Podcasts for Learning: Part Two
“Everyone’s making podcasts these days!” said one of our colleagues when I shared our plans to launch the SoTL Spotlight Podcast.
Well, yes that might be true. And there’s a reason for it. Podcasts are easy to create and accessible to consume. They suit the busy lifestyles we lead in the 2020s and sit within a wider media landscape that has fragmented over recent decades, giving audiences more choice than ever before.
We previously discussed podcasting for staff CPD. But when we look specifically at podcasting as a pedagogy tool there are some compelling reasons to consider it.
Podcasting can be particularly effective in supporting employability, and this became evident in a recent project.
Journalism
A pilot scheme led by the journalism team at SHU demonstrated this clearly. Teaching staff with both undergraduate and postgraduate students developed a six-part podcast series focused on freelance skills. Each episode addressed a different theme and featured two guest speakers with extensive freelance experience. Once again, diversity and inclusion was considered in the design and for this series the 12 guests included representations from the Global Majority and the disabled community.
Episodes were hosted on a professional platform and distributed via major directories including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Students played an active role in the production; taking on responsibilities such as studio producer, website coordinator, social media manager, photographer, music researcher and guest liaison. They also had opportunities to network directly with industry specialists.
The series was then embedded into core Level 6 and Level 7 modules, allowing students to engage with authentic industry insight as part of their learning experience.
The pilot demonstrated several clear benefits:
- The pilot demonstrated several clear benefits:
- Hands-on experience of creating a real-world artefact
- Development of podcast production skills
- Networking opportunities with industry professionals
- Podcasting work experience and testimonials for CVs
- Audio learning materials to complement broader teaching and learning
- Exposure to one of the fastest-growing areas in digital media
Building on this success, a dedicated podcasting module was integrated into the undergraduate degree. This ensured students developed up-to-date industry knowledge, technical production skills, and crucial business competencies including market research, monetisation and marketing.
The impact on graduate outcomes has been significant. Several students have secured jobs within podcast production companies, using the published podcasts created at SHU as tangible evidence of their skills during interviews.
Beyond Journalism
Importantly, these benefits are not limited to journalism students. Podcasting is a broad-spectrum medium covering thousands of niche interests. It lends itself to virtually any discipline. Whether students are exploring health sciences, business, engineering, humanities, or the creative industries, podcasting provides a platform to research, synthesise, communicate and share knowledge in a professional format.
Even for students who do not intend to work in the podcasting industry, the process develops a wide range of transferable skills: research, communication, digital literacy, collaboration, editing, marketing and audience awareness. It also creates opportunities for students to share their work with peers through an accessible medium and to build extracurricular experiences that enhance employability.
Podcasting is not simply a trend. It is a flexible communication tool, a community builder, a CPD enabler, and a pedagogic tool with demonstrable impact.
In a sector where time is limited and engagement is precious, it offers something powerful: accessibility, inclusivity and reach for both staff and students alike.
Authors
Joel Gray Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Student Success, and Lily Canter Senior Lecturer in Media and Journalism.