Technology Tips - August 2021

                                                                                                          by Steve Woods, Instructional Technology Specialist

These days we’re all busy, and discovering ways to learn how to do our job better adds additional time, as we search the Internet for good content to read, watch, or listen to. Wouldn’t it be great to have continuing education topics conveniently arrive in our inbox? Enter podcasts.

What’s a Podcast?

In the distant past, information was shared via radio, broadcast on the same day of the week and time. This ongoing and reliable series of topics was known as serialized content. Today, podcasts are short, recorded broadcasts on various topics, and rather than broadcasted live, they are digitally recorded and saved to a “channel” of casts by the same author(s). If you register to follow the podcasts, you’ll be alerted by email or through the app or website -- another form of serialized content.

How do I find great content to follow?

Here is where Google Podcasts shines. Located using the 9-dot apps menu at the upper right corner of most Google products, Podcasts is a single click away. You can also visit podcasts.google.com to find their main page.

As with all Google products, there’s a built-in search tool. Type in “education” and click the Enter or Return button on your keyboard, or try a more specific term such as “social-emotional learning” or “school library” to see a host of ongoing podcasts on these topics from great broadcasters.

To learn more about a particular podcaster, click on the name of the podcast. You will land on a page in Google Podcasts devoted to the host. Along with a podcast logo, title and description, you’ll see a list of current podcasts by the author(s). Click on the play button to listen in, and if you like what you’re hearing, you’ll also find a Subscribe button for that podcast. 

Where do I find all of the new content from providers I’ve followed?

Great question. Whenever you’d like to see new episodes from all of the podcasts you’ve subscribed to, go back to Google Podcasts and click on the Subscriptions button on the left-hand side. You’ll have all of the new content episodes in one easy-to-find location, all within a single click on your mouse.

On the run? Google Podcasts is a free download for mobile devices running Apple’s iOS or Android. Log in with your Google account, plug your phone into your car and listen to your favorite content while you focus on your drive.