Jeffrey Daniel Frey’s Blog

Most podcast directories use the term “educational” to be anything that supposedly teaches you something. Their idea of an educational podcast can be anything from “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Writing” to a “Hockey-site where you’ll find all the information you need to succeed in professional hockey.” At educational institutions, however, there is a higher standard set for things termed educational.

I’ve compiled a short list of sample podcasts that are being used for, and in, established educational environments. Since there is always a push by educational institutions to find effective new ways for people to learn, maybe reviewing a few of these will spark some ideas on how you could be using podcasts.

Prior to checking the podcasts out, read this article by Will Richardson called “The New Face of Learning.” He poses the question… what happens to time-worn concepts of classrooms and teaching when we can now go on-line and learn anything, anywhere, anytime?

• Apple profile of Wells Elementary School in Maine: http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/wells/
• WillowWeb is a podcast for kids by the students at Willowdale Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska: http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/listen.html
• Jamestown Elementary School: http://slapcast.com/users/jamestown
• Chem241: Organic Chemistry I at Drexel University. Instructor: Jean-Claude Bradley: http://chem241.blogspot.com/
• Berkeley course content: http://itunes.berkeley.edu/
• Ideas for Math educators: http://www.mathgrad.com/foreducators.html
• Another Apple profile, this time of the University of Wisconsin-Madison: http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/wisconsin-madison/
• Podcasting for Teachers as a podcast about Podcasting in Education: http://www.podcastforteachers.org/ subscribe at http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/4777
  They also publish a pretty good list of podcasts from educators: http://www.podcastforteachers.org/Who’sUsingPodcastingInEducationAndHow.htm

As much as listening to what other people have done can help formulate your own ideas of what to do and how, there is no substitute for someone who has done it before and can help advise on what you are doing / would like to do. Some of the individuals running the sites listed in this bullet list are very willing to talk about the ideas and issues surrounding podcasting in education. I recommend you seek counsel prior to starting your podcast.