How to Assign a Podcast for a Class

1. Design the Assignment

Tell students what kind of podcast you want them to make, and list the requirements

Options for types of audio they could be asked to include:

  • an introduction and/or personal narration

  • archival (or already recorded) audio

  • original interviews

  • sound effects

List available resources

Does your institution have access to recorders, microphones, editing software, etc.? If so, direct them to these resources. If not, tell them what equipment they can use for free (cell phone, Audacity, etc. — see resources section.

Provide examples of podcasts they should listen to for reference

If you are unsure, see the examples I have provided on the resources page.

List the deliverables they will need to submit, which could include

  • Audio of the podcast

  • Script of the podcast

  • Working files

  • Original interviews (audio or transcripts)

Tell them how to submit

  • Email?

  • Content management system (Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, etc.)?

  • Google Drive?

Check out the resources page for a sample assignment and rubric I designed following these principles!

 2. Teach students to make the podcast

Set aside 1-2 classes to teach the skills required. Tell students to bring headphones (and dongle, if they don’t have a standard headphone jack) to both classes.

Suggested scaffolding for 2-class version:

Class 1

  • Get students to listen to a few different podcast clips, identify characteristics of the genre

  • Teach them the basic principles of conducting and recording an interview

  • Show them how to record audio in their phones and/or familiarize them with the Zoom recorders

  • Get them to record a short interview with a classmate on their phone, swap partners, then upload their interview into the cloud. They can use this audio in Class 2.

  • Teach them how to upload their first recording into Audacity*

  • Teach them to find music and effects*

*Could be saved for Class 2

Class 2

  • Conduct Audacity tutorial. Note that you will have to familiarize yourself with the basic functions of Audacity, listed below. You can then get students to practise

    • Uploading multiple tracks

    • Isolating different tracks

    • Zooming in and out of the selection

    • Splitting and moving audio

    • Recording audio directly into Audacity

    • Changing volume of different tracks

Note that there are YouTube videos that you can show instead of having to demo these skills yourselves. You can start and stop the video so that students can practise the skills in real time. There is also an Audacity Wiki you can refer to for help.