StudySync Debuts New Podcast Featuring Student Perspectives
StudySync, a blended English language arts (ELA) and English language development (ELD) program for grades 6 to 12, is debuting a new audio podcast feature aimed to capture student perspectives on contemporary learning.
The first podcast feature, titled “School of Thought,” explores students’ views on 21st century learning, while helping students improve important listening and critical thinking skills, according to a news release.
The “School of Thought” podcast series will feature six episodes, each four to six minutes in length. The following topics will be covered:
- How schools should be designed;
- The importance of homework;
- What subjects should be taught in schools;
- How to improve school lunch;
- How school schedules should be structured; and
- The importance of extracurricular activities.
Each episode will feature interviews with students from across the United States, and will also include opinions from teachers, experts and innovators in education. The podcasts will be weekly additions to StudySync’s daily “blasts,” which are short reading and writing assignments that allow students to express their opinions on high-interest topics, sparking debate via a mediated, online social network. Student will be able to draw upon the additional podcast content as they craft written responses to the blasts, as well as engage in thoughtful discussions on the various topics covered.
“Most ideas on improving education come from administrators, parents and politicians, rather than from students themselves,” said Robert Romano, co-founder and CEO of StudySync, in a statement. “Our new ‘School of Thought’ podcast provides students the opportunity to voice their opinion, in this case to offer thoughtful insights into what school should look and feel like in the 21st century.”
In the coming months, additional podcast topics will be added to the “School of Thought” series and will be rolled out to schools with the StudySync platform.
StudySync is powered by BookheadEd Learning and McGraw-Hill Education. Subscriptions vary from $15.99 for a one-year student subscription to $108 for a six-year, bundled reading and writing subscription.
To listen to a teaser of the “School of Thought” podcast, click on this link. To learn more about StudySync, visit the platform’s website.
About the Author
Richard Chang is associate editor of THE Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].