Over the course of the semester, I have been working on a series of podcasts that I plan to grow. Titled “Who? What? Where?,” the podcast is aimed at secondary educators and students, as well as lifelong learners who simply want to learn something new.
Digital history does not look one way. It is dynamic, ever-changing. Even through this semester’s project, I’ve seen these facts play out. My own ideas were fluid. As I beta-tested the idea of the podcast with my friends who are educators, I learned that students are most engaged with history when it’s fun. When it’s a narrative. When it’s exciting. I paired this realization that the best learning takes place when the senses are engaged and paired it with a medium that continues to evolve: Podcasts. Probably the most recognizable, podcasts have risen to the spotlight as modes of narrative.
At the end of the day, I love interacting with students. I love the looks of amazement as history finally becomes more than words on a page. Coming from a family of educators, I realized how prevalent the search for digital history actually is.
The website itself is aimed at teachers. Every podcast page has the script I have written for the episode to engage visual learners. Paired with pictures, the script is written in conversation language. The audio aspect of the podcast is aimed at aural learners. I narrate the podcast as if I was explaining this topic to my brother who is an accountant. Finally, there are links for continued reading. Looking back, I wish I had a place that put different topics with further reading lists in a place all together. That is what this project is for – it’s for the students like me who wanted to dive deep but wasn’t always given lists of resources by my teachers.
Digital History is not “one size fits all.” For Public Historians dedicated to education, it’s an accumulation of tools by historians aimed at engaged the widest audience in engaging ways.
So you can find my website HERE. And you can find the podcast HERE.
The project poster is below. Creating a website and podcast demonstrated how important digital history is. And I look forward to continuing the journey of exploration as I continue to cultivate these skills.
This looks great! I love how much thought you put into who you want your target audience to be, and what their needs are. Asking your friends who are educators was probably majorly helpful and I hope they use your podcast/content in their classes. I also really like how you described the episodes as “bite-sized” on your poster which alludes to short and sweet content, not too overwhelming or packed with information. Great work Michaela!
Awesome work! Loved the intro music. I loved what you said, “Digital History is not “one size fits all.” For Public Historians dedicated to education, it’s an accumulation of tools by historians aimed at engaged the widest audience in engaging ways.” I think it perfectly describes teacher’s looking for history resources as well. I can see a ton of uses of your podcast for teachers working to differentiate their teaching/assignment practices!