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Monday, July 2, 2018

I ❤️ Podcasts

Podcasts have become my new obsession and I seriously can’t get enough of them!  When I started researching the idea of gamification for my classroom, I immediately was directed to the Explore Like A Pirate website.  After getting the book and diving head first into the amazing #XPLap community on Twitter, I quickly stumbled upon Michael Matera's (@MrMatera) podcast called Well PlayED (link provided below). 


Well Played focuses on how to bring playful learning into the classroom and it is presented in a quick 25-30 minute show.  This made it very easy to listen to on my commute to and from school each day.  I loved the topic and format of the show so much, that I binged most of the shows over a month long period.  It was exactly what I needed to get my brain wrapped around how to begin creating my year-long gamified course.  The only problem I ran into was that there were so many ideas in each episode, that I had to resist pulling off the side of the road to write them down.  Instead I opted for writing things on napkins at stop lights, stop signs and my driveway...LOL, it got so bad that I actually purchased a little notebook to keep in my car to tame my napkin ideas.

This past Memorial Day, I got in my car to make a 2 hour trip home to Ohio.  Instead of listening to the radio, I decided to load my phone up with podcasts.  Of course I listed to a view Well PlayEd episodes, but I also loaded a few new shows to try out.  I was so happy to see the my enthusiasm for listening extended to different podcast shows and content.  I am definitely hooked!


Education Podcasts

As I mentioned, my love for podcasts just started recently and I've discovered more educational podcasts for my own personal growth as a teacher.  Below are a few of the shows I have enjoyed and have started to subscribe to.  I've provided a link for each one, so feel free to click and start enjoying for yourself.

Well PlayED - by: Michael Matera
TED Radio Hour - by: NPR
StartEdUp  - by: StartEdUp Innovation, LLC
Sketchnote Army - by: Mike Rohde & Mauro Toselli


Science Podcasts

My next move is to try to possibly incorporate podcasts into my classroom for my students to enjoy.  I started to research shows that are both entertaining and informational, but also are appropriate for middle school minds.  I'll be honest, it has been hard finding all three of these components...I might find an episode/show that is interesting, but it would definitely go over my students heads.  Or I find one that comes across a little too young for them.  Either way, I see the potential that podcasts could bring by capturing kids attention towards science in a new medium.  Let's face it, most students probably haven't been exposed to them.  Below are a few of the shows that I think will work for my middle schoolers and that I hope to use this year at some point; again I provided links.  

Brains On! - by: MPR News
Tumble - by: Tumble / Gen-Z
Part-Time Genius - by: HowStuffWorks
BrainStuff - by: HowStuffWorks

I highly recommend Brains On!  It is super entertaining and I've learned some really cool sciency facts each time I've listened.  There was a great episodes on narwhals, the unicorns of the sea,  that I forced a friend to listen to with me.  At first I felt it might be a little too young for 6th grade, but if I can listen a long, be entertained, learn new things, and laugh out aloud...a lot; then so can my students!

Podcasts are just another great resource that I've discovered in my gamification journey.  If you have a favorite show, please feel free to comment below...  I will add it to my list.  I can't wait to continue to explore the HUGE world that podcasts as to offer for both me and my students.










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