Spring 2016 Podcasting Techniques initiative
Texas Folklife has recently concluded our Spring 2016 Podcasting Techniques initiative. Podcasting Techniques is a series of workshops with teachers and students to facilitate community podcasts. In total, nearly 200 students worked to develop their own recordings through the program, completing 19 school podcasts throughout Austin ISD and Round Rock ISD. The initiative was developed as part of our award-winning radio documentary program, Stories from Deep in the Heart.
During a typical podcasting session, students examine the nature of folklore and learn about the history of podcasts. They reflect on the experiences of conducting interviews and moderating group discussions. After the recording wraps up, students get a chance to explore options for editing, hosting, and marketing their podcasts. As with all Stories from Deep in the Heart initiatives, Podcasting Techniques combines strategies from journalism, folklore, anthropology, and media production. Next semester, we will expand the program to new schools and incorporate more take-home resources for students and teachers interested in continuing folklore-based media production.
Podcasting Techniques was developed by Marcelo Teson and Brian Griffith for Texas Folklife as part of a professional development collaboration with mindPOP. In-class facilitation was made possible by Stories director Brian Griffith, producer Carlos Salazar, and veteran Stories teachers Jennie Tidwell, Jen Karydas, and Cindy Stewart. A selection of this semester’s podcasts can be found at:
https://soundcloud.com/texasfolklife/sets/podcasting-techniques-2016-grisham-middle-school-1
Teachers and students interested in learning more about podcasting are welcome to attend the Stories Summer Institute, a one-week audio documentary training program to be held July 18-22, 2016. The Institute is free, but space is limited and the application period ends May 20. More information about the Institute can be found at http://texasfolklife.org/event/ssi2016.
