By Laura BrodiePodcasting for Learning

Use of audio podcast in K-12Podcasting in the Classroom

Why should we podcast?

What can we learn from

podcasting in the

classroom?

Why should we teach

podcasting in the classroom?

A person can podcast anywhere and anytime and can watch their podcast either on their computer or on their MP3 player.

Many people are podcasting anywhere from news anchors to college professors to amateurs.

Teacher-librarians have begun to record library orientations, tutorials on accessing information, using digital resources, and properly writing citations through podcasting.

Podcasting in the classroom helps those who are auditory listeners and also those who struggle with reading.

Podcasting engages students and also makes their work available to people outside of their classroom.

Allows for students to get creative and have a play, a newscast, and also to get comfortable performing in front of an audience.

All you really need to podcast is a microphone, a computer, and a sound recording program.

Audacity and Apple’s GarageBand 3 are a few software programs that help make podcasting quick and simple.

Once you have all of the gadgets and the program that you need then it is just the simple matter of recording voices, add music and sound effects, and then finally export your creation in MP3 format and post it to a website.

As a student always make sure that when you are creating a podcast that you do not give out any personal information because anyone can access what you export.

It could be very helpful for students who are visual learners more than auditory because the teacher can actually show there students what they are doing instead of just lecturing and giving notes.

It could also be helpful for college students who have very busy lives and may not have time to go to a lecture and if the professor podcasts the lecture than that student can watch the lecture anywhere and anytime that is suitable for them.

It allows for high school students who are interested in directing or acting to start practicing the chosen careers.

There are many different types of technology that students can use to create a podcast.

Podcasting has increased greatly in tourism, entertainment, library research, and education.

Auditory podcasting in the more commonly found being used in the classroom.

Podcasting appeared in July 2003 with the first Really Simple Syndication (RSS) and by 2005 almost 10,000 different podcasts were available ranging in topics.

Clark Walsh, a psychologist, states “listening is instinctual, [but] reading and writing are not.”

Durbridge in 1984, stressed the advantages of auditory learning, claims that the spoken word can influence a learners motivation.

The student can also access their information at any time and any place that they wish and as many times as they would like.

podcasting

Creating own materials

Using existing

resources

Teacher created

Student created

Lecture podcast

Supplementarypodcast

Student projects

Taxonomy of currentpractices of podcast in K-12 andhigher education (adapted fromRossell-Aguilar 2007)

Lecture podcast are audio recordings of lectures, such as an hour long lecture on molecular science.

Supplementary podcasts are audio recordings that actually aid in a students learning and provide support in learning key learning materials, such as assignments tips, hints, and post assignment feedbacks.

Podcasting has been used in five different types of study: engineering and sciences, computing and information technology, language, business and law, and education.

Although podcasting can be handy it also has its drawbacks, such as: lack of time for the teachers to prepare the podcasts, technical problems in accessing and downloading the podcasts.

Other barriers include: unfamiliarity with podcasting and not understanding the correlation of its learning.

There are very many people that use podcasting from teachers to people who are just wanting to see what it is.

Podcasting is being used more frequently in and out of the classroom.

Students can access their lectures, notes, and other information anytime and anywhere.

Many teachers use podcasting in many different fields of study.

Although, podcasting can be very helpful is also has many drawbacks ranging from not knowing how to use a podcast to having trouble downloading it.

Apple defines podcasts as audio or video files that are automaticallydelivered over a network and then played back on any Mac,PC oriPod.

“According to Podcasting News, although podcasting has only beenaround officially for a couple of years, it is one of the fastestgrowing technologies of all time, with an increase of about 15percent each month.”

Over 60% of people listen to their podcasts on their computers, eventhought technically it is not a podcast till it is downloaded onto aphone or audio device.

Podcasts allow students to go beyond the traditional homeworkassignment, they can do voice recordings, photos, movies, and addsound effects to their projects.

New York Times states that a school in La Crosse, Wisconsin allowedstudents to produce podcasts of a meal worms metamorphosis,claiming that by using podcasts it actually helped the studentsremember the information and made studying easier.

Teachers are now allowing their students to use their phones in theclassroom so that they can watch and create podcasts for learning.

Apple says that, "When students create a podcast for class, they notonly learn the content in a creative way, they learn 21st centurycommunication skills at the same time.”

Wesley Fryer, the author of Moving at the Speed of Creativity, saysthat podcasts can be educational for students and valuable forteaching a variety of 21st century skills, and that they are just plainfun to create.

A student can use a podcast on his or her computer, phone, ipod, or mp3 player.

More people listen to podcasts on his or her computer than on a phone, ipod, or mp3 player.

How will a teacher know if his or her students are being productive or using the cell phones for personal reasons?

Not only can podcasts be helpful to teachers, but also to students so that they can learn in different ways, other than the traditonal way with a paper and pencil.

Podcasts help students memorize and retain more information than by being lectured.

Not only is podcasting educational, but it is also fun.

(2008). Podcasting in the Classroom. Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 7-8. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Brooks-Kirkland, A. (2006). Podcasting for Learning. School Libraries in Canada , 44-48. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Hew, K. (2009). Use of audio podcast in K-12 and higher education: a review of research topics and methodologies. Educational Technology Research & Development, 333-357.