Voice, Choice, and Innovation: Empowering Students Through Auditory Learning
Written by Jayne Schinckel, Digital Learning Specialist/Senior Teacher, St Hilda's School
In today’s fast-paced educational environment, students need flexible, engaging, and effective ways to learn. While traditional revision methods such as quizzes, notes, and past exams remain valuable, they no longer suffice on their own. Many students have expressed the need for revision tools that are interactive, time-efficient, and dynamic, helping them retain information without feeling overwhelmed.
A possible solution?
Auditory learning through podcasts and AI-generated content. These innovative tools enhance engagement, improve retention, and offer students a personalised, flexible way to revise.
The Power of Auditory Learning
Learning goes beyond just reading and writing. Listening plays a fundamental role in comprehension, retention, and overall academic success. Research shows that hearing familiar voices enhances comprehension, engagement, and memory retention, making auditory learning a powerful tool for improving motivation and study habits. As educators, our role is to foster collaboration by creating a classroom culture where students and teachers learn together, encouraging peer discussions, debates, and interactive learning experiences. To support this, we can leverage technology-driven tools such as podcasts, AI voice applications, and speech-to-text platforms to make learning inclusive, interactive, and student-centered.
Why I Chose Podcasts for Revision
My students expressed a clear need for more variety and efficiency in their revision. Balancing study with assessments, co-curricular commitments, and personal life means they needed tools that maximise learning in minimal time. To address this, I turned to podcasts; a widely used educational tool with proven benefits. According to Kay (2012) podcasts provide:
Improved engagement and positive learning attitudes
Greater control over learning pace
Better study habits
Enhanced cognitive understanding
Potential for increased academic performance
However, challenges such as technical difficulties, and class attendance concerns remain. Recognising the need for a more tailored approach, I explored how AI-driven tools could take auditory learning to the next level.
The Role of AI in Auditory Learning
AI is transforming the way we engage with knowledge, and its potential in education is only beginning to unfold. AI-powered tools like Descript allow teachers to quickly produce structured, reusable revision materials, streamlining content creation without losing the personal connection of a teacher’s voice. To explore AI’s effectiveness, I tested voice cloning technology to create a podcast series using my own voice, maintaining familiarity for students. This approach ensured that students could engage with content in a way that felt natural and personalized.
The Power of Familiar Voices in Learning
Research shows that familiar voices improve comprehension and focus. Levi (2015) found that children, like adults, process familiar voices more accurately and efficiently, particularly in noisy environments. A teacher’s voice is more than just a tool for instruction. It becomes an anchor for student engagement. By integrating voice-based learning strategies such as podcasts, recorded lessons, and AI voice tools, educators can create more engaging and accessible learning experiences that enhance comprehension, memory retention, and clarity.
Using AI to Create Engaging and Efficient Educational Podcasts
Once I committed to creating a podcast series, I needed a method that was both engaging and time efficient. After consulting with a colleague, I was introduced to Descript, a platform known for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and high-quality voice replication. The process involved script creation, voice cloning, podcast production, Spotify hosting and sharing with students. Using AI-powered tools like Descript has transformed my revision resources, allowing me to create structured, reusable learning materials that enhance student engagement, without adding extra workload.
The Feedback: What Worked & What Didn’t
Students found podcasts helpful, particularly for clear explanations of concepts, convenient audio format for multitasking, improved information recall and study efficiency and reduced exam stress and more engaging revision. However, some challenges remained, especially with the AI-generated voice being too robotic, a bland expressionless tone and lacking natural pauses. Suggested improvements included adding more natural expression and animation to the voice, longer pauses between key pieces of information for better processing and adjusting pacing to ensure the content flows more naturally. While podcasts have been an excellent study tool, these refinements could make them even more impactful.
Final Thoughts: Podcasting in Education
Podcasts have the potential to increase student engagement, foster intrinsic motivation, and enhance teacher-student relationships. They can be used in distance education, online learning, and class projects, allowing students to actively engage with content and reinforce their learning collaboratively.
While research shows no significant difference in exam scores between students who used podcasts and those who read printed materials, students perceived podcasts as a more effective and engaging tool (Choi et al., 2024). This highlights the psychological benefits of auditory learning, such as reducing anxiety and improving retention. However, podcasting is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Challenges such as technology access, digital literacy, and student preferences must be considered. While podcasts are a valuable addition to learning strategies, they should be one tool among many to cater to diverse learners.
Join me at the National Education Summit in Brisbane, where we’ll explore the power of auditory learning, how to create your own educational podcast, and the exciting next steps in this space. Whether you're curious about integrating AI-driven tools or looking for practical strategies to engage students, this session will give you actionable insights to take back to your classroom.