EdTech Corner
Bringing Research to Life Through
Podcasts in Discovery Writing
Bethany Monea
Assistant Professor of Writing
CAS
In Dr. Bethany Monea’s IGED 210 Discovery Writing class—an online course—students build on the critical reading and writing skills attained in the Foundation Writing sequence.
Dr. Monea explained that as part of their culminating project, students create podcast episodes based on semester-long research, utilizing resources from NPR's College Student Podcast Challenge. They are encouraged to submit their final work to NPR's contest, integrating research, argumentation, and personal voice. Students also share their podcasts and engage with each other's episodes through Blackboard discussion boards.
While podcasting might seem intimidating—especially for those new to the genre or less tech-savvy—tools like Adobe Podcasts make the process more accessible. With their UDC credentials, students can access an intuitive platform to record, enhance audio, and edit their podcasts with ease. Dr. Monea shared, “I encourage my students to visit my office for assistance. One student overcame her apprehension during office hours, learning the basics within 15 minutes.”
Dr. Monea added, “This project fosters skills in research, creativity, and technical communication while providing a platform for student voices. As educators, we are encouraged to guide students through the process and leverage tools provided by UDC—like Adobe Podcasts—to simplify the experience.”
An example of a student podcast project is "Teacher Burnout"—Click here to listen.
EdTech Corner Submissions:
Share your best practices and how you leverage EdTech in your teaching to increase learning outcomes.
Please email fatma.elshobokshy@udc.edu.