Podcasts Unplugged: Collaborative Storytelling and Tech Mastery

Created byHeidi Gomez

1 views0 downloads

Podcasts Unplugged: Collaborative Storytelling and Tech Mastery

Grade 7EnglishComputer Science4 days

"Podcasts Unplugged: Collaborative Storytelling and Tech Mastery" is a project-based learning experience for 7th-grade students that combines English and computer science. Students engage in producing a podcast series by applying project management, crowdsourcing, and feedback strategies. The project features activities like pitching ideas, creating sound libraries, scriptwriting, and recording episodes, emphasizing collaborative teamwork, technical proficiency, and creative content development through real-world media production tasks.

PodcastsStorytellingCollaborationProject ManagementFeedbackCrowdsourcingTechnology

Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.

📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we create engaging, informative, and professionally produced podcasts by applying effective project management, crowdsourcing, and feedback strategies?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

What are the key elements of producing an engaging and informative podcast?
How can effective project management techniques be applied to a group podcast production?
In what ways can feedback improve the quality of podcast episodes?
How can crowdsourcing ideas and resources enhance our podcast series?
What roles and responsibilities contribute to a successful podcast production team?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will produce and publish a series of themed podcasts using collaborative project management techniques.
Students will develop skills in using technology for media production and publishing.
Students will apply strategies for effective crowdsourcing and feedback to improve media quality.
Students will engage in collaborative discussions and decision-making to mirror real-world media production teams.
Students will investigate roles and responsibilities within a podcast production team to enhance teamwork and understanding.

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards

CSTA-7-12-3A-AP-17

Primary

Collaboratively design and develop programs and artifacts. Evaluate and refine the artifacts collaboratively.Reason: The project involves collaborative design and development of podcasts, aligning with the standard's focus on producing and refining artifacts through teamwork.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.6

Primary

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.Reason: Students will use technology (podcast software and the internet) to produce and publish podcasts, mirroring how students should use tech to produce and publish written work.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1

Primary

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.Reason: Effective podcast production requires students to engage in collaborative discussions, echoing the standards for speaking and listening.

ISTE Standards for Students (International Society for Technology in Education)

ISTE-4b

Secondary

Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process, reflecting on the design process that any necessary challenges were faced and awareness was made.Reason: Students will select and use digital tools to plan and manage their podcast production, aligning with the ISTE standard regarding planning and project management.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Podcast Pitch Competition

Arrange a 'Shark Tank'-style competition where students pitch their podcast ideas to a panel of judges. This fosters creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaboration, as students must develop a coherent vision for their podcast series.

Mysterious Audio Clip Discovery

Students start with listening to a mysterious audio clip found on a digital device with snippets of various themes. They must hypothesize its origin and content, igniting curiosity to produce their own podcast series that unfolds the story behind the audio.

Sound Treasure Hunt

Initiate a city-wide sound treasure hunt using smartphones to capture unique sounds, interviewing locals about interesting stories. Students will then use these elements as inspiration and content for their own podcasts.

📚

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Podcast Dream Team Dynamics

Students will learn about various roles and responsibilities in a podcast production team by simulating a real-life team setting. They will explore how each role contributes to the success of the podcast and decide on a role they would like to take on.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Discuss as a class the various roles in podcast production (e.g., host, producer, editor, sound engineer, researcher).

2. Assign small groups to research one role and present their findings to the class.

3. Have students reflect individually on which role they would like to take on during the podcast project and why.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA written reflection detailing the role each student would like to take on and why, along with a class-generated chart of podcast production roles and responsibilities.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1 as students engage in discussions to understand team dynamics, building on others' ideas.

Activity 2

Soundtrack of Our Lives

In this activity, students will create a sound library by collecting sounds that they believe could be incorporated into their podcast themes. This builds their technical and creative skills, fostering collaboration and resource sharing.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Students brainstorm in groups the types of sounds that might enhance their podcast theme.

