Podcasting in Education....what's it all about?

By now you have probably listened to at least one podcast in your life, or you are at least familiar with the term when it is referenced. However, you may still be struggling with how you could actually use podcasting as an instructional tool and the whole podcasting process.

Podcasting has huge potential in education. According to EDUCAUSE’s The Horizon Report –2006, podcasting, is “at the leading edge of a wave that will last for the next several years and beyond.” Podcasting allows a different venue for teachers to deliver their message to today's students who are plugged into technology!!! I bet if you surveyed your students, you would discover that the majority have access to one if not all of the devices that students can use to listen to podcasts on their own time: Computer with Internet access? Some form of an MP3 player? Cellphone?

Podcasts can either be teacher centered or student centered depending on your goal and the desired audience. Teacher centered podcasts could include class lectures, group discussions, questions you want the students to address, vocabulary word definitions, test review materials, video demonstrations of labs or math problem solving steps, or just additional information that you would like to share. These types of podcasts enhance student learning by allowing the student to revisit the material on their own schedule and as often as they may need. Think of the benefits this provides to the auditory learners or those that learn from multiple repetition of information. Student centered podcast projects can be used to measure their writing and speaking skills, as well as, their comprehension of a given topic. Some examples could include book reviews or recommendations, math concepts, test taking strategies, current affairs, debates, "ask an expert" episodes, historical presentations, etc.

Please visit ESM's Software and Equipment Tutorial website to view the podcasting resources. These materials will help you understand the whole process and assist you in developing your own podcasts or podcast projects for your classroom.

Enjoy!