PD in the car...with Podcasts

So I love my job. When I tell people at parties that I’m a science teacher, and I’m really lucky because I love both of the words in that job. I love science, and I love teaching. In addition to providing a paycheck, these two things are fun to think about, read about, and talk with other people about. From time to time, though, it feels like one of those words (science or teaching) has been dominating over the other; sometimes it feels like I’ve been focusing more on the science, and sometimes more on the teaching.  There’s always this struggle teachers face to stay current in their content, to know about the “latest and greatest” in pedagogy and student learning. But where do we find the time? The school day is chock full already, and much as reading a journal article sounds like a great way to spend your planning block or duty-free lunch...things like "planning" or "eating lunch" take precedence.  And as important as professional nourishment is, doing it at home seems to take away from important activities like speaking to one's family & friends, or laundry (ok, at this point in the post the author is painfully aware that he needs better hobbies...let's just get on with it...)

Podcasts!

So this is probably not a brand-new concept for everyone reading this, but our iPads and smartphones can automatically download daily or weekly audio pocasts--like radio shows with more convenient scheduling. The world of podcasts is wonderfully varied...there are podcasts just on grammar, and podcasts about the NFL betting lines, and everything in between. In preparing this post, I actually came across a podcast entitled "Useless Information Podcast" (see screenshot above). Once you find something you like, you can subscribe using iTunes if you're a full-time iOS user (Android users have a host of podcast players to choose from)but a curated podcast list can give you something interesting and different to listen to on each of your commutes to/from work. Your subscriptions will automatically download to your device overnight when it's plugged in, and voila! Fresh new content, served at predictable intervals. Now your commute can be both decompression and professional development.  Personally, I mix about equal thirds: my science-y podcasts, a teacher podcast or two (for the Math/Science folks, I love Horizontal Transfer), and my guilty pleasure, the resurrected Bill Simmons Podcast (hey, it can't all be work-related).

Since our blog here at RMHS EdTech has a comments section, I'm not going to try to have a complete list of cool podcasts for every content area--I wouldn't even know what to look for. What I AM suggesting, though, is that you give it a try: spend 10 minutes on iTunes and download 2-3 podcast episodes that catch your attention.  Does this podcast-in-the-car work for you? Do you do this already? What podcasts do you like?  Talk back, RMHS! We'd love to hear what you think!  As always, if you want to talk in 3-D, we'll be in the Library at the tall tables.

(some) Podcasts for Teachers

Edutopia's list of "Best podcasts for teachers" has some good ones, with topics ranging from classroom strategies, to content blogs, to teacher leadership

TEDTalks (audio) for those of us who love TED talks, now safe for the car!

NPR has lots of wonderful stuff...RadioLab, Fresh Air (Arts), Here & Now (politics)