Podcasts in the Classroom

One of my favorite things for the car or home is being able to listen to a podcast. Podcasts are fantastic tools that can provide entertainment and educational opportunities for both students and adults. I have used podcasts in my classroom and my students have enjoyed having something relevant to talk about and listening to other opinions on the subject.

Due to my love of podcasts, I wanted to share with you some of the coolest podcasts that are out there. Below is a list and some descriptions of the podcasts.

What to Listen To: 

• Brains On - Brains On is a science podcast for kids. The crew at Brains On tackle issues dealing with many science topics, such as the internet and its impact, natural wonders at our National Parks, and a an episode called "Fire vs. Lasers." The show is designed with students in mind with episodes lasting from 10 minutes to 40 minutes in length. 
• Grammar Girl - "Your friendly guide to the world of grammar, punctuation, usage, and fun developments in the English language." Quick and Dirty Tips offers this 10 minute podcast on some of the coolest (or nuttiest) things about the English language. It is a fascinating listen even for those that are not obsessed with the nuiances of the English language. 
• Ted Radio Hour - The Ted Radio Hour brings some of the best Ted Talks from around the world to our devices so that we can listen. Episodes are built around specific topics and are offered in smaller chunks if you are so inclined. Share in some of the most thought provoking talks on the web. A current episode is devoted to the impact of screens on our lives. 
• Freakonomics - Freakonomics started as two guys, an economist and a journalist, writing a book that describes the fascinating ways that humans make decisions. It has since spiralled into three additional books, an illustrated volume, a podcast, and an ever growing blog. Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt take some of the most basic things in our world and explore the what really makes them work. 
• 99% Invisible - Roman Mars, who has an incredible Ted Talk about the design of flags, has an podcast that is dedicated to the simple design and design elements that make up our society. In his fascinating series, he talks about the items that are ubiquitous in our society, but are instrumental in the way things operate, work and look. His shows are around 30 minutes in length and are informative. This is one of my personal favorites. 
• Radiolab - Radiolab is broadcast from the studios of WNYC. This group explores a number of different topics, with a series on the Supreme Court of the United States and many science issues. This is a highly entertaining and informative podcast that all can enjoy. 
• Nova Science Now - PBS offers this companion podcast for their award winning series NOVA Science. These stories are short and tend to be more magazine like. This group shares fantastic programs and stories that are interesting and relevant to what is happening in our world.
• StarDate - StarDate, the program from the McDonald Observatory that discusses a "this day in astromomic history" podcast. While it is a day delayed, it is still fascinating to know more about the solar system that surrounds our world. 
• 60 Second Science - Short stories about some of the coolest science stories out there. Some of the stories are not fully appropriate for students, but there are some quick and easy ways to introduce a topic to your classes. 
• 50 Things that Made the Modern Economy - This series, curated by Tim Harford, the Naked Economist, shares some of the inventions that have shaped our world from IKEA's Billy Bookcase to the shipping container. The show is ten minutes long and fascinating as there are items you would never think of as shaping our economy.  
• Planet Money - This is the podcast that hooked me on podcasting. The group from the Planet Money team at NPR investigates cool and unique things in our economy. For instance, they bought a barrell of oil and followed it through the process as it became gasoline. I used this podcast in my class to help students prep for a semester long project on the impact of normal things on our economy as a whole. 
• Middle School Matters - Middle School Matters is a podcast that is dedicated to the those that worked with middle school students. The group interviews and talks with leaders in educational thought and specifically addresses the challenges of teaching middle school. 
• Every Classroom Matters - Every Classroom Matters is hosted by the Cool Cat Teacher, Vicki Davis. This podcast talks about how we can do little things to improve our classrooms. The most recent episode has George Couros in it talking about the small things that can make our jobs easier. 
• K-12 Greatest Hits - The K12 Greatest Hits podcast pulls some of the best episodes from the BAM Radio network and shares them in one convenient place. 
• Cult of Pedagogy - The Cult of Pedagogy is based on a very popular education blog hosted by Jennifer Gonzalez. Topics include edtech tools to try, ways to help outside the box learners, and implementing classroom management plans.  
• Undone - This podcast, from Gimlet, is a fantastic podcast that blows up stories that were once in our 24 hour news cycle that has faded and what happened after. It is fascinating as it provides more information on some of the biggest stories that we have seen. 
• Stuff You Missed in History Class - This podcast covers unique and awesome things that should have been covered in your history class. If they weren't, you can add them to yours. 

How to Listen

Podcasts were once restricted to Apple devices, or at least easier. Now, you can get apps like Google Play Music, PocketCasts, Overcast, Stricther Radio, and Soundcloud, as well as Apple's Podcast app to listen to the devices. Find your app and get started! 

Did I miss one of your favorites? Let me know!