Congratulations!  Beth Van Kan, library media specialist at Johnnycake Corners Elementary School (Olentangy Local School District) is the Rosen Publishing Ohio School Librarian of the Month - May. Principal Dana Kimchi nominated Beth for her “outstanding leadership and innovation through the Learning Out Loud (LOL) Podcast, a weekly student-led school community podcast that exemplifies the power of student voice and authentic digital learning.”

Goal and Learning Objectives of the Learning Out Loud Podcast

Through weekly episodes featuring the school community (students, teachers, families, and staff), the Learning Out Loud podcast highlights school news, classroom happenings, and student-driven projects that reflect the school community.  Grounded in the Olentangy Local School District’s commitment to digital citizenship, this platform empowers students to become authentic learners, creative communicators, and global communicators. Each episode provides opportunities for students to practice digital balance and wellness, demonstrate digital fluency, and make safe, responsible, and ethical choices when using technology.  By engaging in the podcast productions process, students develop the skills outlined in Ohio’s Learning Standards for Technology, including critical thinking, innovation, and digital responsibility. Most importantly, they learn how to be curious, kind, purposeful, and resilient contributors to both Johnnycake Corners Elementary and the wider digital world. This podcast is a space where the entire school community can connect, share, and grow together.

Duration of the Program or Activity

Once a week each school year

Necessary Supplies

Recording devices, editing technology, scripts, podcast hosting site.

Instructions and/or Procedures to Conduct the Learning Out Loud Podcast

Each week during library time, students participate in creating the Learning Out Loud Podcast by contributing short recorded segments about school life and learning. Beth explains in her nomination that “we begin with a whole-group review of the weekly podcast structure, including a standard intro and outro and important school announcements or upcoming dates. Students are reminded of what makes a strong podcast segment, including clear speaking, audience awareness, and a beginning, middle, and end to their story.” Students then use a simple story template to plan their segment.  This helps them organize their ideas about what they are learning or doing in their classroom. To support creativity, students also have access to a monthly list of optional story prompts and topic ideas they can choose from if they need inspiration. Each week, two students in each 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade class are assigned to serve as “School News” reporters during their library time.  These students help gather and share updates from their classroom or across the school community.  Students record their segments during library class time.  Finished recordings are collected, edited together, and published as the weekly LOL Podcast, which is shared with the school community. Through this ongoing routine, students practice communication skills, collaboration, digital citizenship, and creative expression in an authentic and meaningful way.

Final Results and Indicators of Success for the Learning Out Loud Podcast

Beth explains that as of the time she submitted her nomination, 30 episodes of the podcast have been published and are available on Async, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Tips for Replicating the Learning Out Loud Podcast

Start small. The basic definition of a podcast is an audio recording that can be accessed and listened to on demand. Start with linked recordings on a webpage within the limits of your schools technology.

What Is Your Elevator Pitch?

Looking for a simple, meaningful way to amplify student voice, strengthen communication skills, and build stronger school community? The Learning Out Loud Podcast is a weekly elementary school podcast model that does just that - and it’s easy for any school to replicate.

Congratulations Beth!