Podcast Project: Revolutionary Era

Welcome to the first podcast project for your class.  In case you didn’t know, podcasts are either audio or video files (mostly mp3′s) that are created to serve a variety of functions.  Some are about news, sports, entertainment, and culture, but ours are about history.  Usually podcasts are updated regularly through a RSS or iTunes feed, so listeners can subscribe to them.  Ours are a one-time event (unless the class wants to set up some running extra credit work).

So how is this going to work?  Well, we are going to use the recording equipment in my classroom, as well as any you may have at home, to make an audio recording.  What form should it take?  Well, that’s up to you.  There are a couple of stipulations and requirements, though, that you should be aware of.  First, you will have to use primary source evidence and quotes in your script.  Using these primary sources will help you understand the skills and abilities of good research required for historians, but it should also give you an understanding (through interpretation of their words) of the individuals, events and issues of their time.  Second, you will be writing a script that will outline either an interview or a dramatic performance.  Who should you interview?  What should you act out?  Well, those topics should be limited to the period in American history from the beginning of the French and Indian War (1754) to, and including, the Constitutional Convention (1787).  Any individual, event or issue can be discussed and researched for your podcast.  Just check with me if you have any questions.

We are going to use this rubric for your podcast grade and this guideline to help you understand the tasks involved in creating a podcast.   To learn more about podcasting in the history classroom, click here.