Podcasting is a wonderful Internet technology that teachers can utilize to give students course materials they can access and use any place and any time that they want – even if they are not connected to a computer. Podcasting is versatile technology, and it can be used to convey course materials in audio, video and graphic formats.

One of the many advantages to podcasting is that student are able to download podcasted programs they want to view whenever and wherever they want to; podcasting is a highly mobile learning technology. In many cases, students can subscribe to a particular series of podcasts, and when new ones become available, they are automatically downloaded for them, ready to be viewed at the students’ convenience. Podcasts are great for instructors as well, because they can record, produce and publish their own podcasts very easily; instead of having to rely on other content that has already been podcasted, teachers can create their own and this control their course content to a much greater degree.

Podcasting is a fairly new technology, and it’s quickly growing in popularity with both teachers and students. Podcasting captures the power of the spoken word, and it allows educators to use audio recordings immediately in their lectures. In order for students to get the most out of podcasting, however, there are several things which must be kept in mind when teachers (and students!) produce podcasts which are intended to be heard by a large audience of students.

First, the material being podcasted should not be overly complex. Material that contains lots of details, facts and figures are more appropriate for lectures and readings. Why? Many students multi-task while they listen to podcasts, and they likely will not be taking notes. The same idea goes for lectures – they are not the best material for podcasts. Also, it is very important that the podcast have a narrow focus. If too much material is covered, students will get lost and frustrated. Finally, podcasts are most effective when they are delivered in natural, conversational tone, and when they are limited to lasting between three and 15 minutes.

Students using podcasting for the first time can expect that podcasts can greatly enhance their learning and understanding of a particular subject matter. Recordings of historical speeches, interviews and even old radio announcements can add a dimension to learning, and to teaching, that cannot be easily achieved in a traditional classroom setting.

Tags: Learning Technologies, Online Education