Podcasting PMI

 Podcasting is a relatively new concept within the classroom context for me. I only thought of them in the educational context as a way for university lectures' to deliver lectures to students studying via Flex.  Podcasts were first introduced in 2004.  Podcasting is delivering audio content to portable media players so that it can be listened to at the user's convenience.  To a Learning Manager this can mean recording a students performance or speech and saving it onto the computer so either the LM can revisit to remark or the student can self reflect on their work.

 Recording, uploading, hosting and distributing podcasts require some level of technical proficiency that presently is beyond the average web surfer. Thus LM's need to familiarize themselves with this new technology.  Podcasting packages (with all the equipment needed to make a podcast)can be bought online with step by step instructions.


Podcast's are growing in popularity within the classroom but do they enhance learning?  In my personal experience the question depends on the educational context and appropriate learning activities.   Podcasting is only as valuable as the teacher/facilitator and the learning outcomes and activities. 

Positive

Assists the 'audio' learning style;
Promotes creativity using music and sound;
Provides students with an authentic audience for their productions (J.Wenzleff);
For a struggling reader they can replay how the sentence is suppose to sound;
Reinforce key words, concepts or facts.  Students can re-play and re-visit lesson materials
Students can work at their own pace. Stopping and starting. 

Negative

Hearing impaired children cannot participate;
Not suited for subjects that require a visual element - maths;
Learner is unable to ask questions or clarify information being presented;
Audio podcasts may be longer than necessary in using words to describe a concept that a picture could teach faster;
Does not allow for non-verbal cues;
Visual and kinesthetic learners miss out;

Interesting

Takes up space on the computers hard-drive if using and storing multiple pod-casts 
They are portable - students can take them around the school with them (school excursions)