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Essential Podcasts and Webcasts: Science and Tech News

It can be challenging for busy teachers to keep up with daily developments in the tech industry. Just in time for back to school, EducationWorld has sifted through an array of online programs and compiled the following top picks. These free podcasts and webcasts balance practical information with fun, and will put you one step ahead of even your most tech-savvy students.

The Apple Byte
Hosted by Brian Tong, this weekly show hits viewers with the latest news on everything Apple. What sets the Apple Byte apart from the countless other Apple-based shows, however, is its irreverent style and impartial stance. While many Apple podcasts or webcasts fawn over everything that comes out of Cupertino, the Apple Byte isn’t afraid to call the company out for perceived missteps in the recurring “Bad Apple” feature. The show is peppered with comedy and encourages viewer participation from the aptly named “Apple Byters.” View the show via the web at CNet.com or by downloading it at iTunes.

The Naked Scientists
The Naked Scientists,a media-savvy group of physicians and researchers from Cambridge University, use their podcast to strip science down to its bare essentials and promote it to the general public. Their award-winning BBC weekly radio program is available to U.S. listeners on iTunes and via this Web site. Each week, listeners get to hear show creator Dr. Chris Smith and his entertaining sidekicks interview renowned scientists and researchers from all over the world. The hosts also take science-related questions from the listening public.

TWiT
Otherwise known as This Week in Tech, this is the weekly flagship podcast of the TWiT.tv network. Hosted by Leo Laporte and a rotating cast of regulars, TWiT features roundtables and debates on current technology news and reviews, with a focus on consumer electronics and the Internet. The main portion of the podcast discusses the week’s major technology headlines. Because the show’s format encourages spontaneity, the conversation often diverges wildly from technology topics, resulting in varied runtimes.

The Gadget Lab
Listen in every week as the Wired product team waxes poetic about the past few days’ gadget news. It may not change your life, but you'll hear Wired’s take on a range of products, from the latest laptop computers to the hottest geek toys on the planet.

Related resources

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Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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