Podcasts, a new teaching method used at Cégep de Chicoutimi

One teacher from Sigip de Chicoutimi has discovered an innovative way to capture his students’ attention. He records podcasts to give them the opportunity to maximize their study time.

Since then, Benoit Rochefort has noticed that the level of motivation has risen in his classes.

He has just recorded his 100th podcast as part of his Accounting and Management course at Cégep de Chicoutimi. This technology allows him to better capture his students’ attention.

“It’s about being able to be as interesting as possible to retain them, to interest them without commitment,” said Benoit Rochefort.

The idea came to him three years ago, amid the outbreak of the pandemic. The Department of Studies had asked teachers to innovate their teaching method.

“In the suggestions there was: Create podcasts. I had the equipment. It started maturing over the summer, and at the beginning of August, I started opening my business, putting together content and setup and building what the podcast could be.

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Benoit Rochefort is now entering its seventh season and its podcasts have been downloaded more than 40,000 times. It is also available on all platforms under the name “Ben lala”, as a nod to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

“I’m a radio fan,” he said. I really believe that what you listen to allows you to create a certain imagination. I think it can help us better understand some concepts that can be abstract.

incentivize

Benoit Rochefort has a group of about 100 students. Since podcasts have arrived in his classrooms, the level of motivation among his students has soared.

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This tool is intended to complement courses to allow them to optimize their study time outside of class in order to adapt to their busy schedule.

Podcasts can replace popular required readings and perhaps, eventually, courses.

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“It doesn’t come from a notebook, he interviews his guests,” one student said. It allows students to see other initiatives than regular teaching, it is much more interactive.

“It’s a change from traditional teaching, which is a little outdated,” his colleague emphasized.

Important

The direction of studies at the Cégep de Chicoutimi hopes that Benoit Rochefort’s initiative will inspire other teachers to follow suit.

“It’s a tool that reaches out to the generation of 2023,” said Director of Studies Christian Tremblay. “I think it can be a tool to help these students succeed.”

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He adds that Benoit Rochefort and another teacher presented a project to develop this tool in more depth this winter. They want to help other teachers who might be interested in incorporating this tool into their lesson plan.

Cégep de Chicoutimi also wants to inspire other educational institutions across the province to take initiatives of this kind to reach young people in a different way.