Our topic for discussion this week is podcasting; more specifically, the benefits of integrating podcasts within higher education curriculum. According to information provided by King and Cox, integrating digital media, including podcasts, is a must for today's curriculum. More now than ever, our world revolves around and depends on technology; technology has transformed our social culture, the professional community, and the field of education. For curriculum and facilitators to remain effective and relevant, the technologies of today must be incorporated into our educational practices.
For many learners, technology and digital media are familiar forms of obtaining news, entertainment, communicating, and seeking information (King & Cox, 2011). This familiarity has created a demand for technology integration into education. Many of today’s learners are looking for educational endeavors which offer on demand availability, practicality, and variety; incorporating digital media into the classroom can help meet the needs of current learners (King & Cox, 2011).
Audio/video media and podcasts can be very beneficial additions to curriculum. This form of content delivery supports many different learning styles, it can be very inexpensive and easy to create, and it promotes engagement with content and discipline (King & Cox, 2011). Podcasts and digital media also help instructors to be more efficient by providing instructional support through use of tutorials, Q&A productions, and pre-course content (King & Cox, 2011). Although digital media has its negatives involving copyright issues, legality, and proper usage, this form of technology integration into curriculum can make learning much more enjoyable and effective for both learners and instructors.
Below, please find a short Pros and Cons list as well as a fun informative video spotlighting podcasting in education; enjoy!
Pros:
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For many, podcasts are a familiar form of digital media
- Portability and accessibility
- Can provide additional assistance for difficult concepts
- Supports multiple learning styles
- Can provide additional instructional support
- Cultivates engagement, critical thinking, problem solving, and lifelong learning
- Student created podcasts provide opportunities for empowerment, deeper thinking, and expression
- Podcasts are relatively easy and quick to create
- Inexpensive to produce
- Assist with faculty efficiency
- Help students attach meaning to their learning experiences
- Adds variety to course communication and content delivery
Cons:
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Copyright and legalities can be overlooked or misunderstood
- Can be ineffective if produced incorrectly (too long, boring, poor quality)
References
King,
K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology.
Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Shandi,
ReplyDeleteI like how you explained up front in your first paragraph what you were blogging about and explained in details EXACTLY what you were discussing. Also the video clip at the end that you added was really cute. I don't know if it is an older video, but if it isn't they did a nice job of making it look like an old black and white film. I am one of those people that has to watch the entire video and I must say it made me chuckle. Your bullet list of the pro and cons was also easy to follow on your blog. Nicely done!
Hi Kelli,
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed your time reviewing my blog; thank you for your comments! Thank you for complimenting my intro, bullets, and the video. Sometimes I can get too wordy and my writing can be fluffy, so I am pleased that this time my information was helpful. Podcasting is very interesting to me and I actually enjoyed learning about all the many ways this technology can be utilized in the classroom. This technology, as well as all the others discussed throughout this course, appears to be wonderful, user friendly, cost effective teaching methods. This course has shown me just how beneficial integrating technology into curriculum can be and I cannot wait to be in a position where I can utilize these teaching tools. Thank you again for checking out my blog and sharing your comments with me!
Way cute video! It fits in exactly with what we are learning. I really think it could have helped to plan and produce my video interview. It would definitely be a useful resource for future students of this course. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI really think instructors are going to have to continue to become better at incorporating different formats of instruction into their curriculums. Not only do learners have different styles in which they learn best, if you're like me you also appreciate a variety of ways to learn the material.
Hi Janel,
DeleteThank you for the comments! I too loved the video; it was funny, interesting, and full of information. For me, the video portrayed podcasts in a way that I will remember and refer to in the future. It's informal, relaxed, and comical nature appealed to me and the information describing podcasts was easy for me to understand and follow.
Like you, I too believe instructors are going to need to up their game regarding technology integration. Technology is such a huge part of our culture and society, people have become to expect its use and learning is no different. Learners today are used to the interactive on demand nature of technology and they are beginning to expect these same qualities within their learning experiences. In addition, the education industry has become very competitive. Institutions must make their programs very attractive to win learners. Technology integration is one way learning institutions are attracting learners, learners want technology and many will enroll in programs which utilize many different technologies.
Personally, I enjoy learning experiences which incorporate a variety of technologies, this variety makes learning interesting and worth my while. I have been a fulltime learner for the past four years and I can honestly say the instructors and courses which have incorporated technology into their curriculum have definitely impacted me and my experiences more than those who were more read and write centered. Technology takes learning to the next level and instructors would do themselves good to jump on the technology band wagon. Thanks again for your comments!
Hi Shandi,
ReplyDeleteThe video is a good example of how to use podcasting right!. I appreciate the extensive list of "pros" you provided. I think accessibility and ease of use are especially important. Including audio and video in classrooms has been in place for a while now. Podcasting is the new technology that wraps it together, makes is accessable and portable, and removes the clunky projector and tape recorders from presenting there media from disassociated lecturing tools to student-centered scaffolding technologies.
Hi, thank you for your comments! I too agree that podcasting can be very beneficial to education. Like you mentioned, this form of technology adds variety to the classroom and transforms teaching methods from instructor centered to learner centered. One of the aspects of this technology that I did not consider was its use and success within both online and on ground curriculum. Within Chapter 3 of The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology, several uses for podcasting are suggested. Podcasts can be used for lecture webcasting, FAQ's, tutorials, expert interviews, reenactments, and position podcasts. I had no idea podcasts could be used in so many different ways; I figured podcasts were only used to record boring lectures. Taking a deeper look a podcasts this week provided me with a new perspective regarding this technology. Just like all other technologies, proper use, innovation, and creativity make technology integration a wonderful addition to ones learning experience. Thanks again for sharing your comments with me!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I forgot to cite my reference!
DeleteKing, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.