Podcasts are more popular today than they ever have been. According to a recent survey. 1 in 5 Americans listen to podcasts on a regular basis, and that translates to a 24% increase in listeners from 2015 to 2016. They are as much a part of some people's lives as radio or TV. They have become a popular way to entertain and educate our brains on our commute to work, while walking the dog, doing yard work, or working out at the gym. Podcasts are here to stay.

At Grant Wood AEA, we are always looking for new PD mediums that best carter to the needs of the teachers we serve, so starting a podcast was an easy decision to make. The Edtech Take Out has been "on the air" since January 2016, and has covered a whole variety of different topics in an attempt to bring teachers learning that they can access on their own schedule anywhere, and at any time.

This month, we are taking the podcast on the road to the ITEC Fall conference in Des Moines. The conference is hosting a Podcast Pavillion to celebrate and draw attention to the power of podcasting as a medium for sharing the great work that educators are doing in the classroom. Joining us in Des Moines are the Dads In Ed podcast, (featuring Josh Allen, Devin Schoening, and Brent Catlett), the GAFE Admins podcast, (featuring Mitch Dowhower, Lance Lennon, Karl Hehr, Phil Trimble & Chad Frerichs), as well as two podcasts from students at Iowa City High School - Politikid & Minority Report. So, in honor of that event, we are putting together this quick guide on how to listen & subscribe to podcasts on any device.

Apple have done a lot for podcasters over the years and today the majority of people who listen to podcasts do so on Apple devices. So, if you have an iPhone or an iPad and have never listened to a podcast before, here's a video with all you need to know.

Android users needn't feel left out. There are more devices running Android than any other mobile operating system. Google knows this, and recently added podcasts to the free Google Play Music service. So, if you have an Android phone or tablet, watch the video below.

Not everyone listens to podcasts on mobile devices. In fact, before smartphones became the tour de force that they are today, laptops and desktop computers were the go-to device for podcast fans. So, here's a video that shows how to listen to podcasts in iTunes on Macs & PCs.

When Chromebooks first came out, they were a little limited in the kinds of things you could do with them. However, times have changed. Today, Chromebooks are very capable devices and listening to podcasts is just one of many things they are capable of. So, here's a quick video tutorial on how to listen and subscribe to your favorite podcasts on a Chromebook.

I have already mentioned three great podcasts to get you started on your podcasting journey, but if you want some more recommendations, take a look at some of these:

• Check This Out with Ryan & Brian
• Teachers Talking Tech
• The Edtech Situation Room
• The Wired Educator Podcast
• Goin' Digital Show
• The House of #Edtech

These are just some of the great podcasts available for teachers. There are many more. Which ones do you listen to in your spare time? Leave a comment below with your favorites.

Jonathan Wylie, Digital Learning Consultant, Grant Wood AEA

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The Digital Learning Team at Grant Wood AEA are proud to introduce you to our latest project - a brand new podcast for teachers called The EdTech Take Out. Each episode is dedicated to bringing you bite-sized technology tips that you can use in your classroom to enhance teaching and learning. It's a podcast for teachers, by teachers, and a great way for you to take your professional learning with you wherever you are.

The EdTech Take Out is hosted by Jonathan Wylie and Mindy Cairney, but special guests will appear from time to time to add their voice and expertise. The podcast will feature a wide range of topics related to the use of technology in K-12 classrooms and can be accessed on demand.

 If recent research is to be believed, podcasts are a growing medium and there are several people who predict that podcasts are destined for big things in 2016. Some call this the Serial effect, after the popular "whodunnit" podcast of the same name. However, regardless of what you think the true cause is, podcasts are undoubtedly more popular today that they ever have been.

At Grant Wood, the Digital Learning team are always looking at future trends and how they might impact teaching and learning in the classroom. This particular medium looks to have a lot of potential for new ways to disseminate, and demonstrate, learning.

With this in mind, we are looking at using The EdTech Take Out as a way to augment our team's existing professional development model. In light of the increasing demands on a teacher's schedule, many of our workshops and courses have already moved to a hybrid format with a mix of online and face-to-face participation. The podcast is a way we can take that one step further and deliver PD in a package that can be accessed anywhere, and at any time.

Another way we are exploring podcasts is as a way to model their impact for teachers and students as part of a learning environment. In future episodes we will explore the potential of podcasts in the classroom and how they can be used by both students and teachers as a way to show they can  collaborate, create and communicate.

Learn more about our plans for the podcast in Episode 1 of The EdTech Take Out.

You can listen to The Edtech Take Out in a number of different ways. Here is a quick guide for some of the more popular devices that may be available to you.

Listen on a Mac or PC:

• Click this link to open the podcast in iTunes, or
  
• Listen to the latest episodes on the Digital Learning YouTube channel or
  
• Go to www.dlgwaea.org/podcast and listen to episodes on our website.
  

Listen on an iPhone or iPad:

• Tap on this link while viewing this page on your iOS device, or
• Open Apple's Podcasts app, search for The EdTech Take Out, then tap Subscribe, or
• Do the same in a podcast app like Overcast, Skipcast, Downcast, & Pocket Casts, or
  
• Listen to the latest episodes on the Digital Learning YouTube channel or
  
• Go to www.dlgwaea.org/podcast and listen to episodes on our website.

Listen on the NEW Apple TV

• Download the Podcasts app, search for The EdTech Take Out, then tap Subscribe or
  
• Listen to the latest episodes on the Digital Learning YouTube channel
  

Listen on an Android phone or tablet:

• Tap on this link while viewing this page on your Android device, or
  
• Search for The EdTech Take Out in an app like DoggCatcher, & Podcast & Radio Addict, or
  
• Listen to the latest episodes on the Digital Learning YouTube channel or
  
• Go to www.dlgwaea.org/podcast and listen to episodes on our website.

Listen on a Chromebook:

• Go to www.dlgwaea.org/podcast and listen to episodes on our website or
  
• Listen to the latest episodes on the Digital Learning YouTube channel
  

If you need help listening to The EdTech Takeout on any of these devices, please email us for support and troubleshooting at podcast@gwaea.org.

Both Mindy and Jonathan are keen to deliver a podcast that is relevant and timely to teachers so they welcome any suggestions that you may have for future episodes. You can email your ideas to podcast@gwaea.org or record a voice memo on your phone and send that too.

If you're on social media, feel free to reach out to the Digital Learning Team on Twitter at @DLGWAEA or connect directly with the hosts:

• Jonathan Wylie (@jonathanwylie)
• Mindy Cairney (@TeamCairney)

If you like what you hear, we would love for you to subscribe, rate and leave a review The EdTech Take Out on iTunes. This is the #1 way that you can help us grow the podcast. We realize that not everyone has an Apple device, but if you have an Apple ID, you can still rate us and leave us a review. We won't have ads on this podcast, or ask you for money, but if you want to support the show, this is a great way to do it!

Jonathan Wylie, Technology Consultant, Grant Wood AEA - @jonathanwylie

For more posts like this, please subscribe to our blog! You can also connect with us on social media if you Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter or add us to your circles on Google+.