The Power of the Podcast

In the past few years, the popularity of podcasts has skyrocketed. An eMarketer report predicts that 65 million Americans will listen to podcasts by 2012, an increase of almost 30 million from 2009 (socialmarketing.oneupweb.com).
As podcasting becomes embedded in American society, we must consider its effects on everyday life. Education and communication—both vital parts of school and work—cannot continue unscathed, but instead reveal the extent of podcasts’ influence.

Just a few years ago, most schools taught from textbooks, occasionally adding a packet or video to contribute to students’ education. The majority of students remained passive learners, simply swallowing whatever reading assignment was due the next day. Today, as podcasts enter more and more classrooms, education becomes a more active, dynamic process. The breadth and depth of podcasts is staggering: teachers can recommend a certain author, or students can even record their own podcasts. Either way, podcasting engages students in their education. The information on podcasts is not reviewed—as its equivalent is in textbooks—so listeners must become critical consumers. Writing and recording podcasts involves research and public speaking, reminding students that their voices matter. In addition, mastery of material is not indicated by a percentage on a test, but instead on a product—what students can do with the material.

Podcasting alters modes of communication as well. By recording their own words, people can contribute their ideas into a larger body of knowledge. Work and research are no longer meant for just a boss or teacher: instead, a podcast expands the audience into the world. This technology ensures that work is never really finished. A student may write an essay, or an adult may file a report, but a few months later, those pages of hard work end up in a recycling bin. On the other hand, podcasts survive for years—they can be updated and modified, erased and remade. Most importantly, podcasting fosters connections through millions of unfamiliar people: we can learn from each other, teach each other, and ultimately expand our perspective.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if you record your own podcasts or simply listen to those of others. What matters—what survives—are the values and effects, the fundamental changes to society. Podcasting offers students a more active way of learning and fosters communication beyond our narrow homes. People work together with one ultimate goal: bettering our education, bettering our lives.