Today, podcasts are increasingly being used for educational purposes at schools and universities: they are perfect for quick bites of knowledge on the go! Find out now how you can successfully use podcasts in corporate training and development too.
At the beginning of my media-related studies in 2012, podcasts were rather smiled upon: they were considered outdated and our professors predicted only a short "lifespan" for them. How wrong they were!
Since around 2015, podcasts have become increasingly popular, especially among younger people under 30. But because of this great success, older people are also paying more and more attention to podcasts – and rightly so, as I would like to show you now.
What actually is a podcast?
The term "podcast" is a mix of "broadcast" and "iPod" – one of the first devices used to listen to podcasts.
Wikipedia defines a podcast as follows:
A podcast is a series of media files (audio or video) that can usually be subscribed to via the internet.
The difference from a simple audio or video file is that a podcast always consists of multiple parts and is usually broadcast regularly. Today, you can find a huge number of podcasts on various topics from providers like Spotify or iTunes, for example.
Interesting to know: Many people think of podcasts purely as audio files. But by definition, videos or other forms of images are also podcasts, provided they are broadcast at regular intervals and are connected with each other!
Benefits of podcasts in continuing education
Alternative to reading
Very wide variety of topics
Perfect for on the go
Opportunity to let participants choose topics themselves
Basis for discussions / critical thinking
Particularly motivating for younger participants
Why not search specifically for suitable podcasts on the internet for your next training session! Podcasts are excellent at least for inspiration and for your own research. And maybe you'll even feel like recording a small podcast yourself?
Tips for training professionals
If you want to use podcasts in corporate training, you can't go far wrong. However, our following tips will help you use podcasts successfully right from the start.
What you should watch out for when using podcasts
The sound must be good! Therefore, use a good microphone.
Use podcasts that are as short as possible (max. 10 minutes) or specify an excerpt (e.g., minute 3-11).
Either record a podcast yourself or choose from a large pool of freely accessible podcasts.
If using an external podcast: Choose a provider that is freely accessible (without registration) – or get permission to integrate it into your online course.
What podcasts are particularly suitable for
In principle, podcasts are suitable for all topics, but especially
for language learning
for providing in-depth information
for integrating interviews
And here's an extra tip: How about training soft skills using podcasts – completely independent of the podcast's content? For example, to train communication skills, have your participants create a short presentation based on any podcast. The big advantage: the pool of topics is huge and the participant can choose the content that interests them most.
Examples of podcasts in blended learning
So much for the theory of podcasts. To help you better visualize how a podcast is used in training, I'll show you two concrete examples: one in a stress management seminar and one in sales training.
Both examples are part of a blended learning concept and are integrated into the accompanying online course. Crucial point: Remember to include a call to action! What exactly should your participant do with the podcast, and how should they proceed with it?
Example 1: A podcast in a stress management seminar
Choose three relaxation techniques and record them in a calm voice. Technology tip: the blink.it kit is perfectly adequate for this.
Cut the recording into three parts (e.g., using Filmora Go).
Integrate one recording per week into the online course over a period of three weeks.
Set an exercise: participants are to apply the relaxation technique and comment on their experience directly in the course.
Example 2: A podcast in sales training
Choose a suitable podcast (e.g., from an esteemed colleague).
Integrate it into your online course, optionally as an additional download.
Refer to it in the next face-to-face training session to clarify any questions.
This is what this sales training example looks like in blended learning with blink.it:
Example: Podcast in blended learning with the blink.it platform.
Interested in the content of the sales training podcast? You can find it on the website of trainer Thomas Bottin.
Start now with your first podcast
Do you have any questions about using podcasts in training or specifically in blended learning? Feel free to write me a message!
Perhaps you've felt inspired to integrate a podcast into your training or coaching. Then here is one final extra tip to finish off:
The "podcast" method is included on one of the 40 cards in the blink.it rocket pack! On it, you will find not only more tips for application, but also the sales training example presented above – along with 39 other methods for blended learning in online courses.
Have fun podcasting!
