EDU 6215 Article 1

Godsey, M. (2017). Using 'Serial' to Get Students to Read More. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/03/the-benefits-of-podcasts-in-class/473925/ [Accessed 17 Jul. 2017].

The author explains the process of integrating Serial podcast in his classroom. He observed students in his classroom that refused to read in class, however they were engaged when reading in groups. He noticed that while listening to an episode of Serial in class, students followed word by word on the transcripts displayed on the screen at the front of the room. During a unit on racial bias (first season of Serial) , students were engaged and eager to ask questions, evaluated clues, argued with each other, and wrote twice as much in their journal as they previously had. Another time one of his students told him that he would like to listen to another podcast, or listen to the podcast with the words on the screen.
The author presents the benefits of the audio recording for a large broader of students: "Some explicitly recognized that they could look back and re-read something they didn’t understand when they first heard it; others said they read slightly ahead and then could write down a quote while they listened to it. A student with eyesight problems said he appreciates the ability to take reading breaks without stopping his enjoyment of the story. A few students learning English as a second language wrote that they like how they can read the words and—as one student put it—promptly “hear how they’re supposed" (Godsey, 2017).

I think this was a very important study especially as teachers are using more technology and encouraging their students to complete tasks using computers or tablets. Using audio reflection / podcast can seem less daunting to students to read / write. New language is less intimidating - students have a tendency to revise and self-reflect when they speak / read. They will use a more elaborate vocabulary to get their point/message across to others, when exchanging ideas. Others are prone to use words that they can not spell. Even though the students may not use the proper words, they are still building their own vocabulary.