Lesson Plan: Distributing Your Podcast on Spotify
Have you ever wondered how to get your podcast distributed on services like Spotify, Apple Music, and other similar services? It’s REALLY easy! If you create podcasts with your students or if you have a podcast of your own, there is no better way to let the world know about them (and listen to them) than posting it on the huge distribution sites. The best part? It’s FREE! This lesson plan provides you and your students with everything you need to know to get your podcasts out there. It is a part of a curriculum that I wrote, Podcasting Across The Curriculum - available exclusively in the MusicFirst Classroom. Enjoy!
This lesson will provide both teacher and students with information regarding the distribution of podcasts using hosting sites and distribution sites. It is strongly recommended that any student-created podcasts done as projects for a class should be distributed on a single, IT Department and School Administration approved podcast hosting site, and distributed only through approved podcast outlets. Furthermore, it is strongly recommended that only the teacher have access to those sites and accounts. Students should not be permitted to have access to these accounts for privacy purposes.
For the purposes of this curriculum, Soundcloud has been selected as the recommended podcast hosting site, and Spotify has been selected as the recommended podcast distribution site.
Objectives:
The learner will understand the differences between a podcast hosting site and a podcast distribution site.
The learner will understand how to upload a podcast to a hosting site and how to set up an RSS feed to be used on distribution sites.
The learner will understand the various ways of sharing podcasts by creating a simple download link and embedding the podcast in another website.
The learner will demonstrate their understanding of these two concepts by successfully completing a 10-question quiz on the topics.
Materials:
PRINTABLE STUDENT LESSON 19 plus Basics of Podcast Hosting & Distribution HANDOUT
Soundtrap accounts for all students
Soundcloud and Spotify accounts for the teacher https://soundcloud.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/
Teacher Procedure
Teacher will distribute The Basics of Podcast Hosting & Distribution handout to Students and review.
Teacher will review the How to Host Your Podcast on Soundcloud tutorial with Students on the web link provided above.
Teacher will demonstrate the uploading process and how to locate the RSS feed link.
Teacher will create a new podcast channel for the class and upload an example podcast to Soundcloud to reinforce this concept.
Teacher will then show Students how to locate the RSS feed for the podcast channel.
Teacher will review the How to Distribute Your Podcast on Spotify tutorial with Students on the web link provided above.
Teacher will then demonstrate how to set up a podcast channel on Spotify and how to paste the RSS link to connect the podcast hosting site (Soundcloud) to the podcast distribution site (Spotify).
Teacher will answer any questions Students might have.
After sufficient time, Teacher will distribute the Hosting & Distributing Podcasts Quiz for the students to complete.
Once Students have completed their quizzes, they will submit them for assessment.
Extensions
If the IT Department or School Administration is opposed to using the recommended hosting and distribution solutions, student-created podcasts could be posted as downloadable audio links on a school-approved website.
Podcasts that are hosted and distributed using the recommended solutions could be embedded on the school website for easy streaming by parents and school community members.