Nowadays, more and more educational resources are found online as much as on the shelves of libraries. Think of the wide variety of media that exists on the Internet: newspapers and...
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Nowadays, more and more educational resources are found online as much as on the shelves of libraries. Think of the wide variety of media that exists on the Internet: newspapers and magazines, blogs, TV and radio shows - not to mention social media outlets. Podcasts, in particular, are immensely convenient and portable sources of information. You can stream them online or download them for listening later; you can listen to them on your smartphone, iPod, laptop, or tablet during your commute to class. If you are not already subscribed to some, here are a few that every college student should check out. Search for them on the iTunes store, on their websites, or on your favorite radio or podcast app.
TED Radio Hour
Hosted by National Public Radio (NPR), the TED Radio Hour emphasizes innovation and creativity. An offshoot of the TEDTalks - which brings in people from different fields and walks of life to discuss their ideas, inventions, or innovations - this podcast covers a wide spectrum of creative thought. Topics range from psychology to writing to globalization to science. One recent show, "Playing with Perceptions," surveys the opinions of a playwright, comedian, artist, educator/poet, and psychology professor on stereotypes. If you are interested in the way the human mind works, especially in relation to society and the world, check out TED Radio Hour. Source:
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This American Life
This American Life is produced in Chicago, yet has a national reputation and following. Each episode is centered around theme, such as "A Front" (on hiding the truth), "Is This Working?" (classroom management and misbehavior of students), or "Call For Help" (people in serious trouble). For each theme, This American Life curates true stories of people from across the nation: a kind of "movie journalism" without interviews, news, or call-ins. Get ready for a mixture of surprise, emotion, drama, and comedy. To start, check out some
popular episodes: "Cars," "Switched At Birth," and "Babysitting."
Radiolab
Radiolab listeners are curious: they are interested in ideas, irrespective of the field they come from. Listeners of Radiolab experience stories taking place in the intersection of science, philosophy, and the human experience. Each show gathers together the voices of experts, as well as interview subjects, and digs deep into the interaction between humans and nature. For example, "Galapagos" covers the sacredness of landscape and what people are doing to help or hinder it. "Things" discusses the objects around us, their power, and how we hold them close to us or let them go. Try this podcast if you are interested in real-life applications of science and technology in the world, and are not afraid of big questions.
College/University Podcasts
Besides podcasts that are hosted by public radio stations or community organizations, there are others hosted by many colleges and universities. Search online or visit Open Course (see link below) to find courses and lectures held by professors who are often leading experts and researchers in their fields. This is a great way to tap into an educational community outside of your campus, as well as to hear voices that speak to your major or other academic interests. Your current professors may even have connections with these other professors from
EasyWayPaper, which could spark further dialogue on an assignment or concept.
Take advantage of what the web has to offer in the medium of podcasts. Although the ones listed above are fairly general and cover a spectrum of topics, you can find others with narrower foci: economics, financial literacy, food, literature, and more. Of all the ways to learn new information, podcasts are among the easiest and most fun.
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