Podcasting: Pedagogy

Why Do our Stories Matter?

45 minutes

• Reflect on the mission of StoryCorps
• Reflect on stories recorded by other students
• Reflect on the power of sharing personal stories and listening to others' stories
• Reflect on the question, "What makes a story important?"
• Applicable Common Core Standards

Tips for Effective Interviews

45 minutes

• Learn tips for effective interviews
• Practice asking effective questions by conducting an interview with a peer
• Applicable Common Core Standards

The Power of Active Listening

45 minutes

• Reflect on the power of listening to others
• Reflect on the power of being listened to 
• Understand and define "active listening"
• Learn and practice active listening techniques

Strengths in Our Stories

45 minutes

• Understand what personal assets are
• Identify and illustrate personal assets
• Applicable Common Core Standards

Power of People from Our Pasts

45 minutes

• Reflect on important people from one's past and the impact they've had on one's life
• Applicable Common Core Standards

The Great Thanksgiving Listen

2-5 hours in class, 1-3 hours outside of class

• Learn about StoryCorps and the interview concept
• Use question to develop a story and articulate a shared experience
• Create a primary source using technology (and enter it into the historical record)
• Write archive-quality titles, summaries, and key words
• Applicable Common Core Standards

Part I: Podcasts and Storytelling

• Analyze the elements and techniques of podcasting
• Analyze the elements and techniques of storytelling
• Students practice telling a story aloud (inspired by The Learning Network's story ideas)

Part II: Podcasts and Interviewing

• Analyze and practice effective interviewing techniques (refer to Radio Rookies video)
• Examine the elements of an interview
• Practice using a smartphone to record

Part III: Podcast Editing

• Delete sections of audio
• Move audio segments around
• Stitch audio segments together
• Add additional sounds
• Fade audio in and out
• Save and export an audio file
• Turn a three-minute recorded interview into a one-minute audio story

Part IV: Producing a Podcast

• Come up with a topic (choose one question to address during the podcast)
• Create a plan (what components do the students need for their podcast?)
• Gather audio source material
• Edit and publish the podcast (see Ms. Bannerman's podcasting class on SoundCloud)