The Pedagogical Potential of Podcasts: Using Digital Audio to Enhance Learning in Marriage and Family Counseling Courses

Abstract

Podcasts are a convenient, portable, and increasingly popular resource for conveying and consuming information. Accordingly, the ever-expanding catalog of podcast content offers counselor educators, counseling students, and clinicians a wealth of free learning materials. This article provides an overview of current podcast trends, prior uses in educational and clinical settings, and outlines several strategies for utilizing podcasts to enhance student learning and development in marriage and family counseling courses.

Counselor Educator- and Student-Produced Podcasts: Technical Considerations and Educational Applications for Marriage and Family Counseling Courses

“…Podcasts offer listeners free and engaging resources for learning new information (Allen, 2019; Casares, 2023; Salloum & Smyth, 2013; Swanson, 2012), in a convenient format that aligns with the technology habits and listening practices of the majority of Americans (Nielsen Insights, 2018; Roose, 2017; Walker, 2022). Given the widespread popularity of podcasts, and the relative ease with which they can now be produced, it is reasonable to assume that counselor educators and counseling students would embrace the opportunity to create original podcasts within marriage and family counseling courses (Casares, 2022; 2023).…”

“…Podcasts offer listeners free and engaging resources for learning new information (Allen, 2019; Casares, 2023; Salloum & Smyth, 2013; Swanson, 2012), in a convenient format that aligns with the technology habits and listening practices of the majority of Americans (Nielsen Insights, 2018; Roose, 2017; Walker, 2022). Given the widespread popularity of podcasts, and the relative ease with which they can now be produced, it is reasonable to assume that counselor educators and counseling students would embrace the opportunity to create original podcasts within marriage and family counseling courses (Casares, 2022; 2023). The proposed activities aim to provide various educational benefits such as: (a) enhancing instructional methods (Middleton, 2009; Rockinson-Szapkiw & Walker, 2009; Salloum & Smyth, 2013), (b) improving information acquisition (Collier-Reed et al, 2013; Evans, 2008; Kennedy et al, 2014, 2016; Robinson & Robertson, 2010), (c) prompting deeper engagement with course content (Flanagan, 2015; Godsey, 2016; Middleton, 2009; Morgan, 2015), (d) creatively expressing unique perspectives (Meserko, 2014; Murray, 2019), (e) promoting self-directed study (Bolliger et al, 2010), and (f) strengthening professional collaborations (Alvarez, 2020; Harter, 2019; Kwok, 2019; Murray, 2019; Quinones, 2016).…”

“…The educational benefits of creating podcasts as learning tools in marriage and family counseling courses are rooted in the assumptions that, prior to beginning the recording process, counselor educators/counseling students have: A working knowledge of podcast production technology. Identified applicable learning objective(s). Determined the pedagogical rationale and parameters of the project. Troubleshot technological issues and barriers. Addressed relevant questions and/or concerns (ACA, 2014; Casares & Binkley 2021, Casares, 2022, 2023; Besser et al, 2022; Bloom, 1956; CACREP, 2015; COAMFTE, 2021; Fronek et al, 2016; Gladding & Casares, 2022; McGhee et al, 2019; Shepard & Brew, 2005; Van Wyk, 2019). …”

“…In doing so, counselor educators are able to cover key course material while freeing up class time to vary instructional approaches through experiential, interactive, or discussion-based sessions (Bradley et al, 2021;Brown et al, 2014;Casado-Kehoe et al, 2011;Ferrer et al, 2020;MacCluskie, 2012). This method also affords counselor educators a chance to instruct students outside of designated class sessions, as a way of continuing engagement with course material (Casares, 2023;Bolliger et al, 2010;Morgan, 2015;Godsey, 2016). Other applications could include recording a brief reflection on an article related to a previous week's lecture (e.g., "I came across an interesting article today that addresses some of the material we covered last class.…”

“…Recent survey data indicates that the popularity of podcasts is currently at an all-time high (Edison Research, 2023). Listeners generally enjoy podcasts for their convenience, portability, and capacity to educate and entertain (Casares, 2022, 2023; EX-IQ, 2019; Statista, 2023). Additionally, advances in podcast mobile apps and recording technology have simplified the process for producing high quality podcast content.…”