Flex Your Mind While Flexing Your Muscles

I love it when I leave a conference with an idea or strategy that I can barely wait to try. In October, I attended the Region 10 IDCC conference and have been sitting on this idea waiting for the New Year. January always brings resolutions and commitments to healthier habits, making it the perfect time to implement this new choice PL strategy I learned about from Ashley Gilliam, Region 10 Digital Learning Coordinator. No more sit and get PL, welcome to Podcasts and Pedometers!

Details for our Podcast and Pedometers PL

Earn flex while working on your New Year Resolution to move more!

Participants will choose a podcast or two from a provided list of educational podcasts. As a group, we will walk and listen to our individually chosen Podcast for 20 minutes. Then, for the last 10 minutes of the walk, participants will partner up to jigsaw their favorite podcast takeaways.

When are we walking? See DLC's weekly emails for upcoming dates and times.

Where do we meet? Meet early in the ROC to set up your device, choose a podcast, and find your walking partner.  We will walk indoor or out, depending on the weather.

How do I sign up? Just show up. No pre-sign up or commitment required.

What do I bring? Walking shoes, earbuds, and a device to access the podcasts.

How do I earn Flex? After each walk you attend, submit a short form reflecting on your Podcast takeaways. Each walk is worth ½ hour of flex. You can participate in as many sessions as you like, but may only request Flex for up to six hours.

What kind of podcasts will we listen to? Podcasts that share strategies for teaching and learning will be selected. Participants will also have the opportunity to suggest Podcasts. See Podcasts examples below.

Using Podcasts in Your Classroom

Ashley’s session also included resources related to using Podcasts with your learners.

• ListenNotes not only allows you to search by content, but you can also create and share clips! Read more about it here.

• Listenwise contains a searchable database for Social Studies, Science, and ELA Lessons and includes listening comprehension questions and discussion themes. Check out this Cult of Pedagogy podcast by Jennifer Gonzalas to hear more.

• And THIS… a podcast list for AP classes by subject!

Do you have educational podcast suggestions for our walks? Please share in the comments below.

Credit: Inspired by this post from Meredith Akers and Ashley Gilliam’s 2018 IDCC Region 10 presentation, Podcasts for Learning.