Podcast and Streaming as Educational Tools

Description

Podcasting, vlogging, and other forms of digital storytelling have nowadays become powerful tools for communication and self-expression, and students use them every day.

Bringing these formats into the classroom offers teachers an opportunity to connect learning with the digital environments where young people are already used to naturally communicating.

This course offers engaging strategies and tools (even AI-based ones) to educate students about these new information and communication technologies.

Podcasting and vlogging will be introduced as accessible, transversal, and student-centered educational tools.

Participants will learn how to set up simple audio and video workflows, explore affordable recording equipment, and experiment with instruments suitable for all ages and levels of digital confidence.

They will get the chance to practice hands-on activities, from designing a mini-recording studio to planning educational episodes and series, gaining practical skills indispensable to creating meaningful projects for their classes.

The methodology applied in this course will be aimed at helping schools and teachers solve real problems related to digital communication and teaching reputation.

During the course, they will explore how podcast and vlog formats can amplify students’ voices, document classroom activities, support project-based learning and strengthen the connection between school and community.

Throughout the week, participants will be able to work collaboratively in groups through forums or teamwork sessions, in teams, and will experiment with real-life scenarios, create short audio/video pieces, and collaborate on small projects supported by peer and trainer feedback.

By the end of the course, they will be equipped with a set of practical tools, templates, and ready-to-use activities to bring digital storytelling into their own school context, making communication more engaging, authentic, and aligned with how today’s students learn.

Concept by Enrique Gallardo

Learning outcomes

This course will help the participants to:  

• Promote the importance of digital communication in the educational field;
• Understand the educational value of podcasts and vlogs as tools for digital communication, storytelling, and student engagement;
• Design and plan podcast or vlog episodes, identifying suitable topics, formats, and structures for different educational purposes;
• Select appropriate equipment, software, and platforms to record, edit, publish, or privately share audio and video content;
• Differentiate between personal and institutional digital communication;
• Apply creative writing, narrative techniques, and place-based activities to develop compelling audio and video stories with their students;
• Use podcasts and vlogs to enhance speaking, listening, collaboration, and teamwork skills in the classroom;
• Identify risks related to social media use in education (misinformation, privacy, reputation);
• Develop simple school-based communication projects and produce ready-to-use podcast or vlog activities to implement immediately after the course;
• Improve their students’ speaking and listening skills, confidence, and self-esteem.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction & setting goals

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools. 

Digital communication in education

• The role of podcasts, vlogs, blogs, and social media in today’s schools;
• Teachers’ digital identity: personal vs institutional communication;
• Benefits and risks of online presence for educators;
• Privacy, safety, and data protection: what teachers must know.

Day 2 – From idea to script: building engaging educational content

• Principles of effective digital communication;
• Storytelling techniques for educational content;
• Creating content for different channels (threads, infographics, short videos, podcasts).
• Tools for writing, editing, and hosting educational podcasts;
• Hands-on workshop: e.g., brainstorming topics, group scriptwriting, outlining an episode or vlog entry;
• Feedback session: evaluating clarity, engagement, and pedagogical value.

Day 3 – From script to studio: practical audio and video production

• Introduction to equipment: microphones, cameras, lighting, recording setups;
• Storyboarding and planning: organizing audio/video segments;
• First steps with sound editing apps: levels, cuts, effects;
• Vlogging essentials: filming techniques, framing, sound, and pre-production planning.
• Creating educational videos for your school: group activity;
• Digital analytics for teachers: e.g., understanding reach, engagement, and retention; using tools like YouTube Studio, Meta Suite, and podcast analytics;
• Hands-on workshop: recording short podcast/vlog segments in groups.

Day 4 – Digital identity, online reputation, and responsible communication

• Teacher digital identity: how educators are perceived online;
• Ethics, boundaries, and professionalism in digital communication;
• Risks: misinformation, student privacy, inappropriate interactions;
• Best practices for safe, ethical communication in educational settings;
• Peer feedback: reviewing podcast/video drafts.

Day 5 – Enhancing digital content with artificial intelligence

• Introduction to AI tools for teachers;
• Preparing educational content with AI (ChatGPT, Perplexity, DALL·E, editing tools) for automating tasks: captions, transcripts, summaries, scheduling;
• Ethical use of AI in schools: privacy, data policies, bias;
• Workshop: generating a jingle or visual assets with AI;
• Creating a podcast or vlog prototype; developing a communication strategy for use at school;
• Group presentations and feedback.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

Download or share

Get weekly recaps on confirmed sessions!