Podcast Review

I am typically not into podcasts, or audiobooks, mostly because I start daydreaming and then have to continuously rewind and ask “what’s happening?” So I knew right off the bat, that whichever podcast I chose had to be entertaining and make me laugh to keep my interest. I reviewed the podcasts in School Library Journal and nothing spoke to me, and honestly, they reminded me of all the work I need to complete to close out the school year which I am dreading. I opened the Bookriot link and boom saw Drunk Librarians and instantly chuckled and piqued my interest. I quickly googled the podcast to find more information. 

Drunk Librarians is a podcast about two Librarians who get drunk and then chat about books. What is intriguing is they are referred to as Librarian A and Librarian B to preserve their anonymity and their jobs. Each episode features both librarians, but one is the main narrator with the other jumping in to share opinions. 

The episode I listened to was a review of Where the Crawdads Sing. I chose this episode because it is their first episode, and also because I haven’t read the book. The movie is coming out soon and I thought this would motivate me to finally read it or skip it altogether. 

This podcast is for mature audiences only and for those who are not offended by curse words. They curse a lot and are two sassy, opinionated librarians. To set the mood before the episode begins one of them said “the only rule of the podcast is no throwing up.” I knew right then they were going to get pretty inebriated. 

What I didn’t like was it took almost six minutes for them to start talking about the book, it was evident they were both very intoxicated. If you’ve ever watched Drunk History, it is exactly like that. A famous person reads up on a specific topic in history while sober rehearses the information in front of producers before they get drunk and then is asked to share what they’ve learned after drinking. 

They say some funny quotes about the main characters my favorite is “he went to Jupiter to get more stupider.” Ultimately, neither Librarian liked the writing style or plot. They felt the novel was basic and didn’t deserve all the media attention it received. After listening to this podcast episode, I am going to read Where the Crawdads Sing to see if I agree with their sentiments. If I want a good laugh I will probably listen to more episodes because I did find some parts funny but also informative. I can always fast forward parts that are dragging. 

References

Librarian A. (Host).  (2019, September 9). Where the crawdads sing: Librarian A (No.1)  [Audio podcast episode]. In Drunk Librarians. Podbean. https://drunklibrarianspodcast.podbean.com/e/where-the-crawdads-sing-librarian-a/

Audio Tools

I had never heard of any of the tools in this Sandbox so I was excited to explore and learn. I thought Voki was an adorable tool for young learners. I loved that you didn’t have to create an account to use it, however, Vokis are only available for seven days without an account so if you are planning to use this in the classroom for lessons then I would suggest creating an account so you have access to all Vokis you create. What I liked about it is the multiple avatars you can design. There are storybook characters, holiday theme characters, animals, historical and famous people, emojis, various people, and more! Once you select your avatar you can customize the appearance. With accessories, clothing, hair and eye color, makeup, mouth shape, facial hair, and jewelry. Not every avatar has all options available to them so there are some limitations to what you can create. You can also change the background image of your avatar such as in nature, in the city, at home, in a classroom, or in a sports arena. There are countless variations of what you can create. 

I chose a flower in a garden geared toward elementary students learning about the life cycle of plants. I recorded a quick introduction of myself speaking with my avatar. There are many ways you can use Voki in your classroom. Letting students create their own avatars can encourage student involvement, especially for those who are shy and less likely to participate. Classroom discussions can be done through avatars. Another way to integrate this tool in the classroom is to have students create a virtual presentation using Voki instead of a traditional book report. Lastly, librarians can bring historical figures to life by asking students to create a Voki avatar in that person’s likeness and then present their results. 

Click here to check out my Voki!

Vacaroo is a simple way to create a voice recording to add to presentations or slide docs to supplement your lessons. It is lacking in any unique features so if a person only needs a place to record free of charge, this is a great tool to use. 

Chrome Music Lab was my favorite. I felt like a kid playing around with all of the features. I can’t believe I never knew this tool existed. What I appreciated most about this tool is it is a hands-on learning experience. You do not have to create an account, and you can use this tool on multiple devices like a computer, phone, or tablet. There are endless possibilities for how to incorporate Chrome Music Lab into classrooms. Combining instruments and sound with body movements or dance for PE and music classes is a great way to collaborate with other teachers and departments. The soundwaves application can be used in science classes to teach students about frequency and vibrations. Overall, I think Chrome Music Lab is an excellent tool to incorporate into any classroom.

Click here to view my piano music lab