godwin heights — Fourth-graders Kiera Stimoff, Jackie Yanez and freshman Lianelis Martel recalled their elementary school days.
They talked about their friends, their grades, their transfers, and shared memories from when they were younger students.
It may have sounded like a casual conversation, but the microphones they passed back and forth were a clue that it was something more. Students are participating in one of her newest electives in high school: podcasting.
In the semester-long course, students learn how to put together a podcast from start to finish. They choose a theme, choose a format, and record and edit the final work.
“I think it gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how podcasting works,” Kiera said. “It's not an easy job because you have to consider the topic and put together the script and elements. You definitely get a better understanding of what it's about.”
More options to explore your interests
The podcast course is one of several new and repeat electives added to high schools this year, along with a young adult literature class and a film history class. Principal Chad Conklin said the purpose of the additional courses is to provide students with an opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge, while giving them the ability to explore different areas of interest.
“We felt it was very important to have relevant courses to improve student performance and increase student engagement and participation in the classroom environment,” he said.
The process of adding classes began last year with Multicultural Literacy and Food Science, which explores chemistry through cooking.
Based on these, the high school conducted two surveys last spring. One was for students about what electives they were interested in, and the other was for teachers about what they wanted to teach. The goal was to align the course with curriculum standards and engage students, Conklin said.
The survey also found that students wanted courses that had been removed from the curriculum reinstated. That led to adding theater and career and college preparation, Conklin said.
Conklin said students and teachers have responded positively to the new options. Most courses fill up quickly, and teachers say they want to have a say in what they teach.
More than speaking into a microphone
In the podcast class, fourth-year student Danajah Brown and sophomore Shani Valdez were planning their final podcast. They decided to compare and contrast how they celebrate different holidays. Shani's family exchanges Secret Santa gifts on New Year's Eve.
“At Christmas everyone receives two presents, so in the New Year… it's just to entertain us,” Shani said. “This is just a fun thing we’ve been working on over the past few years.”
It takes a lot of research and practice to put together the final episode. Students begin by analyzing other podcasts to learn about style, scripts, and other details. By the end of the semester, Panera said they had created their own podcast by choosing a theme, writing a script, and recording and editing three episodes.
In addition to technical skills, students also learn organization, creativity, communication, teamwork and public speaking, Panera said. In fact, senior Diego Revolio said he felt the class taught him to speak more clearly while focusing on the topic of the podcast and its discussion.
Danaja, who was listening to the podcast, said it was interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at what's involved in creating, recording, and maintaining a podcast.
“What struck me was how much planning and scripting goes into the podcast,” senior Danajah Brown said.
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