PODCASTS &

VODCASTS

Discussion board

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

PODCAST series of audio digital

media files distributed over the

internet by syndicated download (2008, 'Knowledge Base')

syndicated through RSS feeds

downloaded automatically by subscription

VIDEO PODCAST Delivered via Atom or

RSS feeds (2009, 'Video

Podcast') delivered by a stream or

as a file it may be relocated onto

a portable media player such as a iPod

after subscription you are automatically updated

System Requirements

• High-speed internet

• Media player

• Pod-catcher application

iTunes

Restrictions of Podcasts and Vodcasts

• Questions aren’t responded to in real time• A high internet connection and download limit is necessary to listen and view• Difficult to learn through just listening

Restrictions of Vodcasts & Podcastsin Educational Contexts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

CASE STUDY

MIT Podcast & VodcastBenefits

• Easy to access/convenient• Complementary resource• Time-saving• Distance education• Repeat informationuntil understood

Disadvantages & ChallengesOf Vodcasts & Podcasts

• Social interaction• Motivation• Attention span (Price et al. 2007)• Limited access to high-speed internet

Recommendations

• Blended learning• Widely accessible high-speed internet• Break-up podcasts/vodcasts with bite sized chunks• Answer questions within a period of a day

Podcasts as a Learning Tool in Economics

Geraint Johnes, a student, has been creating podcasts and posting them weekly on a blog.

The service Feedburner was used to give the account an RSS syndicator.

This blog was given to other students to follow the podcast series via RSS feeds

Geraint produced a podcast series to research podcast impacts on education

Students download podcasts directly to iPod's as well as your PC.

This means a learning environment can be anywhere = personalize the way you learn.

Automatically delivered content is one of the major advantages It saves time in many ways The source is relevant to material Software for distributing and receiving podcasts were free A website is available for direct access of podcasts

Not all students have their own computers, internet access or iPods. Most effective when podcasts were on a PC or iPod which

unfortunately were a minority of students Lack of visual presentation Short attention span

EXAMPLE OF USE -VODCASTINGCharles Sturt University uses vodcast to demonstrate key microbiological skills to their first year students.

35% of student accessed the vodcasts from the university network.

Beneficial for distance learners

Gives students the opportunity to pause and review content.

OUTLINE BENEFITSPODCASTS

• works well when presenting and discussing ideas, concepts and facts (MobileCast Media 2009)

• useful for lectures and speeches when there is no visual references required

• tone of a speakers voice can engage listeners more than plain text

• Podcast costs less to produce in comparison to videos (Onlypodcasting.com 2009)

• podcasting builds an audience via subscription

• beneficial to the publisher as they don't need to distribute their content to the audience

• allows the consumer to be in control of whether they want to receive the content and can un/subscribe anonymously.

VIDEO PODCASTS

• Drives traffic to your website from aggregators such as iTunes.

• It can be used as a form of advertising.

• communicates more effectively with its use of imagery

• found useful in teaching projections

• very accessible

• supports consumers with slow connections

• also builds an audience through subscription

• has automatic distribution of new content

DISADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES

Lack of reading material – booksLimited discussion between lecturer and learner – Q&AReduced attendance in classSlow or no internet connectionExpensive to produceNot suitable for hearing impaired studentsShort attention span

RECOMMENDATIONS

Provide necessary tools- microphones, digital cameras, voice recorderTeacher should ask question online.High speed internet accessEncourage students to make their own podcast and vodcast.Include podcast and vodcast in the delivery of the courses.Covert the flash media learning object into format which is compatible with the media player.Adjustable screen sizeTeachers should help students develop habits using podcast & vodcast - create engagement and habitual audience

REFERENCESEducational Vodcasting, 2009 'Educational Vodcasting', Peak Educational Consulting, viewed 20th March 2009 <http://educationalvodcasting.com/vodcastinglive.asp>

Indiana University, 2008 Knowledge Base' University Information Technology Services, Indiana University, viewed 20th March 2009 <http://kb.iu.edu/data/arxx.html>

Johnes, G. 2005, Case study: Podcasts as a Learning Tool in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, viewed 23rd March 2009 <http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/johnes_podcasts.htm>

MobileCast Media, 2009, Benefits of Podcasting and Web Video, MobileCast Media, viewed 26th March 2009 <http://www.mobilecastmedia.com/podcast-and-online-video-benefits.htm>

REFERENCES

Price, A., Gay, P.L., Searle, T. & Brissenden, G. 2007, ‘A History and Informal Assessment of the Slacker Astronomy Podcast’, Astronomy Education Review, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 53-69 in Clark, S., Taylor, L. & Westcott, M. 2007, 'Using short podcasts to reinforce lectures', UniServe Science Teaching and Learning Research Proceedings, Sydney, Australia, pp. 22-27.

The Computer Language Company Inc. 2008, Podcast: Definition and additional resources from ZDNet, The Computer Language Company Inc., viewed 19th March 2009 < http://dictionary.zdnet.com/definition/Podcast.html>.