Introduction
Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes. They tell stories that inspire us. They offer criticisms that challenge how we see the world. They can be comedic and tragic and dramatic and deceptive. They can be political or pointless, or even persuasive, perceptive, peculiar, and the like. In truth, the challenge resides not in making a podcast, but rather in doing something that stands out within this wide array of consumer content.
Description
For this last assignment, Podcast #3, the guiding focus or frame is innovation. What this means is that students should attempt to create their own podcast brand (with this episode being a pilot of sorts). Students should take the practices and techniques they have learned from podcasts #1 and #2 and deploy them here to innovative ways—which is to say, students should approach the content of this podcast in a new way, or design a show that is unique (in its focus or features), or re-envision existing practices to create something new, or apply a new method (for engagement, investigation, etc.), or cover a relatively underserved (if not unknown) content area. Thus, these podcast creations will vary widely in style, focus, intent, format, and the like. But at their core they should attempt to be distinguishable.
Purpose
The purpose of this podcast is to bring together the practices and techniques learned in this class—from research practices to rhetorical analysis, digital field methods to story telling—to create a podcast that is engaging and informative.
Requirements
In addition to the requirements for the podcast itself, this particular assignment also comes with 3 additional required elements: (1) rationale/write-up identifying the podcast focus, audience, etc.; (2) podcast logo; and (3) website (to introduce and showcase podcast work).
PODCAST
- Must be 15:00-19:00 minutes in length (27:00-30:00 in working in partners);
- Must include either: select sound bites/clips from outside sources or at least one interviewee/guest (who is not in this course);
- Must leverage at least 5 appropriate sources (materials, resources, etc.0 to help provide depth and information for the podcast;
- Must be timely or be made to feel timely.
- Must include a self-evaluation
- Must include 2 peer reviews
RATIONALE/WRITE-UP
In addition to the podcast, each student will need to submit (as a page/component of his/her website), a written rationale. These will vary in length and form, but should attempt to address the following questions/prompts:
- What is the focus of my podcast?
- What makes this podcast innovative (loosely)?
- What is the purpose of my podcast?
- Who is the audience for my podcast?
- What do I hope this podcast accomplishes?
- What would be the focus of the next two episodes?
LOGO
Each student must produce a logo for his/her podcast. This means not only does the show need a name, but some form of graphical representation. Additionally, these logo creations should come in two formats: one as a .png file meant for digital display; the other as a high resolution .tiff or .png image meant to be printed.
- For digital: at least 72 ppi resolution
- For print: at least 300 ppi resolution
WEBSITE
Each podcast needs to have a website where it can be showcased. These websites will serve as the portal to this (and any future) podcast creation and provide orienting information to viewers.
- Must include an About page (introducing podcast, podcaster, etc.);
- Must include the podcast logo;
- Must include Podcast #3;
- Must include the rationale/write-up for podcast #3 (either as a component of the page on which Podcast #3 can be found or as separate page on the website);
- Must actually be published to the web;
- Must NOT include any IU/Course identification information (unless you feel comfortable with disclosing such information.
Due Dates
- 4/18 – Draft of Website & Logo due
- 4/23 – Podcast #3, Self-Evaluation, Rationale/Write-up, Website, and Logo Due
- 4/25 – Peer Review Due
Evaluation
- Podcasts will be graded on their overall quality, their technical efficacy, their development of ideas, their depth of engagement, the insightfulness of the explication, and matters of the aesthetic (e.g., tone, voice, and style, among others).
- Rationale/Write-Up will be evaluated based on their clarity, depth of engagement or explanation, and quality of the writing.
- Websites & Logo will be evaluated based on their overall design, aesthetics, function, and delivery of information.
Grades
PODCASTS – 200 points
- Students will provide a self-evaluation of their podcast, which will account for 20% of the final podcast grade.
- Students will provide peer evaluations of each other’s work (3 per podcast), with the 3 peer evaluations collectively accounting for 30% of the final podcast grade.
- Instructor will provide an assessment of the student podcast, which will account for 50% of the final podcast grade.
RATIONALE/WRITE-UP – 30 points
WEBSITE/LOGO – 40 points
Credits:
Created with images by Ivsu - "microphone audio radio" • HNDPTESBC - "left hand line male"