Mr. Arends English/Language Arts Podcast Listening and Creation Grades 9-12

Assignment Description: This video is just a brief overview. ​

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What is a podcast? You might already know that it is an audio recording of people talking about stuff. You might even have heard one or two. If you are a fan of podcasts, like me, you might have several podcasts that you listen to every week. The good news is that no matter where you are at, you can get started with a podcast to fit your interests.

Officially, a podcast is an audio recording that you can download and listen to on a computer or mobile device. It is usually episodic, meaning that new installments will be published periodically.

What is their purpose? Mostly informative but also highly entertaining. It depends on the hosts and the topic. If you take something you are interested in, almost any topic, you can find a podcast dedicated to that topic.

Purpose of this assignment: Find a podcast or two to deepen your understanding or enjoyment of a topic you are already interested in. As a bonus, maybe you will be inspired to create your own podcast.

What will you learn: ● Listening carefully to a conversation or presentation ● Taking note of important, useful, or interesting information ● Creating informative and entertaining presentations

Please share any or all parts of this module that you work on. Even if you don’t follow all the guidelines, I would be happy to talk with you about the podcasts you listen to. Contact at [email protected]

Features of a Podcast Hosts--Most podcasts have a regular host or hosts. They may have guests or not, it just depends. Topic--A podcast often focuses on the particular aspects of a single topic. Topics could be a sports team (or a whole sport), movies (or just bad movies), a video game (or a type of game), the news (or a specific aspect of news). Episodes--An episode focuses on the most recent information, or a small part of a topic. Segments--Some podcasts will have regular segments. These can reoccur from episode to episode. Music--Sometimes a podcast will use music to liven up their sound Intro--A way to “sign on” or announce the start. It often includes the host’s names and credentials (why we should trust them). Sign off “Outro”--A regular way to end the program. Sometimes this includes contact info like social media so you can follow the host between episodes. Podcast apps--These apps collect and organize podcasts. They will automatically download the podcasts you subscribe to, help you find new ones, and play the podcast when you want. Most will work in the background so you can listen while you are doing something else on your phone. Types of podcasts Narrative Podcast--Tells a story. Could be true stories or fictional. Some fictional podcasts will portray themselves as real podcasts (using the podcast format as a fictional character). Topical--Informative and entertaining.

Resources: Podcast apps--Choose one that works for your device. Free options listed below (seriously, there is no reason you should have to pay for a podcast app) ● iOS ○ Apple Podcasts--If you have an iphone, it is already installed. ○ Castaway2--Free and available for iphone. ● Android ○ Google podcasts ○ Podcast addict ● Cross Platform ○ Stitcher--This is what I use ○ TuneIn ○ Spotify--If you already have this it could work well.

Shows to get you started ● This American Life--Each week has a theme. The show brings you stories on that theme. The stories are usually true stories with some short stories once in a while. ● Serial--True crime story plays out over the course of 12 episodes. This moved podcasts from a minor odd hobby and into popular culture. (Also, if you have enjoyed a true crime story on Netflix, you will like this) ● Welcome to Night Vale--Fictional and strange with some humor ● Planet Money--Answers questions about business and how our economy works in short segments (usually less than 20 minutes). ● Stuff You Should Know--A closer look at ordinary things. ● Radiolab--A blend between science and humanity. Their show on CRISPR technology hooked me. ● Criminal--These stories focus on crimes, victims of crime, and criminals. And those who get caught in between. A couple of interesting subjects include owls killing people, faking your death, and the life of a police dog. ● Revisionist History--Looking at the past and seeing if we got it right or if we need to review.

Shows I listen to (in case you are curious): ● Gleeman and the Geek--A podcast about the Minnesota Twins ● OnIowa podcast--Mostly about Hawkeye football but there is a little bit about basketball and wrestling ● Levar Burton read--Actor Levar Burton (Reading Rainbow and Star Trek: Next Generation) reads a new short story in each episode ● Pod Save America--Politics ● Tanis and The Black Tapes--Two separate podcasts; eerie narrative podcasts that draw on creepy myths and legends to help tell a story. ● Reply All--Technology and its effects on people. Three of my favorite episodes: 1) Long Distance and Long Distance, Part II--The host engages a scammer who then accesses his computer remotely. The host then travels to India to meet the scammer. 2) The Snapchat Thief--Again, scammer, who steal a person’s snapchat handle so they could resell it. 3)Zardulu--Find out how a person trained a rat to steal pizza.

Tasks 1. Download a podcast app. You can use any of those suggested above. 2. Using the apps search features, find a podcast you are interested in. You can use those listed above as a place to start or search for something you are interested in. 3. Pick an episode with an interesting title or start with the most recent episode. 4. While listening, take note of a few things: a. Name of Show and title of episode b. Who is talking? Who is the host (or hosts)? c. Are there any guests? Who? Why are they on the show? d. What do they discuss? (Record 3-5 main ideas) e. Are there any recurring features or segments? What are they called? f. What part did you like the best? Why? 5. When you are finished, record these notes in a google doc or in an email and share/send to [email protected] 6. Podcast response sample video 7. After listening to the episode, consider if you would listen to more or discontinue. 8. Listen to another episode or search for a different podcast.

