Adaptability and ingenuity. What a time it has been for these two qualities. Our lives have been significantly altered due to the circumstances of the pandemic, and we have all had to adjust accordingly as best we can. Education has not been exempt from this need. Students cannot learn together physically in the classroom, so educators have transformed instruction in order to provide at-home learning through a screen.
Virtual learning, one of many names for school in 2020 and 2021, would not be possible without technology. Teachers use technology to conduct live instruction through Google Meets. They upload various lessons, activities, and videos to supplement their instruction. Several teachers have even created online classrooms and social media accounts to share encouraging messages and funny moments with students. Although educators look forward to the day when their classrooms are filled with children yet again, they have certainly shown adaptability and ingenuity through this extended period of virtual learning.
One example of a teacher’s resourcefulness comes from Southside Elementary. Rebekah Gooslin is a fourth grade teacher at Southside, but since September, she has been assigned to the Virtual Academy, which is the online instruction option provided for families during this time. Each day, Mrs. Gooslin is challenged to not only teach and support her students virtually but also to foster a sense of community within her online class. Using technology, her own creativity and drive, and the talent and imagination of her students, Mrs. Gooslin has developed a unique opportunity in which kids are playing an active role: a class podcast.
Podcasts have been around for nearly two decades. However, the popularity of this platform skyrocketed as the number of people using smartphones increased throughout the years. Mrs. Gooslin says, “Listening to a podcast is amazing. You can really multitask because you don’t have to watch a video.” This does seem to be a major part of the draw for podcast listeners. Whether you’re folding laundry, going on a walk, grocery shopping, or doing basically anything else, you can simultaneously be enjoying history, pop culture, politics, crime stories, and so much more.
Rebekah explains that her interest in creating a podcast for her class was piqued by
Dr. Greg Goins, who is the Director of the Education Leadership Program at Georgetown College. Dr. Goins has a podcast titled, “Reimagine Schools.” He encouraged Mrs. Gooslin and other students in the program to be digital leaders in their schools. She remarks, “I was just laying in bed one night and thought, ‘I’m just going to do it,’ so I just did it...And I have loved it.” She put a catchy title to it, "Minutes with Mother Goose," and the rest is history!
The heart behind the class podcast relates back to a core belief of Rebekah’s. She says, “I wanted to create a platform for students to use their voices to be assertive because they can make a difference in their world.” This project is all about encouraging students to pursue their passions and creativity and to use their voices to make a difference. The podcast is a new venture, yes, but Mrs. Gooslin and the kids have made it a supportive environment where they feel empowered to step outside their comfort zone.
Each episode has a different theme and various guests and topics of conversation, so the listener can always expect an enjoyable experience. The themes range from “Christmas in September: A School Year to Remember” to “Building Friendships Through a Screen,” and everything in between. A key component of every episode is the use of Flipgrid, which is an app that allows students to upload video responses to a topic posted on their class’ page. For example with the Christmas episode, students uploaded videos of themselves singing their favorite Christmas song to the class Flipgrid. Mrs. Gooslin then added the audio from these videos to the “Christmas in September” episode. Another example comes from the “Spooktacular Halloween Podcast Special” when podcast participants each submitted videos of themselves reading the same scary story, and Mrs. Gooslin edited them together for the final episode.
Although students are not always performing in front of each other, the videos are sometimes played live for the whole class during a recording. It takes real courage to upload a video of yourself singing, reading, or using your voice in other ways for many people to see and hear. Elizabeth Grenet, a podcast participant, says, “I was a little nervous at first singing in front of people. I could barely do that in front of my parents...but after a while, I’ve gotten better with it because I am used to posting videos on Flipgrid, and I know my classmates better now.” This sentiment from Elizabeth embodies the purpose of the podcast: empower students to use their voices to make a difference in their world. The community Mrs. Gooslin has fostered in her class and in the podcast group encourages students to feel comfortable trying something new, like singing for anyone to hear.
Participating in the podcast also provides a unique opportunity for students to socialize in our virtual world. Riley Duncan, podcast participant, says, “My favorite part [of the podcast project] is being able to talk to my friends about what is happening [during the podcast planning and recording] and being able to see their expressions in the meeting if something funny happens." Riley also describes the interaction with her fellow podcasters as her social outlet. She explains, "At the beginning of the podcast meeting, we get to talk a lot. We usually start off talking about dogs and by the end, we’re talking about Republican and Democratic parties.” As evidenced by the spectrum of conversation topics they enjoy, these kids are learning how to share their opinions and how to respect other people’s opinions, whether it be about their favorite dog breed or their ideas on politics. That's a pretty powerful social hour.
As previously mentioned, some of the material for the podcast comes from pre-recorded videos; however, other parts of the podcast, such as interviews, happen live. Students take turns asking their guests questions. It is an excellent way for students to practice their communication skills. Cooper Caine, podcaster, has thoroughly enjoyed interviewing guests. He mentions how much he likes hearing their responses. Cooper has had a lot of fun with this project and never wants to miss a recording.
The podcast guests have varied from principals to teachers to the superintendent. Mrs. Gooslin even brought in veterans to interview in honor of Veterans Day. The students on the podcast are gaining valuable insight into people’s lives, careers, passions, lessons learned, and so much more. They are soaking up an incredible experience all while spending time with their friends, flexing their creative muscles, learning a new digital platform, and understanding how they can truly use their voices to make a difference in their world. As Mother Goose would say, they know what it means to "Speak up and speak out in a positive way.” We encourage you to hear what these young podcasters have to say.
Thank you, Mrs. Gooslin, for being a cheerleader for your students and for going above and beyond to give them this platform.
