Learn by listening: Explore the world of podcasts
Are you looking for an easy and accessible way to learn new information and hear people talk about practices they are implementing to help students be successful? Listen to a podcast! Podcasts are audio recordings typically played on demand on your smartphone or computer (Prince, B.F., 2020; Tobin & Guadagno, 2022). The number of people listening to podcasts continues to grow. In the United States, over 100 million podcast listeners listen to over 1 million podcasts with over 30 million episodes (Kiernan et al., 2023; Prince, B.F., 2020). Many people are drawn to podcasts because they “offer the convenience of learning on the go” (Kiernan et al., p. 1). You can listen as you exercise, cook, clean, or sit on the couch. Most podcasts are free and easy to access; episodes can range from as little as 12 minutes to over an hour. A variety of education podcasts are available, especially in the fields of individuals with disabilities and special education. Here are seven podcasts worth exploring:
- Autism Classroom Resources: Hosted by Dr. Christine Reeve, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, the Autism Classroom Resources podcast shares information, evidence-based practice, and strategies to assist educators teaching students with autism.
How to listen: Autism Classroom Resources website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
- Special Educators Resource Room: Episodes of this podcast provide solutions to support the busy life of a special education teacher. Topics of recent episodes: independent workstations, special education sub plan solutions, 101 task box ideas.
How to listen: Special Educators Resource Room website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Index, and iHeart Radio.
- Spectrumly Speaking: The Spectrumly Speaking podcast is hosted by two women, one of whom is an autism self-advocate and attorney, who discuss topics related to women on the autism spectrum. Episodes frequently include interviews with other women about topics of interest; a transcript is provided for each episode.
How to listen: Different Brains website, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and SoundCloud.
- The Autism Helper Podcast: Administrators, educators, and family members may find this podcast helpful; it provides information on a variety of topics related to supporting individuals with Autism. Most episodes include a guest speaker who shares their knowledge and expertise on a topic.
How to listen: The Autism Helper website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
- The Lucky Few Podcast: You will enjoy this podcast as the three hosts “shout the worth and shift the narrative for people with Down syndrome” (The Lucky Few Podcast, n.d.). Recent episode topics: heart health & navigating heart defects, Is inclusion a privilege?, creating inclusion for all learners.
How to listen: The Lucky Few website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
- The OT Schoolhouse Podcast: Each OT Schoolhouse podcast episode is hosted by an occupational therapist who discusses research, guidance, and /or best practices in school-based occupational therapy. Recent episode topics: OT solutions for ADHD challenges, supporting students with visual impairments, innovative strategies for improving handwriting.
How to listen: The OT Schoolhouse website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
- Unstuck: The Special Education Podcast: Two professionals discuss topics of interest in the field of special education. Episodes are 25-35 minutes in length; recent topics include hidden disabilities (with a guest speaker), language, literacy, and executive functioning, and creating classroom culture.
How to listen: RSS.com, Apple Podcasts, and Rephonic.
The next time you are going for a walk, cooking dinner, or have some free time, listen to a podcast to become more informed about a topic or to hear how others are solving similar issues in their school or classroom. You’ll be glad you did.
References
Kiernan, M.A., Mitchell, B.G., & Russo, P.L. (2023). The Power of Podcasts: Exploring the endless possibilities of audio education and information in medicine, healthcare epidemiology, and antimicrobial stewardship. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 3(98), 1-3.
Prince, B. (2020). Podcasts: The potential and possibilities. Teaching Sociology, (48)4, 269-271.
The Lucky Few Podcast. (n.d.). Welcome to the Lucky Few Podcast. The Lucky Few Podcast. Retrieved March 1, 2024 from https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/
Tobin, S. & Guadagno, R.E. (2022). Why People Listen: Motivations and outcomes of podcast listening, PLOS ONE, 17(4), 1-16.
For more information, contact Chris Frawley (cdfrawley@vcu.edu), Program Specialist, T/TAC at VCU.
Categories Assistive Technology, Autism, Behavior, Early Childhood Special Education, Inclusive Practices, Intellectual Disabilities, Secondary Transition