Podcast PD Week 3 - What IS a Podcast?

As educators, many of us have made mistakes. Some mistakes may have been big and others were so inconsequential they went unnoticed. I am starting this post with an apology for a mistake I have made with Podcast PD (I am sad to say this is not the first time I have made this error in my teaching career). What is that mistake? I assumed you, the reader, knew what a podcast is. BIG mistake on my part! And I'm sorry. As with any new material we introduce in the classroom, we need to be sure that our students and /or our audience has a cursory understanding of the new concept being taught. We need to provide definitions for new vocabulary. In my excitement to share podcasts with you, I neglected to give you a definition for the term podcast. This week I will right that wrong. I have solicited the definition for the word podcast from those who are involved in podcasting. Here are the definitions I received from three amazing talents in podcasting:

Angela Watson - "I define podcasts as an online talk radio show you can download and take with you wherever you go."

Jeff Bradbury - "The term “Podcast” originated with the combination of the words “iPod” and “Broadcast.” Originally this was designed to describe a piece of digital media (audio or video) that was distributed by an RSS feed.  A Video is only a video.  An audio file is only an audio file.  It is only when you place that file on a feed where the content can be searched for and SUBSCRIBED TO when the “cast” part comes in. Creating a movie on an iPad and calling it a “Podcast” is like going to the office and making a “Xerox” when you are really making a copy.  We as educators are mislabeling the term and it is being watered down."

Chris Nesi - "A podcast (video/audio) is content that a user subscribes to and receives automatically. Content is released on a regular schedule to the consumer. Podcasts express the passions of their creators for the benefit of their audience who will share the same interests and passion."

I hope that these definitions help shed some light on what a podcast is and isn't. I also hope that you have subscribed to one of the podcasts I have mentioned in my first and second posts. If not, there's always this week's recommendation, which brings you two podcast!

This week I offer you two podcasts:

EdTech You Should Know and Instructional Tech Talk with Jeff Herb (@InstTechTalk) and Jon Samuelson (@jonsamuelson)

Jeff Herb produces two wonderful EdTech podcasts (along with co-hosting at least one more-TechEducator Podcast). He is a wonderfully knowledgeable host with a voice well suited for a professional radio gig. EdTech You Should Know brings you one tech tool each episode. The shows are short (4-15 minutes), but include a wealth of information! The longer format of Instructional Tech Talk offers the same listening experience as The House of #EdTech, with interviews, Twitter recommendations and a plethora of knowledge. Episodes range from 16 - 69 minutes. The show was on a brief hiatus, but is back with new cohost, Jon Samuelson, and a new app recommendation, Periscope.

Tips and Tricks

Make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing to your favorite podcast. Every time a new episode is released, it will automatically be added to your podcast catcher. Also, Start from the beginning, as many podcasters refer back to previous episodes and previous content. It's like starting with season one of a new TV series-by subscribing and starting at the beginning of a podcast, you can binge on the episodes like you might a new Netflix show.

Be sure to join me on Twitter Sunday evening for the 4th week of #PodcastPD

Podcast PD Week Two - Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Last Friday, April 3rd, I introduced the weekly series, Podcast PD and charged you with exploring educational podcasts as a way to leverage your learning in a nontraditional learning environment. I hope many of you accepted the challenge and downloaded a podcast and listened to a whole episode. I heard from a number of you that you had never explored podcasts in general, let alone educational podcasts. The feedback I received via Twitter was positive. Teachers throughout my PLN (Professional Learning Network) shared their adventures in subscribing and listening to something new. Some asked questions. Others shared their love for podcasts and made recommendations for radio shows to which they subscribe. Still others shared their experiences being interviewed for a podcast! Overall the Twitter conversation that transpired was inspiring. The conversation was so motivating and connected so many people, I decided to capture the conversation using the amazing site Storify.  I hope that you are inspired to try a new podcast this week!

This week I recommend Angela Watson’s Truth for Teachers with Angela Watson (@Angela_Watson)

Angela packs a lot of power and punch into her quick (think 9-14 minutes) weekly episodes! Topics range from beating the Sunday night blues to how to approach teaching with a spirit of adventure to how to cope when a parent just doesn’t like you. Her advice is spot on and applicable to the novice and not so novice teacher. I like to listen to her podcasts Monday morning on my way to school as a way to charge the batteries for the week ahead. Her encouragement and take away truth really set a positive tone. Angela signs off on each episode by saying “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.”, a quote from Art Williams. I can assure you that her podcast is worth it! For more information about Angela and Truth for Teachers visit Angela’s website at The Cornerstone For Teachers.

Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most PD From Your Podcast Listening Experience

As I mentioned at the start of this post, ideas were flying around Twitter on Friday evening after a friend posted that she had downloaded and listened to her first podcast and was hooked. As we started discussing future shows to explore and others joined our conversation, the idea for a new Twitter chat was born. Please join me Sunday evening at 8:30 pm EDT for #PodcastPD. There we will discuss the learning that is taking place as we step into the virtual classrooms of some amazing podcast hosts. I hope to see you Sunday night at 8:3o!

Podcast PD-A Series Exploring the Infinite Resources Available Over the Air Waves

As teachers we often find ourselves stuck in the rut of attending traditional Professional Development (faculty meetings, in district PD, out of district workshops, morning shares and lunch & learns). In the ever evolving educational world in which we live there are myriad ways to expand your learning: from Edcamps and unconferences, to weekend workshops and week long seminars, to books, blogs and webinars. One of my favorite ways to develop professionally is to listen to an educational podcast.

Apple's Podcast App 

A quick search in iTunes, Stitcher or Google will show you that educators are taking to the mic and broadcasting their expertise beyond the classroom. Educational podcasts are the NEW PD. New content is generally created on a weekly or biweekly basis and topics range from information as specific as educational technology to broader topics like educational truths.

It is my intention to explore one new podcast and offer tips and tricks for how you can make podcast listening a worthwhile source of professional PD.

The House of #EdTech with Chris Nesi

This week I bring you The House of #EdTech with Christopher Nesi (@mrnesi)

The House of #EdTech was my first experience with educational podcasts and is still one of my favorites! Chris releases new content every other week and the information he shares “explores how technology is changing the way teachers teach and the impact that technology is having in education.” His episodes include an interview with a leader, teacher or creator in educational technology (I am always left wanting more), an ed tech thought, an ed tech recommendation (an app or other edtech tool), and the House of #EdTech VIP (I have expanded my Twitter PLN with Chris’ list of VIPs!). Episodes range from 18 - 64 minutes. For more information about The House of #EdTech, visit http://www.chrisnesi.com

Tips and Tricks for Getting Started (using Apple's Podcast App)

1. Download and/or open your podcast app (as an Apple Girl, I use Podcast).
2. Search for the specific podcast you you want to download (this week I recommend the House or #EdTech), or search using key words (educational technology, reading, math, grammar, etc.)
3. Click on the cloud next to the episode you want to download or click on the podcast "Cover Art" for a list of podcast episodes and click on the cloud of episodes you wish to explore.
4. Go back to My Podcasts, select the podcast you just downloaded and then select the specific episode.

Happy Listening!

I'm an Apple Girl-
all podcast links direct to iTunes

I hope you join me each week as as I explore one podcast from my list and offer advice for how you can leverage podcasts to enhance your own professional and personal learning. This is an abbreviated list of what’s currently on my podcast app and what's to come in future posts. 
What podcasts are you listening to? Do you have any favorites? Tell me in the comments below.