Educational Podcasts
To observe the growing prevalence of podcasts in the professional world, I chose to listen to two educational podcasts created by individuals who are passionate about education. Both podcast episodes were about education and what it looks like in the present day, specifically in the lives of teachers. The episodes were about classrooms in general, without a particular grade level in focus, so they were relatable to my professional goals as a future high school educator.
The first podcast I listened to was the Cult of Pedagogy podcast by Jennifer Gonzales. I was already a big fan of her Cult of Pedagogy blogposts, so I was excited to listen to her podcast. This episode was titled"The Danger of Teacher Nostalgia." The podcast was about the dangers of when teachers get caught up in the nostalgic view of their classroom and students. This view questions"Why can't things be like the past?" Teachers who come across problems with students, classroom environments, and the current status of society blame the inferiority of the younger generation. This view is toxic because it limits the students to just being "the inferior generation" and fails to see them as bright individuals who need our guidance. This podcast episode was so insightful and impacted me greatly in ways I had not expected. Most likely, I am the generation that my high school teachers were critical of; the teachers that Gonzales describes in the podcast reminded me of my own teachers. What I did not expect though is that I too will become the nostalgic and critical teacher when I see how much more my students will be immersed in technology. I liked how the podcast does such a good job of touching on both sides: the teacher and the student, there is no one perfect side. Nostalgia is like a generational sin that takes over each generation that blames the previous one. One key takeaway for me is that nostalgia only becomes toxic when it makes us feel contempt for the present. This is so true, and I hope that knowing this will help me combat nostalgia when I become a teacher.
The second podcast I listened to was the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast by Vicki Davis. This episode was titled "How to Motivate Teachers to Change." This episode was an encouragement and reminder to educators about the nature of change. With the quickly growing technological world, teachers may feel pressured to adapt as soon as possible and effect change overnight. However, with guest speaker Joy Kirr, Davis reminds the listener that change cannot occur overnight. Rather, it is through small changes and a continuous hustle that brings about meaningful changes. I liked how the speakers are very passionate about supporting change although Kirr shared about her initial hesitation towards accepting Twitter as a part of her professional career. They see the benefits of implementing technology in the classroom, and they share what they learned, in hopes that fellow educators can be inspired. However, one thing I did not like was that the podcast was mainly conversational, and it seemed that main points were coming up randomly rather than having a build up of discussion. The points impacted me, but I felt that I had a hard time remembering the actual significance of each point. One key takeaway is that community is so important to motivate teachers to change; when teachers are surrounded by like-minded individuals who have experienced the benefits of implementing change, teachers will be encouraged to the same.
As my blogpost shows, the podcasts impacted me and with the growing popularity of podcasts for professional growth, many people are impacted in the same way. Podcasts are becoming so popular because of the easy access to crucial information. I was able to be inspired and encouraged just from 20 minutes of listening to people talk. I did not have spend separate time reading a book or article; rather, I could listen to the podcast while doing other work. The technological world favors multi-tasking. I will surely use podcasts for my own professional growth because I will always have commute time from and to school/work/home. During the times that I drive, I can listen to great podcasts such as the ones I described and be intellectually challenged and inspired.
The first podcast I listened to was the Cult of Pedagogy podcast by Jennifer Gonzales. I was already a big fan of her Cult of Pedagogy blogposts, so I was excited to listen to her podcast. This episode was titled"The Danger of Teacher Nostalgia." The podcast was about the dangers of when teachers get caught up in the nostalgic view of their classroom and students. This view questions"Why can't things be like the past?" Teachers who come across problems with students, classroom environments, and the current status of society blame the inferiority of the younger generation. This view is toxic because it limits the students to just being "the inferior generation" and fails to see them as bright individuals who need our guidance. This podcast episode was so insightful and impacted me greatly in ways I had not expected. Most likely, I am the generation that my high school teachers were critical of; the teachers that Gonzales describes in the podcast reminded me of my own teachers. What I did not expect though is that I too will become the nostalgic and critical teacher when I see how much more my students will be immersed in technology. I liked how the podcast does such a good job of touching on both sides: the teacher and the student, there is no one perfect side. Nostalgia is like a generational sin that takes over each generation that blames the previous one. One key takeaway for me is that nostalgia only becomes toxic when it makes us feel contempt for the present. This is so true, and I hope that knowing this will help me combat nostalgia when I become a teacher.
The second podcast I listened to was the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast by Vicki Davis. This episode was titled "How to Motivate Teachers to Change." This episode was an encouragement and reminder to educators about the nature of change. With the quickly growing technological world, teachers may feel pressured to adapt as soon as possible and effect change overnight. However, with guest speaker Joy Kirr, Davis reminds the listener that change cannot occur overnight. Rather, it is through small changes and a continuous hustle that brings about meaningful changes. I liked how the speakers are very passionate about supporting change although Kirr shared about her initial hesitation towards accepting Twitter as a part of her professional career. They see the benefits of implementing technology in the classroom, and they share what they learned, in hopes that fellow educators can be inspired. However, one thing I did not like was that the podcast was mainly conversational, and it seemed that main points were coming up randomly rather than having a build up of discussion. The points impacted me, but I felt that I had a hard time remembering the actual significance of each point. One key takeaway is that community is so important to motivate teachers to change; when teachers are surrounded by like-minded individuals who have experienced the benefits of implementing change, teachers will be encouraged to the same.
As my blogpost shows, the podcasts impacted me and with the growing popularity of podcasts for professional growth, many people are impacted in the same way. Podcasts are becoming so popular because of the easy access to crucial information. I was able to be inspired and encouraged just from 20 minutes of listening to people talk. I did not have spend separate time reading a book or article; rather, I could listen to the podcast while doing other work. The technological world favors multi-tasking. I will surely use podcasts for my own professional growth because I will always have commute time from and to school/work/home. During the times that I drive, I can listen to great podcasts such as the ones I described and be intellectually challenged and inspired.
Hey Eric!
ReplyDeleteI love the point you made about teachers viewing students as an inferior generation. It's something I never really thought about, but it's absolutely true. It's interesting that the podcast didn't choose a side to favor -- it sounds like something I definitely want to listen to! As far as the second podcast, I know that I, myself, hate change. Remembering that it's okay to not change overnight is reassuring. I think I have my first step because I see technology as a valuable asset in the classroom, but learning how to implement it regularly can be daunting. I wish I would have thought to listen to my podcasts while I was commuting to work! Sounds like that will be something I'll start doing from now on. Thanks for sharing!
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