyed creating vlogs and seeing how powerful they can be in a school setting. 

Three of the podcasting sites I have used or played around with are: Podbean, Anchor, and Buzzsprout. They are fairly easy to work with and user-friendly. They were all easy to set up, but one difference that I noticed, was that Buzzsprout walked you each step of the way to set it up. The other two sites did too, but I found that Buzzsprout was a bit easier to follow. Anchor is a blogging platform by Spotify which I had previously used. I liked it but ultimately selected to go with Podbean because I feel comfortable with it, it is very easy to use and I was easily able to collaborate to record a podcast. Click on the link to listen to our podcast.

https://www.podbean.com/ei/pb-7a9tb-1306748

Podbean made it very easy to collaborate and work together at a distance. I would highly recommend it and continue to use it. It even allows you to edit, if needed, and you select from a variety of introductory music. You are walked through every step of the way and once you are ready to publish, you simply wait a few minutes, merge the recording you will receive with your partner's voice, and the recording will be ready. 

You can easily find different educational podcasts by simply searching your apps, like Podbean, for specific educational needs. You will be able to select what podcasts you choose to follow. Additionally, you are able to see who published each episode and the topics. Another way you can find educational podcasts is by simply searching the web. You will get a varied list of suggestions from educators who are experienced with using and listening to podcasts. 

I love the flexibility that they offer. You can listen to podcasts anywhere. I have found that I even enjoy listening to podcasts or audiobooks while running. Unlike audiobooks, I love that listening to podcasts allows you to further listen to more episodes that relate to the topic you are listening to. This invites the listener to follow podcast channels and continue to be a listener if they are interested. Go ahead and try it! Create your podcast. Your listeners are waiting!