Tag Archives: podcast

Podcasting For Progress

In a previous post, we were introduced to Dr. Sayjda Talib and Eleanor Dove’s ‘Education Matters’ podcast. Given the increasing interest in podcasting at Lancaster University, I thought now would be a good time to share some information on how and why to get started and what support is available at Lancaster for this endeavour. I will also be sharing some tips for getting started based on a recent EmpowerEd webinar session (Webinar 10) where Mark Childs from Durham University was giving a session on ‘Podcasting: Performing Professional Practice Publicly’. Mark Childs has been involved in podcasts such as Pedagodzilla, a popular series discussing various aspects of pedagogic theory. More tips and support can also be found on the ASK ‘Podcasting’ page.

Why podcasting?

Podcasting is a creative way to deliver content in a series of episodes. It can be used in all sorts of ways:

  • to share content with students and introduce them to research
  • to share good practice in your field with colleagues
  • to share research and good practice with others outside of the University
  • to engage with visiting speakers 
  • to assess students on their skills and knowledge.

In short, podcasting is versatile!

Podcasts are conversational in style and tone, fairly short (more on timing later!) and straightforward to produce. To be successful they should be relaxed and have some element of fun. A decent recording can be made with some headphones, a microphone and some editing software. Although many podcast hosting websites are now being monetised there are some free ones still out there such as Spotify for Podcasters, formerly known as Anchor.

Podcasting can be used as a creative form of assessment, either formative or summative. Students could form small groups and show off their knowledge of a particular topic. There are several points that could be assessed such as the agreed format for the podcast, the range of knowledge shown, use of key terminology, teamwork, communication…quite a list! However, it is important to decide whether assessing the quality of the podcast production is necessary. While this may be appropriate for some courses, it is important to think about constructive alignment – is the quality of the podcast relevant to the learning outcomes on your course? – if not, if you can hear what is said, that is enough.

How do I start?

  1. Come up with your subject matter

A podcast series is usually set around a particular topic e.g. true crime, comedy, pedagogy, the latest developments in technology

2. Design a format for the podcast

While podcasts are discussion based and should flow freely, to avoid complete waffle they are usually still based around a framework. Prompt questions will help to keep the discussion on track. Your format might also include some additions to improve entertainment value such as a quiz, a fact of the week or a highlight of feedback/comments from listeners. These little sections split up the main segments of content to keep the discussion moving.

3. Come up with a unique name

Take some time to think up a name that stands out from the rest and gives new listeners a sense of what to expect.

4. Use some eye-catching artwork

The artwork draws in listeners too – you can create your own or use an image from online (free images can be downloaded from Unsplash, artwork can be created in Spotify for Podcasters or you could use a tool like Canva to design your own).

5. Assign each person a role

This will also help to facilitate the discussion; roles could include: a host, an improviser, a specialist and an editor.

6. Do a test run

The first podcast should be a pilot, one that you don’t share but use to practice using the technology, review the format and get comfortable with the experience.

What do I do once recording has finished?

Post-production editing is a key part of podcasting. You may edit out any errors or aspects that you think are not suitable. For example, you may have had to repeat yourself as the first time you said something you weren’t happy with the phrasing. You can add sound effects to break up the sections and smooth transition and it is also possible to improve sound quality (to an extent!). The University has free access for staff to Audacity and Adobe Audition which are available from AppsAnywhere. There is some free editing software outside the University such as descript.com. You should also make sure to upload an accurate transcript of your podcast to share with people who cannot access the audio because of an impairment.

Try to promote your podcast through any and all channels available to you. This might be on social media, on a website, via posters or in person at events. You may want to set up your own website or social media account to be able to share resources and engage with listeners.  

What resources are available at Lancaster University to start podcasting?

At Lancaster University there are several suites with recording equipment for podcasting. For example, the Digital Education Suite in Bowland North Seminar Room 19. Our Digital Media Engineers have created a video on how to use it as it is a ‘self-service’ room. This room can be booked by Lancaster staff using the following email address: des@lancaster.ac.uk. There are also other rooms available in the Health and Innovation Campus and in LICA. More podcasting studios are in development.

At Lancaster, we have Digital Media Engineers who can help with video and audio recording and editing. They help staff create content such as recorded lectures, course introductions, research material, promotional videos and podcasts, for example the ‘Education Matters’ podcast. To get in touch with them you can use the following email address: iss.digital.media@lancaster.ac.uk. This same email address can be used to express interest in using room B107 in LUMS as the Digital Media Engineers will support you in using the range of audio and video equipment in this room. Please note that this room is not ‘self-service’ like the Digital Education Suite mentioned above.

If you are thinking about starting a podcast, feel free to get in touch with myself or another Digital Learning Facilitator to discuss ideas and for more recommendations.

Other useful information

You can find more help and advice on how to plan, create and edit a podcast via this ASK page.

Short podcasts are popular, around 15 minutes in length but often they are 30-40 minutes in length. Dan Misener did some research in 2018 and 2019 on the average length. You may also want to consider the average commute length, a time when people may listen to podcasts, which in 2021 was 27 minutes.

