The use of podcasts as a learning tool has significantly risen in recent years. Not only are they a medium of communication and entertainment, but they can also provide easier access to education.
Wide Range of Topics
The possibilities are endless when it comes to podcast topics. From technology to buying a house, there are thousands of educational podcasts available at the tap of a screen.
The EdTech Podcast discusses education and technology, covering digital strategies, skill development, AI and more. The host has several years of experience in the field, and each episode is around 30 minutes long.
The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast seeks to reignite motivation and passion within one's career growth. It helps educational leaders shape their facilities and advance their careers. This podcast also includes mental health and self-care content meant for leaders and heads of education.
The Knowledge Project Podcast focuses on interviews with professionals to analyze problems. The episode lengths range from under an hour to over two-and-a-half hours. It covers various topics, such as personal confidence, decision-making and the difference between talent and success.
Even podcasts that are not specifically made to be educational can feature learning content. The Broski Report is a comedic podcast, but it also occasionally features clumps of random information as its host, Brittany Broski, travels down various rabbit holes, researching her spontaneous questions in real-time. She sometimes ponders online discourse as well, diving further into popular topics of the time.
Overall, there are many ways to learn while listening to a podcast, even if the show itself is not meant to be educational.
Listening vs. Reading
The brain handles written and spoken information differently. According to Listening, reading utilizes visual processing while listening uses auditory processing. These separate pathways change the way we learn and retain information.
Reading allows one to control the pace, as it is an option to pause and revisit content if needed. This allows for a deeper analysis of complex ideas. However, the listening pace is set by the speaker, and information is presented linearly.
Although the spoken language is more conversational and, therefore, simpler, listening has unique benefits, specifically in emotional connection and engagement. A speaker's voice can use tones and inflections that cannot be included in the written word.
Realistically, both reading and listening have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of learning styles and retention. For those who learn better through sound, podcasts can be highly engaging and allow one to multitask.
Supplement to Formal Education
Podcasts are often used for entertainment, but educators have started to use them in addition to class content. Podcasts are useful for classroom assignments and community-building.
Recently, podcasts have been adopted in place of written assignments. Students can submit podcasts as responses, reflections or peer revisions under the guidelines of the instructor. Many times, this looks like simply recording an audio note on one's phone and submitting it online as normal coursework.
Podcasts can also be useful for increasing engagement outside of the classroom. According to Stanford Teaching Resources, a professor generated a list of podcast episodes to give to students, allowing them to listen to the podcast while walking or sitting outside of class. When students returned to class, she allowed them time to reflect and discuss the content.
AI and Learning
AI can also be used to enhance podcast content and engagement. By analyzing listening habits and engagement metrics, podcasters gain insights that allow them to tailor their content more effectively. AI can allow for personalized episode recommendations, enhancing the listening experience and deepening the emotional connection with the podcast.
Resources like Buzzsprout's Cohost provide AI resources for podcasters. Using AI in podcasting creates a shift to more data-informed content strategies, which allows podcasters to improve quality and engagement.
There are many other ways AI can improve podcasts, including podcast transcription, interactive content and accessibility features.
Accessibility and Flexibility
Podcasts can be consumed almost anywhere and anytime. Listeners can access their favorite shows during their commute to work or while on the treadmill at the gym, or download episodes and listen to them whenever they wish.
Creating a podcast is easy and affordable compared to traditional forms of media, making it an accessible platform for new perspectives. Furthermore, there is a wide range of topics catering to various interests from sports to politics.
There are also no time limits for podcasts, allowing them to be as short or long as the content needs. This enables podcasters to keep conversations authentic and connect with audiences engagingly. Sound effects and music make podcasts more interesting than other forms of learning.
According to Listening Dog Media, podcasts are primarily listened to alone, which makes them more intimate as the listener feels more connected to the story than they would in a different medium.
The Future of Podcasts in Education
Educational podcasts are currently in high demand, and according to Podsqueeze, 74% of podcast listeners said they tuned in to get new knowledge in 2019. By 2023, that number had grown to 88%.
Video podcasts in particular have higher episode listens and retention, according to Spotify. According to Warc, about one-third of American listeners prefer watching podcasts as opposed to just listening. 50% of listeners said the hosts' and guests' facial expressions and reactions are a key factor in maintaining focus.
