The Use of Podcasts in Education

When we think about podcasts we tend to think about the ones we enjoy most – the entertainment ones. There is no denying that podcasts are becoming massively popular and as they grow in popularity the range of content that they offer grows too. However, can podcasts do more than just entertain? Here’s a look at the use of podcasts in education.

Learning Something New

Whatever age you are, learning something new can take time, effort and determination. Babbel have recently launched a language learning app and with it a look at different ways that people can learn. Take a look at the infographic “What a Podcast Can Teach You?” and you’ll see that podcasts are well placed to be able to teach people more. Taking the plunge do to something such as learning a new language is often about more than just the academics behind learning a new skill; especially as a grown-up. Everyone responds differently to learning methods and as such, by apps such as Babbel exploring different ways to teach they can reach a larger audience.

How Learning Has Changed

There is no denying that learning has changed over recent years. Lockdowns and restrictions meant that even school-age children were forced to learn remotely rather than in a traditional classroom set-up. Although this was a new way of learning (and teaching) it is something that people adapted to and has become somewhat normal for many. We’re used to receiving our information remotely and in a method that suits us. It is estimated that in Britain we listen to around 60 million hours of podcasts each week; up more than 17 times since 2015; which gives to show that we’re open to and much more used to receiving information in varied ways.

Adapting To The Needs of Learners

Much like any business, if you want to be successful then you need to adapt to the needs of your customers and education is no different. As learners change and their needs change it is important that educators adapt to keep up with this. Babbel are not only a forward-thinking language learning app but they use Podcasts to teach outside of the box – introducing listeners to things like the culture of a place; which can help with the understanding of somewhere and the learning of the language.

When you consider that it is thought 1 billion people will be listening to a podcast at least once a month by 2023 it makes sense that people jump on board this trend and use it for good; and offering a diverse way of learning to people is certainly one way to do this.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the use of podcasts in education below

*Collaborative post