Ed Tech Tuesday: Recast

Recast is a tool I have recently become familiar with and it has quickly become one of my favorite tools and I can't wait to use it with students. In today's blog post, I'll describe several ways you can use Recast as an Ed Tech Tool in your online course. Le't jump right in!

Recast is a great app-based tool that allows you to turn any long form article, newsletter, blog post, etc. that is posted online, into a bite-sized podcast. This is perfect for educators who want to have their students engage with content but may not have the time or resources to create a full podcast. With Recast, you can quickly turn written content into an entertaining audio format that your students are sure to love!

Unlike many other tools that will read internet content, Recast does not sound like an automated robot. It sounds like real humans having a casual conversation. It even sounds engaging and interesting! I enjoyed this app so much that I converted all of my blog posts into Recasts that anyone can listen to HERE.

Let me share a few ways I think Recast can be used by online educators: 

1. Convert course materials into easy to listen podcasts. 

If you're looking for an alternative to the multiple pages of text that comprise your course materials, try putting them through the Recast app! You can easily convert any internet based content into an audio format to provide to your students. 

2. Create engaging video content. 

Have you ever wanted to turn your notes into a video but just didn't have the time to record them? Well, try recasting your notes into a podcast and then create a short video with the Recast audio and images that reflect the content.

3. Curate educational audio playlists. 

In my online courses, I chunk my content into Modules. It might be nice to take all the content from a Module and turn it into an audio playlist that students can review at the end of each Module.

4. Create brief pre-Module previews

Recasts can be a very fun way to build interest in upcoming topics. Students can listen to an audio preview in the app to prepare them for what they will be learning in an upcoming Module.

5. Have students create Recast playlists

You can also invite students to create their own Recast playlists. It’s a great way to get them actively engaged in the content and help them retain more of what they are learning. You might assign students a variety of topics to research and develop a curated Recast list of the topics that can then be shared with other students in the course.

 I'd love to hear your ideas on how you might be able to use this tool in your own online course. Share them in The Online Educator Facebook Group!