Podcasts

as

Professional Development

Amy Hermon

Royal Oak High School

Michigan, USA

Rome July 2023

HELLO!

Amy Hermon

High School Learning Commons

School Librarian for 16 years

Metro Detroit, Michigan

Podcaster for 5 years

School Librarians United Podcast

• Season 5 (Started August 2018)
• 233 episodes
• Available anywhere you listen to podcasts
• New content each week!
• Downloaded in 50 states

and 148 countries

• Interviewed guests in 30+ states,

Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand

and Ghana

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IASL attendees who have been guests the the podcast

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• Dr. Kay Oddone: E185 Creating Culture Change with Madison Dearnaley (July 2022)
• Janine Asmus: E122 Greatest Hits: HS Programming (April 2021)

Listening to Podcasts

I have never listened to a podcast.

I listen to podcasts every day.

Padlet - Add what you like

Why listen to podcasts???

1st

Reasons why

(In NO particular order)

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• FREE PD
• On Demand Learning (Convenient)
• Customizable
• Variety...options
• Authentic voices (vital for pre-service school librarians and those in a practicum)

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10

Reasons why

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(In NO particular order)

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6. Library of past episodes (& show notes!)

7. Discrete learning (fill the gaps)

8. Hands-free

9. Instant PLN - Listening community

10. Pandemic Proof

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10

Podcasts

are pandemic-proof conferences

which run

all day, every day.

How to listen to podcasts???

2nd

How to listen to podcasts?

• Website access - No phone or app required
• Phone app = Podcatcher
• iOS and Android default apps
• 100+ different apps available
• Free (freemium & premium)

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How to listen to podcasts?

• Search and sample!
• No subscription required
• Cherry-pick or Binge
• Search “You also might like…”
• Recommendations from friends & coworkers

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Caveat: Keep in mind

• You get what you pay for
• Educators, consultants, and edu-celebrities...not broadcasters
• Amateur Hour. no studio, no production team, self-edit
• Pod fade is real. Seasons follow the school year
• “Inactive” is (often) still accessible

Be a good audience

• Subscribe (You won’t miss new episodes)
• Provide constructive feedback and questions
• Follow and share on social media and your PLN
• Rate and review where you subscribe
• When you can, seek opportunities to be a guest!

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How to use podcasts

as

Professional Development???

Informal

vs.

Formal

PD

Informal PD

• Done on an individual basis
• School Librarians explore topics which address their individual needs and interests.
• Preparing for job interviews or transitioning to a different grade level.
• Documented as part of an annual evaluation

Informal

vs.

Formal

PD

Formal PD

• Continuing education credits

Hours spent are recognized and satisfy continuing education requirements established by the district, state or certifying organization.

• Popular option with districts which are rural, remote, no/low budget
• California, New Hampshire, New York, Texas

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Episodes in lieu of articles

• Graduate students and assigned listening on a course syllabi
• Listen to an episode come prepared to discuss
• As a department, each share the takeaways from the episode you picked.
• Use the resources in the show notes to further a district/building/library initiative

Episodes can replace webinars (registration fees or membership fees) or guest speakers (speaking fees)

• Select episodes addressing goals and topics of interest:
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Social Emotional Learning
• STEAM/STEM and Makerspaces
• Reading Culture and Bibliotherapy
• Programming and Collaboration
• Advocacy & Censorship

Districts and schools’ Day of Learning

• Districts saving $$$ and teachers have agency.
• See choice boards “Podcasts and Pedometers” menus of offerings
• Best instructions: “Available on your favorite podcast app”
• If you provide links, use Apple Podcasts (65%+ of all downloads)
• Search “Best Podcasts for teaching _____” limiting results to 2023
• Provide feedback using Google Forms or similar

Editable certificate

Link in the show notes

Did you know?!?!?

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APA, MLA9 & Chicago has formats for citing podcasts.

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Citation Machine

Cite This For Me

Easy Bib

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Building Reading Culture

E52 Schoolwide Culture of Reading

E112 One School One Book

E133 Booktalking

E136 Motivating Readers

E175 Storytime Strategies

Build out your collection

E100 Your Graphic Library

E125 Neurodiversity in Our Libraries

E141 Manga Librarian

E153 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

E158 Nonfiction Expert

Student Centered

E40 Advocating for LGBTQ+ and ALL Students

E213 Developmental Bibliotherapy

E121 Student Ambassadors

E125 Neurodiversity in our Libraries

E204 Supporting Literacy and Wellness

Makerspace

58 Building Bridges with a Connected Makerspace

118 Modern School Library Programming

129 Exemplary HS Programming

183 Makerspace & Library Space

207 STEM Librarian

Advocating for yourself and your library

E41 Using Social Media

E76 #GoodTrouble & Advocacy

E132 Raising the Profile of Libraries & Librarian

E170 R-E-S-P-E-C-T

E199 Champion Defender

4 Categories

• Teaching and General Education
• Educational Technology
• Book Reviews & Author Interviews
• Library programming

Teaching &

Gen Ed

EdTech

STEM/STEAM Digital Citizenship

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*

* These are links to individual episodes which are relevant

The Industry: Publishing & Interviews

Staff Librarians at Overdrive

Staff at

Harper Collins

Little Brown Podcast

Book Riot

Book Reviews & Author Interviews

Bookstacked.com

Book Riot’s Best Book

Review Podcasts

Get your students involved!

Public Library Perspectives

Your local library may have a podcast

Podcasts of Interest 40 Library-related

podcasts (TY Steve Thomas!)

School Library Programming

Playlists - themes, grade levels

As seen in...

Sponsored by…

(In other words, keeping content free)

Use the code “UNITED”

When scheduling a 1st time Literati Book Fair for $500 Follett Gift Card

For $20 off $100 or more on both Capstone print and ebooks.

THANK YOU!

@LMS_United

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schoolibrariansunited@gmail.com

Website

Becoming a Podcaster resources