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.)
You're right, they are not interactive. But who's to say all education must be interactive?
ReplyDeleteI love being able to hit the "rewind" button to hear a portion that I didn't understand when I listen or watch a podcast. When my husband was in grad school, he would attend class and then he would re-watch lectures his professor had published online a few days later to get a better grasp on the subject.
I think if you don't rely on one form of technology you will be on the right track, and you stated that as well.
I agree that not all learning has to be interactive, but it is such an important component of especially adult learning that it shouldn’t be overlooked. I concur with Lindeman’s writings and believe that in a well constructed course there is as much learning from the other students as there is from the instructor. That said, podcasting is a great way to convey information and is a valuable tool for the instructor’s tool kit. The ability to hit “rewind” is great, especially for more difficult or confusing parts of a lecture. If the instructor is able to capture questions and interaction from the class on in the podcast, so much the better, this can go a long way to increasing the amount of interaction.
DeleteCharles
ReplyDeleteAs you point out, podcasting is limited to pre-recorded material making real time interaction almost impossible. I like the idea of combining it with another form of technology such as a wiki to help bring the collaboration into the mix. In reality, most of the technologies available need to be used in combination because all by themselves none of them could be considered a stand alone platform for instruction. At least that is my take on it. The "library" concept is good as long as old or out dated material is removed or corrected to reflect the current research or trends. It allows professors to let future students enjoy the lectures of special guests in each class without having to schedule them to return. Quite possibly some guest lecturers are famous or on a speaking tour such as political figures or motivational sports figures, etc.
Podcasting gets my vote! :)
Andrew
Good point about keeping the library current. There is nothing worse than to have a book, lecture, or course start out with old or no longer current information. It is interesting to look at an old encyclopedia (yes, like the ones on shelves) and see how much information is missing from these “comprehensive” books. I have been in classes where the professor was clearly still living in the past. This problem can kill a class before it gets going. In the Army for instance, terminology changes so much that you can almost date the last time a course was updated by which terminology it uses.
Delete"A challenge with podcasts is that they are not interactive. ... This shortcoming can be mitigated by integrating a podcast with another type of technology for course delivery....a wiki...scaffolded with several different sections for questions."
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought about it because we are boxed by the existing Learning Management System. I started with what was offered and added a little bit of other technologies (Oh, yes, just a little bit. :o). But just by using blog, wiki and podcast, we can develop an online class that's live, dynamic and purely learner-oriented.
What a great idea, Chip!
I need to think a little bit more about this approach.... Thanks for sharing.
Chip,
ReplyDeleteI too, think that your idea of combining technologies is a GREAT idea. I had not thought of it. I like the idea of re-winding a part of lecture that you did not understand. It is easier than asking the professor to repeat what he/she had said.
I know that we are learning a lot about technology in this class, but do you think that many of the professors out there teaching right now, are using technology?
Thanks again for sharing.