Podcasting, like any other technology, is a tool that can be integrated into educational curriculum. Podcasting allows instructors and educators to develop and maintain content that is easily accessible to students in an asynchronous format. One podcasting advantage that King points out is the ability of instructors to maintain “library” of lectures and classes that can be used repeatedly for other courses. Podcasting is particularly valuable for auditory learners, the capability to review difficult parts of the lecture material makes it easier for students with an auditory learning style to listen to content multiple times.
A challenge with podcasts is that they are not interactive. No matter how the material is broken up or delivered, the student listening to the podcast cannot ask real time questions to the instructor. This shortcoming can be mitigated by integrating a podcast with another type of technology for course delivery. One solution could be combining the podcast with a wiki. The sequence might go like this; the instructor creates a podcast and a wiki site that is scaffolded with several different sections for questions. The students then listen to the podcast and begin asking questions on the wiki site but rather than waiting for the instructor to answer all of the questions, students are encouraged to address the questions asked by other students. This creates an interactive setting that allows students to research and demonstrate their understanding of the material. (Also makes it easier on the instructor.)