Podcasts aren’t just trendy; they’re effective. They’re portable, engaging, and cater to diverse learning styles. Plus, students can tune in while commuting, cooking, or walking their dog.

As say Popova, Kirschner & Joiner (2014): [PODCASTS] “help bridge the conceptual distance between new and prior knowledge, better understand topics in lectures and stimulate thinking more deeply about the lecture’s content and the possible applications of the subjects of the lecture”.

Now that you know all about podcasts, one question remains : how to make the perfect education podcasts ?

You first need to keep in mind that a good podcast :

Lasts 15-20 minutes (depending on heaviness of topic)
Has an available transcript (to increase accessibility)
Uses simple language, moderate pace – not too fast, not too slow!
And when used for theory, examples should be used constantly

Here is a step-by-step on how to create podcast :

Step 1: Choose the theme and format

What is my podcast about?
What part of my VET training do I want to talk about?
Will I be able to sustain a whole season?
Will I do it myself, or with a co-host?
Which language will I use?
Will I interview guests?
How long will each episode be? How often released?
Will I pre-record the intro and outro, or I will say it every time?

Step 2: Choosing The topic of each episode

What will be the topic of each episode? In general, a good rule of thumb is to stay close to the general theme, and either explore different sides of the theme.

Sometimes, it’s okay to make “specials” which are not necessarily connected very strictly to the topic, because it keeps the interest high.

Step 3: The skeleton

Although spontaneity is nice, a lot of planning goes behind a successful, engaging podcast.

But what will you say? This is where the skeleton, or scripting, comes in.

A basic structure

Key topics that you would like to talk about

Notes on important parts that can help you (e.g. dates, names)

List of music (paired with YouTube link and timestamps)

Word by word?

Detailed podcast episode plan?

Flexible, rough, bullet-point plan?

You can choose your approach based on your idiosyncrasy and personality

Step 4: The tech to use

For a beginner podcaster: A phone is more than enough!

For a more advanced podcaster, you can enrich your equipment in order to have better audio quality, and extra tools in your belt.

This equipment can be an external microphone, a soundcard, a laptop, and audio editing software such as Avid Pro Tools, Audacity, Garageband, etc.

Anchor.fm is a very simple application which helps you:

Record and crop audio
Share your podcast with others
Upload to popular platforms
Keep a log of your episodes
Track engagement

Sound effect:

https://freesfx.co.uk/
https://freesound.org/

Anchor can be downloaded on every smartphone.

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Step 5: Recording

Recording – segments

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Editing

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Publishing

Step 6: RSS feed? What is that?

Really Simple Syndication

When a podcast episode is published, the information is added to the feed, and this feed is responsible that the episode is added to all the platforms.

Contains information about your show: The title, the episode list, length, etc.

It makes it easier for you to update your episode list, because it takes out the part where you do it manually!

Step 7: Promote your podcast

Are all the steps to creating a podcast all clear for you ? Great ! If not, you will have a spot at the end of this course to post your remaining questions

Conclusion

Supporting learners in difficult assignments isn’t just about helping them pass—it’s about showing them that every challenge is a chance to grow. As you implement these strategies and tools, remember: your role is part teacher, part coach, and part cheerleader. Empower your learners to see obstacles as opportunities, and they’ll carry that mindset far beyond your classroom.

Let’s finish off with some questions to check your understanding of the course :

Why is it important to provide scaffolding during difficult assignments?

A.To minimize learners’ workload by simplifying all tasks.
B. To ensure learners remain motivated and gradually build autonomy.
C. To guarantee that learners achieve perfect scores.
D. To avoid learners needing to ask questions.

Correct Answer: B
Reason: Scaffolding allows learners to remain engaged while progressively developing independence. It balances challenge and support, helping learners succeed without compromising their growth.

Which strategy best reduces cognitive overload during a challenging assignment?

A. Breaking assignments into smaller, manageable tasks with clear instructions.
B. Providing all assignment details upfront to avoid interruptions.
C. Encouraging learners to figure everything out independently.
D. Only offering assistance when learners explicitly ask for help.

Correct Answer: A
Reason: Deconstructing tasks into smaller steps with clear instructions helps learners process information incrementally, reducing cognitive overload and anxiety.

What is a key characteristic of effective scaffolding according to the course?

A. Offering the same level of guidance throughout the learning process.
B. Gradually withdrawing support as learners gain competence.
C. Providing direct answers to minimize frustration during assignments.
D. Giving learners total freedom to explore without intervention.

Correct Answer: B
Reason: Effective scaffolding involves adjusting the level of guidance to match the learner’s current ability, reducing support as they become more confident and capable.

What is a key benefit of using podcasts for scaffolding in asynchronous learning?

A. They allow trainers to completely replace in-person guidance.
B. They provide learners with flexible, portable learning opportunities.
C. They are quicker to produce than written resources.
D. They eliminate the need for any trainer involvement after being published.

Correct Answer: B
Reason: Podcasts offer learners the flexibility to access content anytime, anywhere, making them a powerful tool for personalized and portable learning.

How can podcasts specifically aid scaffolding during difficult assignments?

A By replacing all instructional materials with audio content.
B. By providing step-by-step guidance, examples, and motivation for learners.
C. By focusing on abstract concepts without practical applications.
D. By covering the content once and assuming learners will understand it immediately.

Correct Answer: B
Reason: Podcasts can be tailored to scaffold learning by offering practical examples, breaking down complex concepts, and encouraging active listening and reflection.