2. Using smartphones and recording devices, students capture these sounds in different environments.

3. Create a shared digital library where all sounds are uploaded and cataloged according to themes or relevance.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA digital sound library accessible by the class, categorized into themes related to potential podcast content.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports ISTE-4b by enabling students to use digital tools to collect and manage podcast resources collaboratively.

Activity 3

Scriptwriting Masterclass

Students will develop a script for their first podcast episode, focusing on structuring content logically and engagingly, and considering voice and tone. They will use peer feedback to refine their scripts.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Review elements of good scriptwriting through examples and discussions.

2. Draft a script for the first podcast episode individually or in pairs.

3. Exchange scripts with peers for feedback, focusing on clarity, structure, and engagement.

4. Revise scripts based on peer feedback, highlighting accepted changes.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA finalized script for the first podcast episode ready for recording.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.6 as students use technology to produce and refine scripts through collaboration and feedback.

Activity 4

Recording Studio Experience

After developing their podcast scripts, students will experience recording their first episode using digital tools, emphasizing collaboration and technical skills in media production.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Students review the technical aspects of using audio recording equipment and software.

2. In assigned roles, students collaborate to set up a recording session while troubleshooting common technical issues.

3. Record the podcast episode, with each student contributing according to their role.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA recorded and edited first episode of the podcast series, incorporating initial sound effects and music from the digital sound library.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CSTA-7-12-3A-AP-17 by teaching collaborative development of digital media artifacts in a real-world setting.

Activity 5

Critics' Corner: Constructive Feedback

Students will listen to each other's recorded podcast episodes and provide constructive feedback. This peer review process will help refine their podcast series and improve future episodes.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Listen to each group's podcast episode as a class or in small discussion groups.

2. Provide structured feedback using a peer review form focusing on content quality, technical aspects, and engagement.

3. Facilitate a class discussion on how the feedback received can be implemented in future episodes.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityFeedback forms and a list of action points for each group to consider for improving their podcast series.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with the collaborative feedback component of the standards, as students provide and receive feedback on media artifacts.

🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Podcast Production Evaluation Rubric

Category 1

Role Understanding and Team Dynamics

Evaluates students' understanding and engagement in various podcast production roles and their contribution to team dynamics.

Criterion 1

Role Comprehension

Assesses the clarity and depth with which students comprehend their assigned production role.

Exemplary

4 Points

Student demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of their role and articulates how it contributes to the overall podcast production, along with innovative ideas for role enhancement.

Proficient

3 Points

Student shows a clear understanding of their role and its contribution to the podcast, suggesting appropriate strategies for role execution.

Developing

2 Points

Student shows basic understanding of their role with minimal ideas about its contribution or execution.

Beginning

1 Points

Student shows limited or incorrect understanding of their role with no clear ideas for role contribution.

Criterion 2

Team Collaboration

Evaluates the student's ability to effectively collaborate with peers within the podcast team context.

Exemplary

4 Points

Student takes leadership in collaboration, fosters an inclusive environment, and facilitates constructive dialogue to advance team goals.

Proficient

3 Points

Student collaborates well with peers, actively participates in discussions, and contributes to achieving team objectives.

Developing

2 Points

Student participates in collaboration with occasional contribution but requires support to maintain effective discussions.

Beginning

1 Points

Student rarely participates in team discussions and struggles to contribute meaningfully to collaboration.

Criterion 3

Reflection and Role Selection

Assesses students' reflective writing on role selection and the reasons for their choice, along with their understanding of team dynamics.

Exemplary

4 Points

Reflection is insightful, showing a sophisticated understanding of team dynamics and deeply reasoned choice of role, considering personal strengths.

Proficient

3 Points

Reflection shows a well-reasoned choice of role selection with a clear understanding of team dynamics.

Developing

2 Points

Reflection shows a basic rationale for role choice with limited understanding of dynamics.

Beginning

1 Points

Reflection lacks clarity or rationale for role selection, with no reference to team dynamics.

Category 2

Technical Proficiency and Resource Management

Focuses on student proficiency with technical tools and management of audio resources for podcast production.

