Podcasts introduced as a creative assessment in Institute for Media and Creative Industries
Academic staff in the Institute for Media and Creative Industries have received a Teaching Innovation Award to introduce podcasting as a creative assessment into the Institute’s MA programmes.
From the 2021-22 academic year students in the Institute for Media and Creative Industries will produce a podcast as part of one of their core modules: either Media and Creative Industries: Contexts and Practices (for students on the MA Media and Creative Industries), or Critical Studies in Communication, Media and Social Change (for students on the MA Global Communication and Social Change).
Top student podcasts will have the opportunity to be published on iTunes, Spotify and other major podcast platforms.
One of the awardees, Dr Jessica Noske-Turner, who will teach the Critical Studies in Communication, Media and Social Change module, says the award is an exciting opportunity to explore creative forms of assessment that enable students to learn and demonstrate a range of skills that are relevant to their future careers.
“I think it will be really motivating for students to know they are producing content for potentially real-world audiences. It adds a new and innovative dynamic to the learning.”
Professor Jo Tacchi, who will co-teach Media and Creative Industries: Contexts and Practices says the podcast is also intended to provide opportunities to directly engage with industry professionals and practices.
“There are different ways students could approach their podcast. For example, they could interview industry professionals, record a debate about a topical issue or event happening in the field, or critically review a piece of media or creative content.”
Graham Hitchen, Associate Dean for Enterprise for the London School and co-Module Leader for Media and Creative Industries: Contexts and Practices, who has himself produced several podcasts on the creative industries, said:
“It will be interesting to see how students produce podcasts that demonstrate both academic insight and communicate with non-academic audiences.”
A sub-component of the Teaching Innovation Award aims to develop pedagogical insights into the potential of podcasting specifically for communication and social change education. Dr Noske-Turner will be examining how producing podcasts may encourage students to engage in dialogue and deep listening among themselves and with practitioners and experts. The findings are to be published in an academic journal article.
To find out more about the Institute for Media and Creative Industries, please visit their webpages.