Podcasting in Education

One of the more positive changes that social networking is having on the world is in the form of podcasts, and how podcasting in education is changing the way in which teachers teach and students learn.

Podcasting in the Classroom

Originally, podcasting was only an extension of blogging. Blogging started out as nothing more than websites that were constantly updated with new content or "entries." However, as audio and video computer technologies advanced and became more accessible and easier to use, many bloggers started creating audio or video "shows" which readers could download to their own computers and listen to or watch at their convenience.

While downloading and listening to an audio recording was a welcome novelty for many blog fans, the invention of the iPod completely transformed that novelty into a major medium for distributing news and information to a massive audience that's hungry for high quality content in audio or video form. This medium is now known as "podcasting." The value of podcasting comes from the following characteristics.

• Convenience - You are not required to listen to a live show. The podcast is recorded, so it can be downloaded to your computer or mobile device and listened to whenever there's time.
• Portability - The advent of the iPod and a multitude of MP3 players removed the need for a computer for podcast fans to listen to the audio content. This mobility allows users to listen to podcasts during those times when they have nothing better to do, like waiting in the doctor's office or riding the train into work.
• Easy Access to Information - A podcast is essentially a radio or television show packaged into a content form that contains specific information that the listener requested and is interested in hearing. This is good for the podcast producer because there's no doubt that the audience is receptive, and it's ideal for the listener because the content is tailored exactly to specific interests.
• Effective Learning - Anyone who has ever listened to "books on tape" knows that listening is just as effective as reading - possibly even more effective - when it comes to learning new concepts. This is why podcasting is proving itself as one of the most effective tools in education today.

In 2004, Duke University passed out over 1600 iPods to first-year students. This action was part of an effort by the University to "encourage creative uses of technology in education and campus life." University professors integrated the iPod into academic courses so that they could:

• Distribute course material
• Record classroom sessions (rather than taking notes)
• Record information outside of the classroom as part of the coursework
• Encourage listening to supporting materials created outside the classroom
• As a storage device for classwork and other files

The effort resulted in students becoming more engaged and interested in course materials, and in less time and effort spent managing physical notes and course materials. While the technology was somewhat more cumbersome for users during this 2005 effort, since then it has become much more convenient, easier to use, and far easier to synchronize with other users and with a central data source. Also, the availability of high-quality, educational podcasts has increased tremendously since then.

As iPod and MP3 technologies continue to advance, and as the available online library of high-quality educational podcasts continues to grow, more and more educators are turning to podcasting as a valuable tool to support coursework and classroom study. A number of organizations now recognize the effectiveness of podcasting in education and are working to promote this valuable technological tool throughout all aspects of student learning.

• As the inventor of the iPod, Apple.com is the first place educators should go to learn more about out to use podcasts in the classroom. Apple provides an easy set of instructions on how to make and load educational podcasts into the iTunes podcast directory (or school server). Apple.com also offers the invaluable "iTunes U," an impressive online library of over 200,000 podcasts and other audio/video materials that are free to download and listen to.
• The Smithsonian Institute's educational center, called "Smithsonian Education," created an entire section on their website to provide educators with assistance on how to utilize audio and video podcasting technologies to enhance classroom study.
• The Education Podcast Network (EPN) is an effort created by David Warlick and The Landmark Project to provide teachers with a central place to go for high-quality, educational podcast programming for use in the classroom.

As with any technological tool or resource, when it's used for education it should be used in moderation and in a very focused manner. It is very easy for technology to become more of a distraction rather than a tool in the classroom, but if an educator sets and enforces firm guidelines on the use of those technologies in the classroom, tools such as podcasting can prove invaluable in helping students to learn much more effectively and to become more engaged in the classroom.

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