Teaching with Podcasts: Designing a Podcast Assignment

For even a short few minutes long recording, students will need several hours of planning, recording, and editing to produce high-quality podcasts. When designing a podcast assignment, consider providing students the training resources linked below or dedicating class time to learn, review, and practice aspects of podcasts so students are not overwhelmed working on their audio project.

In creating a podcast, students will need to be familiar with the following skills: 

Types of Podcasts

With so many different types of podcasts - from interview podcasts to scripted fiction - it's important for students to recognize that different genres of podcasting requires different skills and approaches to planning, recording, and editing. Have students familiarize themselves with various forms of podcasts to prepare them for planning out and recording their own.

Scripting and Planning 

Even before getting in front of the microphone, students will need dedicated time to prepare and plan an outline of their podcast. Give students time in class or on their own to discuss the need for planning and strategies to draft a outline.

• Creating a Podcast Outline
  Tips and examples for students to begin crafting a written podcast outline.
• Podcast Outline Template for Students
  Good example for how student can layout their podcasting before recording.
• Podcast Planner for Beginners
  A simple how-to guide for scripting podcasts.

Recording 

With the amount of preparation in planning a podcast episode, recording can sometimes be an afterthought. Helping students understand the technical requirements of recording audio is important to help them smoothly translate a well-thought script into an engaging audio experience for their audience.

• How to Get the Best Sounding Audio for Your Podcast in Audacity
  Instructions on how to record the best audio quality in Audacity.

Audio Editing and Mixing 

Understanding how to use audio editing and mixing technology is crucial to producing an accessible and engaging podcast especially with how time consuming the process is.

• A Beginner's Guide to Editing a Podcast.
  Medium Article (2024). Provides feedback on a range of editors along with images and instructions
• Audacity Support Tutorials
  Suite of videos on a range of editing and mixing tasks available in Audacity, the software we recommend for beginners.
• 8 Steps of Podcast Audio Mixing 
  NPR Training Series. Eight-step directed instructions with videos for how to 1) Organize, 2) Rough in levels, 3) Determine if you need to EQ, 4) Determine if you need to use compression, 5) Check edits and fades, 6) Fine-tune levels, 7) Balance ambience and music and 8) Listen to the mix.

The Innovation Hub has Audacity and Adobe Audition for students to edit and mix their recorded audio.

Copyright

Using short snippets or copyrighted material, publishing it non-commercially, or giving credit to the copyright owner does not absolve creators from being held liable for infringing upon a copyrighted owner's work. Especially if student are publishing their podcasts outside of the classroom, they need to understand basic copyright laws and fair use to ensure they are compliant with owners' copyright. Using creative commons and public domain audio can allow students to include music, sound effects, or other audio clips without infringing upon others' copyright.

• How to Avoid Copyright Infringement on Podcasts
  Applicable guidelines and strategies to ensure your podcast avoids copyright infringement.
• Resources for Public Domain & Creative Commons Audio
  A list of resources from our Student Podcasting guide that provides audio not restricted by copyright use.

Breaking the assignment into multiple phases helps to ensure that students are provided opportunities to learn and develop the various skills required to produce an engaging, informative podcast. See the outlines below for some examples.

Short (1 week; 1-2 class sessions)

• The One-Minute Podcast Assignment:
  Students conduct a 3-minute interview to create a 1-minute, mini-podcast. Emphasis is on the process of creation, not the final product.
• Using Podcasting in the Classroom: 5 Activities and Recommendations 
  Emphasizes listening and analyzing podcasts, versus creation (could be used in tandem with podcast creation assignments).

Medium (3 weeks; multiple class sessions)

• Podcast Assignment:
  Students create a 5-7 minute podcast based on an academic journal article of choice. Scaffolded over three weeks, students also learn how to summarize, storyboard and outline, and reflect on the planning process. 

Long (4 weeks or longer; can be adapted for mini-sessions)

• Teaching Podcasting: A Curriculum Guide for Educators:
  Over 8 class sessions, students study previously published podcasts, develop an outline on their topic, learn how to integrate existing sound and music in their storytelling, practice interviewing, recording, and finally editing their podcast. 
• Project Audio: Teaching Students How to Produce Their Own Podcasts:
  As scaffolding for a final 5-minute podcast and a series of 1-minute mini-podcasts, students study the various types of podcasts and practice interviewing their classmates before planning for their produced podcast. 

All the above example assignments and lesson plans can be adapted, shortened, or lengthened to fill your unique time-restraints and needs of your course.

Using structured rubrics that clearly outline expectations for students' podcast taking into account the multiple stages and elements of the podcast creation process ensures students are set up to succeed. See the rubrics below for some examples.

• Podcast Rubric Example by Georgetown University Libraries

  A comprehensive rubric that covers elements including planning, direction, sound design, editing, attribution and documentation.

• Podcast Rubric Example by Pacific Lutheran

  A rubric that emphasizes elements including format, content, delivery and technical production