Learning and Teaching Services
Podcasting in Learning and
Teaching
Spotlight 2009
Graham McElearney - LeTS
Learning and Teaching Services
Today’s session:
• Introduction to podcasting, screencasting and
videocasting
• Uses of podcasting in learning and teaching
• Demonstration of producing a podcast
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Definition: Podcasting (I)
• Distribution/publishing of digital audio via the
Internet
• Can be subscribed to via RSS, and retrieved
from the Internet using podcatching software
e.g. iTunes, Juice
• Or can be simply downloaded from a website
• Normally in MP3 format
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Definition: Podcasting (II)
• Once downloaded, audio can then be played
back using iTunes (PC/Mac), or Windows Media
Player (PC)…
• …Or transferred to a Digital Media Player
(DMP), mobile phone, PDA…..
• Podcast = iPod + broadcast
• A misnomer – podcasts can be played on a wide
range of DMPs, ranging in price from £10 to
£250+
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Definition: Enhanced podcasts
• Other media type can be included along with
audio e.g. images, text, URL hyperlinks
• Longer programmes can be chapterised for
ease of navigation
• Playback limited to higher end DMPs, e.g. iPod,
or iTunes software
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Key pedagogical points –
flexible delivery
• Audio content is downloaded rather than
streamed
• Material can be used away from an Internet
connected device
• Allows for flexible delivery of learning materials
e.g. walking to classes, on the bus, stacking
shelves…..
• Ties in with the broader field of “mobile learning”
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Key pedagogical points – use of
audio
• Places a new emphasis on the use of audio as
an educational medium
• Audio often seen as a poor relation to other
forms of media e.g. video
• Audio has a long track record in education
• Creates a challenge to find innovative uses?
• It’s easy to create
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Definition: Screencasting
• Is primarily visual
• Material captured from a computer screen:
PowerPoint presentation
Software demonstration
• Can include an audio commentary
• Playback typically constrained to PC/Mac,
delivered in Flash format
• Lectures can also be captured using the Apreso
system (currently in pilot stage)
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Definition: Videocasting
• Content is video based
• Can only be played back on a PC/Mac (e.g.
iTunes), or on higher end DMPs and some
PDAs
• Also known as Video Podcasting
• Campus TV – new trial video streaming service
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Activity – In groups of 2 – In what
contexts could you use podcasts?
• Inform?
• Challenge?
• Stimulate?
• How many voices?
• Whose voices?
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Podcasting in learning and
teaching – possible uses (I)
• Recording of lectures
• Recording of special events e.g. outside
speakers
• Subject expert interviews
• Assisting auditory learners, and/or providing for
a variety of learning styles, Accessibility
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Podcasting in learning and
teaching – possible uses (II)
• Listening to language – comprehension and
pronunciation
• Specific “listening practice” for certain disciplines
e.g. heart sounds in medicine, speech/phonetics
• Lecturers providing feedback on assignments
• Using material that already exists
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Podcasting in learning and
teaching – possible uses (III)
• Submitting producing assignments and
assessed work in audio format
• Students capturing audio data as part of inquiry
based learning or fieldwork
• Students engaging in reflective practice
• Students engaging in a whole range of creative
activities….
Learning and Teaching Services
Podcasting in learning and
teaching – possible uses (III)
• Students capturing audio data as part of inquiry
based learning
• Students recording notes from field work
• Students engaging in other forms of creative
activities
• Materials that already exist
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DIY Podcasting – what you
need:
•
•
•
•
Something to say
PC/Mac connected to the Internet
A microphone and headphones/speakers
Some audio recording software e.g. freely
available Audacity
• A place and means to put material on the
Internet
• Willingness to learn a few new things….
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Podcasting – the process:
• Prepare some material to record
• Record your podcast using e.g. Audacity
• Edit recording to correct mistakes, add music etc
• Export as MP3 file
• Upload e.g. to ULCC server – currently on trial
• Create link to your podcast
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Podcasting - conclusions
• Just a fad? – Big Players with big investment
• Easy and cheap
• Use in education yet to be evaluated
• An opportunity to have fun…..