Spotify is a great tool that is available to be used through a mobile web browser like Safari or Google and it can be downloaded as an app. While Spotify is notably used for its music selection, it is also used for its podcasts, audio books, and ambient sounds. Other popular applications like Apple Music, Google Music, and YouTube Music do not have this wide of a listening library. When looking at the Frontier’s Poll, the areas of concentration were all big ideas that could frankly be applied directly to Spotify.
Here are some examples how Spotify fits within the concepts discussed in the Frontier’s Poll:
- Mobile Collaboration
- Spotify’s new collaborative playlist creator and ‘jams’ is next level when wanting to share songs with your friends and co-workers. You could also start a jam with your students from a class account if you want them to all listen to the same song/podcast/book as a class through their headphones instead of playing it for the class.
- Another new collaborative option with Spotify is their “Share Play” option. This allows those who are on a FaceTime call to listen to the same music together while chatting.
- DIY Learning / Podcasts
- Spotify’s has an extensive array of podcasts. Whether you’re in the mood for humor, book discussions, self-improvement, celebrity insights, educational content, religious teachings, or even crafting tips, it’s all available to you.
- In terms of DIY podcasts and audio books, they are all available. For example, after a simple search, I found a podcast about cabinet making, a job sharing podcast, knitting podcast, and a DIY project audiobook.
- Micro-Expression / User Experience / Sharing Economy
- Spotify’s micro-expression is not just to show that you like something but it is something that changes your overall experience with the application. By liking something or sharing something, it changes the shared algorithm.
- Spotify makes it easy to share audio with others. You can share songs or playlists on Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Slack, Snapchat, Messages, Twitter, Email and more.
Do you use Spotify? Are there more benefits than those that I have listed here?
Jasmine
Thank you for sharing this great resource! As an Apple Music user, I haven’t often used Spotify, so I was delighted to discover that it offers Indigenous podcasts. The option to create a class account and playlist is also such a helpful feature, especially since I often catch students on the Spotify app during class, so this would be a great way to surprise them, keep them engaged, and use resources that are available at their fingertips. I had previously thought Spotify was only for music, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the range of podcasts that highlight the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous peoples. This would have been incredibly useful when I was teaching the English First Peoples course at the high school level, and I will certainly be incorporating it into my language arts classes moving forward. I also appreciate that students can access much of this content for free, which makes it more accessible, especially since most of them are already familiar with the platform. Thanks again for sharing!
Hi Jazz, I’m so happy that you added Spotify here. It is such a valuable mobile technology and educational resource. I use it in both my language classes and Indigenous Studies classes. For my language class, we have a collaborative playlist that students add to to promote interest in French music and culture. I also have students listen to a variety of different podcasts and then create their own. In my Indigenous studies class, I use it for podcasts. Student research a podcast from an authentic Indigenous source and present it to the class. Great resource!
Hi Olivia,
Thanks for the kind reply. It really is a great tool and I think it helps encourage students to listen to a variety of audio based media.
I did a project with my Indigenous Studies class recently where students had to make up a library display with at least 10 different pieces of media. Some chose music, art, podcasts, and books. Whenever I play something or show something in class, it is always a joy to hear them say, “I did my project on that/them!” Spotify is a great way to increase students’ knowledge about other cultures and ways of being.
Jazz
Some great ideas there, thanks for sharing! I considered using my remaining account on my Spotify family plan to dedicate to the classroom, if only just to keep it curated with things that are relevant and appropriate to school. This gives me a lot of other ideas of how I could use it in more meaningful ways for student engagement, especially when it comes to French language content.
Hi Sam,
I have a school ‘kids’ account so I make sure nothing inappropriate is played and if we have a class playlist, it is more secure that way.
Jasmine