Criterion 1

Digital Tool Utilization

Evaluates how effectively students use digital tools for capturing, organizing, and editing podcast materials.

Exemplary

4 Points

Student demonstrates advanced proficiency with digital tools, utilizing them innovatively to enhance podcast quality.

Proficient

3 Points

Student effectively uses digital tools to capture, organize, and edit podcast content with consistent quality.

Developing

2 Points

Student shows basic skills with digital tools, but inconsistent quality in managing content.

Beginning

1 Points

Student struggles to use digital tools effectively, resulting in poor quality content management.

Criterion 2

Sound Resource Management

Assesses the ability to manage and integrate collected sounds into the podcast series effectively.

Exemplary

4 Points

Student skillfully integrates diverse sound resources, creatively enhancing the podcast series, while maintaining excellent organization.

Proficient

3 Points

Student effectively integrates sounds, maintaining good organization and contribution to the podcast theme.

Developing

2 Points

Student integrates some sounds with basic organization and minimal enhancement of the podcast theme.

Beginning

1 Points

Student struggles to integrate sounds, showing poor organization and little enhancement of the podcast theme.

Category 3

Creative Content Development

Assesses students' ability to create engaging and informative podcast scripts and episodes using structured writing and peer feedback.

Criterion 1

Scriptwriting Quality

Evaluates the creativity, clarity, and engagement of the podcast script.

Exemplary

4 Points

Script is compelling, well-structured, and polished, reflecting advanced creativity and attention to voice and tone.

Proficient

3 Points

Script is clear, engaging, and well-organized with a strong grasp of voice.

Developing

2 Points

Script shows developing creativity and organization but lacks full engagement and polish.

Beginning

1 Points

Script is unclear or poorly organized, with minimal attempt at creativity or engagement.

Criterion 2

Revising and Feedback Implementation

Evaluates the student's ability to constructively use peer feedback to revise their script and final podcast.

Exemplary

4 Points

Student effectively incorporates feedback, demonstrating critical reflection and significant script enhancement.

Proficient

3 Points

Student uses feedback to make substantial improvements to the script.

Developing

2 Points

Student considers feedback with limited revisions to the script.

Beginning

1 Points

Student shows little effort to incorporate feedback into script revisions.

Category 4

Quality of Final Podcast Production

Assesses the overall quality of the produced podcast episode, focusing on content, technical execution, and audience engagement.

Criterion 1

Content Quality and Engagement

Assesses how well the podcast content engages the target audience and its informative value.

Exemplary

4 Points

Podcast content is highly engaging and informative, keeping the audience captivated throughout.

Proficient

3 Points

Podcast content is engaging and informative, meeting audience expectations consistently.

Developing

2 Points

Podcast content has some engaging elements but inconsistently captivates the audience.

Beginning

1 Points

Podcast content lacks engagement and informative elements, failing to connect with the audience.

Criterion 2

Technical Execution

Evaluates the technical aspects of recording and editing, including sound quality and coherence.

Exemplary

4 Points

Podcast demonstrates exceptional technical quality, with flawless editing and professional sound quality.

Proficient

3 Points

Podcast is well-edited with good sound quality, minor technical issues noted.

Developing

2 Points

Podcast has noticeable editing or sound quality issues but remains understandable.

Beginning

1 Points

Podcast suffers from major technical issues that hinder content clarity and quality.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflect on your experience as part of your podcast production team. What role did you play, and how did your responsibilities contribute to the success of the team?

Text

Required

Question 2

How effective were the project management and collaboration strategies used by your team during the podcast production?

Scale

Required

Question 3

What was the most significant piece of feedback you received during the peer review process, and how did it influence your podcast episode?

Text

Required

Question 4

Which strategy did your team find most valuable for enhancing the quality of your podcast series? (e.g., project management, crowd sourcing, feedback integration)

Multiple choice

Required

Options

Project management

Crowdsourcing

Feedback integration

Question 5

Reflect on your personal growth throughout the podcast production project. What skills did you develop, and how might they apply to future endeavors?

Text

Required