A PODCASTING COMPETITION FOR ĀKONGA
GCSN, Christchurch City Council Libraries, LOOP (Papanui Youth Development Trust) and Plains FM are excited to present Top of the Pods 2024, a podcasting competition where teams of ākonga from across greater Christchurch can create and submit their own podcast, learn new skills, and win awesome prizes, including first place awards sponsored by Rockshop NZ and RØDE Microphones!
For 2024 we are excited to announce that there will be two categories for this year's competition: The Future is a Wonderful Place and Open. Teams can choose which category they would like to enter.
Schools or whānau from across the Greater Christchurch region can register teams of up to 12 tamariki
in Years 5 - 10 with each team having until the end of the Term 3 school holidays to create and
submit their own unique <20 minute podcast.
IMPORTANT DATES
Competition entries open - June 2024
Podcast support & drop in sessions - Monday 9 September - Friday 11 October (Week 8, Term 3 - Term 3 school holidays)
Submissions close - Friday 18 October (Week 1, Term 4)
Prizegiving and showcase - Wednesday 23 October, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Join us on Wednesday 23 October at TSB Space, Tūranga Library from 5:30pm - 7:00pm for the Top of the Pods showcase and prizegiving!
Share your podcast with friends and whānau, meet the other teams,
and hear what the judges thought of your entry.
All podcasts will be broadcast on PlainsFM 96.9 so you can share them with your friends and whānau!
SIGN UP FOR THE COMPETITION
Download these docs
Register your interest
Sign up for workshops
🎉 Submit your podcast 🎉
Please note: Every team member needs to return a signed release form before you can submit your podcast. Please email release forms to the GCSN Project Coordinator by clicking HERE.
If you want to stay in the loop about the competition please register your interest below.
Learn more about the support available below and then sign up to learn new podcasting skills!
Once you have your podcast, blurb, image and release forms ready to go - Submit your podcast below!
Sign up for Top of the Pods Workshops
Learn about the sessions on offer from Christchurch City Libraries and LOOP and sign your team up.
LIBRARIES OPEN DAYS
The Libraries are running a series of open days available to all teams. These will be held at Tūranga Library and Matatiki Hornby Centre with each week addressing part of the podcasting process.
Week 1 (10 & 12 September) - Planning & script writing
Week 2 (17 & 19 September) - Recording
Week 3 (24 & 26 September) - Editing
Week 4 (1 & 3 October) - Open session
Register for a session below.
LOOP WORKSHOPS
LOOP will provide more focused 1 on 1 support for groups that are wanting guidance for a specific aspect of the podcasting process.
Sessions are 2 hours and can be scheduled for Monday or Tuesday afternoons or Fridays between 9 September and 4 October 2024.
Register your interest using the form below.
Borrow the GCSN Podcasting Kit
The GCSN has put together a podcasting kit that can be borrowed by schools to create their Top of the Pods entry. Plains FM will coordinate use of the kit and can be contacted via email (info@plainsfm.org.nz) or by phone (03 365 7997 or 0273607568).
If you would like to borrow the kit, please fill out the form below.
Check out the amazing prizes up for grabs
Lucky dip
Pool passes, books, drink bottles, and more!
Create your own T-shirt masterclass
One two-hour session for up to 12 ākonga at the Libraries with all the materials to design and print a set of commemorative Top of the Pods T-shirts!
Up to $500 worth of
podcasting equipment from Rockshop and RØDE
Specialist equipment based on your schools' needs OR
One podcast recorder with two microphones and leads - a perfect setup for amateur podcasters!
We will be awarding top prizes for both categories: The Future is a Wonderful Place and Open PLUS special prizes for standout teams!
Meet our judges
Sionainn Byrnes
Sionainn Byrnes is a Libraries Learning Specialist at Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi | Christchurch City Libraries, where she teaches podcasting to primary and secondary students. Sionainn cohosts the Christchurch City Libraries radio show/podcast So Many Stories and is also a podcaster outside of work!
