The challenge
Dr. Karen Jackson, educator of 29 years, advocates for podcasting as a way to support littles and increase their academic language retention. She references conversational language as one of the first stages of development with original requests like, “Mom, Dad, food, hungry, tired,” and so on. Podcasting is an effective tool that can bridge the gap between conversational language and academic language, further shaping concepts effectively for learners.
The solution
Dr. Jackson embraces WeVideo’s “Save as a podcast” feature to maximize interactive and unique learning experiences. She uses WeVideo to:
- Record student voices: WeVideo easily syncs with Chromebooks and other devices with microphones. Plus, student faces don’t have to be involved to protect privacy.
- Easily save and access footage in the cloud: WeVideo account owners receive messages as soon as podcasts are processed. Just click, open, and play!
- Fuel interactive experiences: Dr. Jackson encourages young learners to come up with effective ideas to create interactions within the podcast, whether that means taking turns answering a question, interviewing one another, interviewing the principal, or setting up classroom discussions from the podcast.
Dr. Jackson also mentions that no fancy equipment is needed! Get creative and have students speak with a stuffed animal, into a pen, into broken or fake microphones, whatever works! This simply helps foster metacognition, or thinking about thinking.
Another quick tip? Dr. Jackson encourages throwing a towel over the device to create an instant studio, enhance the sound, and enhance the fun.
The results
Dr. Jackson believes that communication and listening skills are among the most important for young learners and backs podcasting as an effective tool to support that. There are endless creative ways to implement podcasting into class and Dr. Jackson recommends starting small. Work students up to a more formal recording by practicing with whatever innovative devices you have.
Podcasting is a tool that amplifies learning by creating a stress free (and fun) environment. Supporting students to find comfort in this form of skill development is key.
Key takeaways
Dr. Jackson emphasizes that speaking out loud is an effective way to nurture student comprehension. Ultimately, Dr. Jackson notes that “students who learn to tell their stories realize they have something to say.”
Hear the full story
Watch how Dr. Jackson shares her perspective on how podcasting for littles can transform the learning experience, recorded during WeVideo's ENGAGE 2025 annual conference.
Practical strategies for educators
- Connect podcasting to existing activities: Since podcasting can be new and for students, pair it with existing activities to put a creative spin on familiar skills and assignments.
- Get students talking about it: Similar to field trip reflections, science journals, or other unique student experiences, leverage podcasts for weeks beforehand (or afterwards) to maintain engagement.
- Fun is memorable: Add fun to the process to activate learning.