Module 5

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Watch if you dare!

Well, this podcasting adventure has proven quite daunting. I have literally spent days trying to "embed" a vodcast into this blog, and I will be the first to admit that my selection is not particularly educational - far too 'arty' and with no narration [ but clever film technique/technical wizzardry nonetheless]. And you've got off lightly - it could well have been the one on men's crocheting !!

It occurs to me that there are a great many 'out there' podcasts out there. The range is just mind-boggling - they vary hugely in the quality of their content and in the quality of production. I would have thought that having a prepared script and some rehearsal time would pay dividends.

Whilst I am sadly MP3 challenged, too poor to drive an iphone, and can but dream of possessing a PDA, I am able to access podcasts only via computer. Hence I have no way to experience the most popular method of podcast delivery to an audience. I found podcasts were quite slow to download to computer.

Value in education ?

The value of podcasts seems to rest largely in their capacity to deliver information to portable devices, yet interestingly there is evidence to show that the majority of students in fact access their podcasts from a computer or at home. (Deal,http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/resources/PublicationsArchives/StudiesWhitepapers/Podcasting_Jun07.pdf). 

Podcasts will be meaningless in the educational field if they have no learning objectives associated with them.

Lectures are the obvious choice for podcast content in the educational setting. Students could catch up on missed lessons, access additional material for extension work or replay to ensure understanding.

For podcasts to be most successful I think the students themselves should produce them to be shared with other students. For example, a class testing the load-carrying capacity of bridges which they built in class could create a podcast along with comments as a teaching tool.

Because listening can be, for some students, more attractive or less tedious and difficult than reading, podcasts may provide an avenue to better understanding. They would be useful in providing book reviews, especially by their peers; for interviews, to talk about research or group productions, to respond to literature. 

Comments made on other blogs:


Well Jo,
You are real trailblazer! Of course the nature of your subject lends itself so very readily to the podcast medium too. Go girl!

Cath

Hi Helen,

I note your warning about unsuitable content in many youtube downloads. I think we should be very careful in their use as their origin is often suspicious and their educational purpose is not always clear and is sometimes downright misleading.

You're flying along,

Cath