I started listening to podcasts back in 2006. I am not sure if they were called
podcasts eight years ago, non-the less they were downloadable mp3 audio files I
listed to on my computer or mp3 player. In late 2009 I purchased an iPod Touch,
and since then I have downloaded and listened to hundreds of podcast episodes
via iTunes. I listen to podcasts for both educational and entertainment
purposes and time permitting I try and listen to at least one podcast per day.
I often listen to podcasts while working out, driving and prior to going to
sleep. Today I listen to podcasts via an iPhone and have over 100 titles
currently in “my podcasts”.
One pro of integrating podcasts into lessons plans is the ability to record and
post lectures (King & Cox, 2011). I had the opportunity to attend a
US Army school online (Command and General Staff College) where
downloadable lectures were often available to supplement
required readings. I thought the lectures often brought clarity and
understanding to the particular subject area.
Another pro of pod-casting identified by King and
Cox (2011) and one of my personal favorites is expert interviews. As I
stated above, I listen numerous podcast throughout the week and really enjoy
when the podcast author invites a special guest expert in his or her field.
A disadvantage of using podcasts in education is access to technology.
According to a recent report, more than 60 million homes in the United States
do not have internet access (“Most of US is Wired”, 2013). How can we as
educators remedy the problem of limited access to technology (such as podcasts)
in our learning environment?
Below are
two of my favorite podcasts.
King, K.
P. & Cox, T. D. (2011). The professor’s guide to taming technology:
Leveraging digital media, web 2.0, and more for learning. Charlotte, NC:
Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Most of
US is wired, but millions aren’t plugged in (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/technology/a-push-to-connect-millions-who-live-offline-to-the-internet.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
I don't know that there is anything educators can do about decreasing limited access to the internet (I think saying limited access to technology is a bit of a stretch, as most people do have a computer, TV, and/or phone).
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, as internet access increases, I suppose super dedicated instructors could mail course material to the students. Obviously this is a bit extreme. The students could just go to the school or local library. For places like public libraries that may not welcome people downloading content, the instructor could burn Podcasts and other audio and/or video files onto discs and make them available for rent, checkout, or purchase at book stores or libraries.
Having access to recorded lectures is a huge plus. There have been times when I could listen to something multiple times and glean something new (or deeper) each time. Just having the convenience of listening over and over again (while driving, working out, etc) is a valuable component of podcasts. I was surprised by the statistic you shared regarding homes without internet access. This creates an obstacle that many of us (instructors) will find frustrating. In an online learning environment, this could be a "make or break" obstacle for the learner. There needs to be clear communication up front (to the students) about technology access & expectations, and instructors will need to find alternative ways to make content more accessible. There is not an easy answer to this.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised by the fact that there are so many American household that do not have internet access. Based strictly on anecdotal evidence this seems to be especially true among many of my students who are on the low end of the socio-economic continuum. True, most of them do have smart phones, but they are also limited on how much data they can use. It is not unusual for me to attempt to contact a student and hear the message that the “call cannot be completed as dialed.” Also, the data plans these students use are extremely expensive for what they get. Finally, when all is said and done, many of them would rather use their data allotment to download a song rather than an educational podcast. The upside to this is that many fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, and even convenience stores have free wi-fi.
ReplyDeleteLimited access to technology is always a concern. I believe that too frequently those of us who do have wifi at home and work do not fully understand that a large population of students do not have that access at all. I teach in adult education at a community college and although free wifi may be available at restaurants, I have found that most of my students have a bigger problem with owning a laptop for home use. Many students depend on public transportation and have to stay at the college to utilize the campus computers. If the student has job and family responsibilities, then the student now also has limited time for those since they are at the college for longer hours. I'm not sure how those problems could be addressed in the future, but I feel any sort of media components to courses should also be made available in print if need be.
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