6 Podcasting with Youth confidence ­ will not be restricted to podcasting but ­ will carry over into their school and social lives. It may also pique their interest in media, interviewing, or broadcasting and send them down a path to a ­ future ­ career. I see my job as provid- ing ­these opportunities, and podcasting delivers on several fronts. In addition to all of this, podcasting has helped the teens and myself become better listeners. We try hard to create a show that is conversational in tone, and to do this, our team needs to ask questions and listen to the author’s response before jumping in with the next question. This may seem obvious, but when the red “rec­ord” button is on and ­ you’ve got an author sitting in front of you and your headphones are on, it’s another story. Good listening skills ­ don’t often come nat- urally, and I’m very happy to see how my team and I have both progressed in this department. The teens have also learned several technical skills. Learn- ing to operate the equipment carries with it a sharp learn- ing curve for many, especially if you ­ haven’t encountered the programs before. I have learned several new skills as well that I ­ wouldn’t have even considered engaging with before. The students learn to edit, rec­ord, broadcast, and publish their podcast. They also learn about the importance of mar- keting their podcast and creating content that is attractive and listenable. They use their artistic skills and graphic design programs to create a professional-­looking podcast through log­os, posters with quotes from the authors, and bookmarks. They use their musical skills to come up with songs that ­ will be used in the opening and closing credits of each podcast. Creates a Safe Environment When I was a student in high school, and I know this ­isn’t every­one’s experience, you could become a target if you showed too much enthusiasm for anything labeled “geeky” or “uncool.” Having a safe place like a library or a classroom with a teacher who is invested in the program can create more than just a place to rec­ord voices. It can become a
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