Compare and Contrast Level: 1. Now that you have found one podcast, find another one on the same topic. 2. Listen and record the following: a. Name of Show and title of episode b. Who is talking? Who is the host (or hosts)? c. Are there any guests? Who? Why are they on the show? d. What do they discuss? (Record 3-5 main ideas) e. Are there any recurring features or segments? What are they called? f. What part did you like the best? Why? g. What similar information did they provide when compared with the previous podcast? h. What did they do that was different? i. How did the hosts differ? ii. Did they have different opinions on the same information? iii. Did they have different features or segments? i. Which podcast did you like better? Why?

Creation Level: Now that you know a little bit about podcasts, attempt making your own. 1. Start by generating ideas for topics. Some suggestions: a. Tell us a story about your school or community: about something that happened there -- recently or in the past -- that you want your audience to know about. b. What is a moment in history that all students should learn about? c. Show us both sides of a debate about an issue that’s important to you. d. What do you want to change about the world? What’s a big change that you want to make in the future? e. Explain something to us that kids understand and grownups don’t f. Other possibilities include: a personal interest of yours (a game, a sport/sports), a skill you have and could share with others, humor or entertainments, story telling, etc. 2. Next, think about how you would structure your podcast: A conversation as a group (this might be difficult in the present moment)? An interview with one person? A story with clips of interviews and sounds, narrated by a host? 3. Consider obstacles or problems you might face. a. Difficulty of doing an interview in person b. Travel c. Others 4. Planning the podcast. a. Consider these questions as you begin to plan: i. What is my story’s driving question? ii. What is the story not about? iii. How will I ensure my story is fair to the people and ideas it represents? iv. How will I engage my audience — and hold them? v. What are my dream ingredients? vi. What will the audience remember when it’s over? b. Think about what other sounds you might include in your podcast: background noise that is relevant to the podcast, music, sound/media clips that will be discussed, etc. c. Scripted versus conversation i. Script: Advantages--you know precisely what you will say, well prepared, controls the amount of time in the podcast. Disadvantages--can sound less natural, less room for new thoughts that come up. ii. Off the cuff--Advantages--sounds like a natural conversational voice, doesn’t require a prepared script. Disadvantages--If you aren’t comfortable with the topic it can lead to extended pauses and the desire to restart because of “mistakes” iii. No matter which option you choose: It is always important to have notes and a plan for the flow of your podcast. It could be a list of subtopics about your overall topic or an organized sheet of notes. 5. Audio recording-- a. Use and app such as Rev Audio and Voice Recorder, Easy Voice Recorder, or any of several other options. Or, you can use video recording on your phone and have the camera facing down (this will create a much larger file though and take up more storage space). b. https://anchor.fm/ This platform will allow you to record and edit your podcast easily. It will also ​ allow you to publish it if you want. This doesn’t require you to do so but gives you that option. c. Use a smaller room to prevent too much echo. Sit as close as possible to the microphone in your computer or phone. d. Don’t bump the table or move the recording device while recording to prevent unintended static/noise on the recording. 6. Interviews a. Prepare you questions in advance of the interview. If you can share them with the person you will interview so they can prepare. b. When interview time comes around make sure you have your questions printed out or available for you to look at during the interview. Also make sure you are comfortable with the audio equipment you will use to record the interview. c. Ask questions that allow the interviewee to tell stories and avoid “yes” or “no” questions. You want your interviewee to share facts and feelings. Encourage descriptions when necessary. d. Don’t push your interviewee to an uncomfortable point. Know when to move on. That being said. Don’t be afraid to ask about something. Just be aware that not everything is easy to talk about, even if it was long ago. e. Your questions are a guide and not a strict script. Use it to help you stay on track but if you or your relative get excited about a topic, explore that topic further. Don’t interrupt your interviewee to get back to your interview questions—wait until he or she is finished the story.

Checklist For Field Recording Before you head out for an interview or sounds for your podcast, make sure you’ve got everything you need. That should include: ❏ A phone or recording device ❏ If you’re using a microphone that requires batteries, bring extras. ❏ If you’re recording sounds on your phone, bring a charger. ❏ Interview questions ❏ List of sounds to record ❏ It’s okay if you don’t get all of these sounds and great if you get even more. This list should help guide you. ❏ Notebook and writing utensil ❏ You or a teammate should quietly take brief notes during an interview or while recording sound, to remember specific moments or points you’d like to return to later. ❏ Contact information for your interviewee ❏ If you’re interviewing someone, make sure you bring their phone number to your meeting place. You should be able to contact them if just in case something comes up. https://media.npr.org/assets/news/2018/11/teaching-podcasting_FULL-VERSION.pdf

7. Editing and finalizing your podcast: a. First look for tutorials on youtube or the anchor.fm website. b. Search “app name + tutorial” or “app name + editing tutorial” c. Be patient. Editing audio files takes time and practice. 8. Share your podcast. a. Share your podcast or audio file with me at [email protected] ​ b. You may have to upload it to your drive then use the share function in Google drive due to file size. Make sure your sharing settings are adjusted to allow anyone who isn’t the owner to be able to access the file.

Sharing: 1. You can also share your thoughts here: https://flipgrid.com/arendsremote ​ a. After you click the link you will need to click sign in with google. b. Then scroll down and click on the big green and white plus sign to make your video. Videos will be hidden and only I will see them (unless you give me permission to make public). c. You can make your flipgrid video audio only if you want.