You may also want to check out ‘Podcasting for Learning in Universities’, a book by Gilly Salmon and Palitha Edirisingha. This book includes some use case examples as well as information on how to be successful in including podcasts in a higher education context.

Don’t worry about low numbers of listeners to start with. You will begin to gain listeners as you promote the podcast and record more sessions. Remember that a listener who discovers the podcast at episode 5 will often go back and listen to the previous episodes too.

Education Matters: A Pertinent Podcast for Progress

Written by Safiya Kheratkar – Widening Participation Project Assistant

‘Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.’ – John Dewey

As Dewey’s quote perfectly encapsulates, education manifests in everything that is within and around us. It influences our dispositions, interpersonal abilities and understandings of the past, present, and future world. With a formidable education, one’s boundaries can extend beyond visible horizons, surpassing matters we once considered insurmountable.

Fuelled to drive this understanding within the hearts of the community, the brainchild of Lancaster University Staff, Dr. Sayjda Talib and Eleanor Dove, was born: The Education Matters podcast. They attended a ‘Sharing Best Practice’ session, delivered by Phil Devine and Professor Newton on ‘Using Videos in Teaching’, who discussed the significance of reusable learning resources via podcasts. Through Phil and Professor Newton, they were introduced to the recording studio (B107 LUMS) and Rachel Dodd, Digital Education Co-ordinator, who created the WordPress site and updates the site with new recordings. 

Education Matters boasts rich, intellectually stimulating, and inspiring episodes with a diverse pool of guests from an array of academic, industrial, and professional working fields. The podcast regularly interviews students from ethnically minoritized backgrounds studying at Lancaster and other top universities. Interviewees are guided along discussing their journeys and their passions for their chosen fields in an endeavour to not only reflect on their experiences, but hopefully inspire audiences with their stories.

Unveiling the power of education through sharing inspiring stories from members of the local community who have achieved success in their field of study or chosen career path, Education Matters is hoping to bridge the gap between the local community and higher education, showcasing that education is a lifelong journey.’ – Dr. Sayjda Talib

Especially for those who may not have a vast network of contacts or people to turn to in their future respective fields, this podcast is bound to produce inspiration and support for anyone looking to start out in a certain career, change over from a particular field, or remain steadfast on their current chosen path. With this podcast, students, families, and the wider community can be aided in making more conscientious and informed decisions about university, apprenticeships, careers, changing one’s mind and much more.

The Recording Studio:

For interviewees from Lancaster University Campus, collaborating with the Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) recording studio provided a comfortable environment for both interviewers and interviewees. Martin Thornton and Andrew Copplestone, both sound engineers based in LUMS and part of the wider ISS team, lent their expertise in ensuring the recording of the podcast was nothing but smooth sailing. Rachel Dodd also worked to create the podcast content into engaging blogposts.

‘The podcast has really grown, and it’s been an incredible journey for us as presenters. We are so grateful to collaborate with Martin, Andrew, and Rachel for all their help with the technical side of recording and writing the blogposts! – Eleanor Dove

Photo of Dr Sayjda Talib and Eleanor Dove

Dr Sayjda Talib and Eleanor Dove

A Digital Solution

For guests not based on LU campus, or Lancaster at all, a solution was needed that would make interviewing accessible for both parties. With Ele, Dr. Sayjda and most guests coming from humble technological and media backgrounds, the saviour that is Microsoft Teams has provided an easy and accessible route for conducting interviews in manageable and equally enjoyable fashion. The number of interviewees from far and wide has increased thanks to this.

Testimonies:

‘The podcast presented by Ele and Dr. Sayjda was such an amazing experience. It was quite humbling to discuss my memories of results day and how far I’ve gotten despite the challenges I went through at the time. The work Ele and Dr. Sayjda do with the podcast I am certain will help so many students across the board with higher education and life in general.’ – Amaani Moress, Lancaster University Engineering alumna, 2023

‘It was a great experience to be able to talk about my journey through education, and to get the chance to share this with students who are currently in that position now, so they can learn from that experience and take on board advice given by someone who was in their shoes only recently. But also, I was able to share my journey with concerned parents, who no doubt are nervous about their children’s next steps. They can see that, although it is scary, their children can also travel on their journey, yes with a different destination, but they can see it through.’ – Adil Natha, Lancaster University Law alumnus, 2023

‘Having a chance to share my experiences was truly valuable. As well as making my efforts feel appreciated, it made me realise that what I was doing would inspire many young people and parents.’ – Abdullah Arshad, Lancaster University Politics, Philosophy and Economics student

Personally, I’m grateful to have been invited for an interview for the podcast and to share my own education journey. Dr. Sayjda and Ele’s prompts and support throughout the duration of the show kept my nerves at ease, and it was incredibly cathartic reflecting on my own experiences whilst knowing that I could possibly be helping a listener make a decision in their own path. The podcast will soon also be featured on the Lancaster Access Programme portal, allowing students on the widening participation programme access to student journeys in a different medium to events and webinars. 

To conclude with a quote that visualises the poetics of gaining an education: ‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’ – Malcolm X

Select episodes of the ‘Education Matters’ podcast can be found on Spotify and on https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/educationmatters/

Written by Safiya Kheratkar – Widening Participation Project Assistant