Pia Titus
Pia Titus is the Youth Coordinator at Plains FM 96.9 where she helps all sorts of people create their own radio show and podcasts - including lots of rangatahi and young people. Pia's top tip for starting your own radio show or podcast is to be yourself and find a topic you are excited to talk about!
Tom Linklater is part of the team at LOOP Youth Centre and a combination of a Youth Worker and a Media Producer in a range of creative fields. Tom has been running podcasting programmes at LOOP for many years now, and brings a wealth of experience in taking the simple, fun ideas that students develop to then turn them into balanced, impacting and crystal clear podcast shows!
Tom Linklater
Gabrielle Wall
Dr Gabrielle Wall has been the General Manager of the Greater Christchurch Schools' Network for five years and involved in the education sector for many more. She has a background in inclusive design, and believes in the power of digital technologies as an enabler of creativity.
Meet our judges
Sionainn Byrnes
Sionainn Byrnes is a Libraries Learning Specialist at Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi | Christchurch City Libraries, where she teaches podcasting to primary and secondary students. Sionainn cohosts the Christchurch City Libraries radio show/podcast So Many Stories and is also a podcaster outside of work!
Pia Titus
Pia Titus is the Youth Coordinator at Plains FM 96.9 where she helps all sorts of people create their own radio show and podcasts - including lots of rangatahi and young people. Pia's top tip for starting your own radio show or podcast is to be yourself and find a topic you are excited to talk about!
Michael Phillips is part of the team at LOOP Youth Centre and works there as a Youth Worker as well as Event Coordinator. Michael loves to work with youth and help them start their career in the music and technology world and develop their skills to make their creative ideas become reality.
Michael Phillips
Helena Avery
Helena Avery is the Project Coordinator of the Greater Christchurch Schools' Network. She believes that digital technologies enable ākonga to express their ideas, stories and experiences in new and creative ways and can't wait to hear what the teams create!
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1. Introductions and AcknowledgementsIntroduction and thankyou to acknowledge the mahi put into the Digital Technologies Implementation Framework.
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2. OverviewOverview of the DT Implementation Framework three Documents. How to navigate through them and ways to use them in your school.
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3. CoachingLearn tips and tricks on how to use the DT Implementation Framework resource, and how to deliver it in your school or Kahui Ako.
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4. Pedagogical ApproachDeep dive into Pedagogical Approach. Create a collective understanding of what Pedagogical Approach means by covering the areas of 1. Governance-level documents, 2. Local curriculum integration and 3. Digital Technologies progress outcomes
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5. Professional LearningIn this video we take a deep dive into professional learning by looking at the four strands of 1. Collaboration and shearing 2. Professional learning model 3. Integration of Technologies across professional learning. 4. Budget and future focus for Digital Technologies professional learning.
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6. Teaching and LearningDeep dive into the Teaching and Learning dimension of the framework, and understand what Digital Technologies Implementation looks like across the local curriculum through the two areas of 1. Sustainability of Digital Technologies and 2. Learning Community Culture and a Clear focus on ākonga engagement and achievement.
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7. Tech and InfrastructureThe success of Tech and Infrastructure underpins the success of the other areas in the Framework. Understand and learn to define what access to tech and infrastructure means to the project. Cover how to obtain, manage and maintain resources through the areas of, 1. Access to Digital Technologies 2. Procurement and Maintenance
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8. Whānau iwi/hapū and community engagementThis video covers Whānau iwi/hapū and community engagement. Knowing which procedures to have in place across Kura or Kahui Akoto to make the most of community engagement and what it should look like. Cover the areas of 1. Community of engagement 2. Equity of Learning 3. Whānau and ākonga understanding of permissions and access.
Learn more about the competition
Useful resources
Check out the following resources to get started or refine your podcasting skills.
Looking for inspiration?
Check out the 2023 Top of the Pods competition
Te Kura o Ōpāwaho
Showing off their brand new team hoodies!
Matty, Pia, Sionainn & Gabrielle
Te Kura o Ōpāwaho