Podcasts: a form of media sharing

According to a Google search, Podcasts are A multimedia digital file made available on the Internet for downloading to a portable media player, computer, etc. Podcasts are a web 2.0 tool that allows users to create, share and publish multimedia. They are about “creating or remixing content, audio, video, images or photographs, text or their combinations, and posting the content on the World Wide Web for everyone to see and use.” (Berger, 2010, p. 125) Although various forms of media have been available for many years (radio, tape players, films and video, etc), the introduction of Web 2,0 tools is the first time that multimedia is actually changing the way education is delivered and received. With the lowering in price of many of the multimedia tools such as video cameras and iPods, people of all ages have the opportunity to participate in media sharing and create a new education for themselves.

How do Podcasts support learning?

One of the major ways in which podcasts support learning is that they are able to create their own media and be an active participant in their own learning. Their interest and motivation increases because they are truly in charge of their own learning. Students can collaborate on each others works as podcasts are easy to share and interact with allowing for more feedback and assessment from a much wider audience. One very important aspect of Podcasts is that “they encourage student self-expression and creativity” (Berger, 2010, p. 126)

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts come in three forms, audio, screen and video. The audio podcast is probably the most popular and largely resembles the old-fashioned radio show. They use “narration and sometimes use some music or sound effects” (Berger, 2010, p. 128). A screen cast is a “digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration” (Berger, 2010) (Berger, 2010, p. 128). A video cast is “known as a vidcast or vodcast and contains video, narration and possibly music” (Berger, 2010, p. 128). All three forms of podcasts can be useful in the classroom and can cater to various learning styles. For the students who are more visual learners, the vidcast would be an excellent way for them to express their learning. When students create podcasts in the classroom, these projects “help develop oral fluency, write with an audience in mind, develop a ‘writers’ voice’ and increase confidence” (Berger, 2010, p. 128).

Creating a Podcast

Creating podcasts in the classroom can be a rather easy task. Three steps are required which include: recording a digital audio file and exporting it as an MP3 file, finding a hosting service and uploading the MP3 file. And registering the podcast with a directory so others can search for and locate the podcast easily (Berger, 2010, p. 130)

Assessing Podcasts

Although new forms of media are wonderful tools for the classroom, sometimes they can be hard to assess due to the large learning curve they present to the students. In order to evaluate a podcast, it is important to consider: authority, accuracy, bias, standards, quality of speaking, etc. Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators is a wonderful guide for teachers to check through to ensure the students have properly created a podcast.