--Les Back
What is a podcast?
Before
diving into a discertation, let’s look at the word “podcast” itself.
First mentioned by Ben Hammersley in a 2004 Guardian newspaper article in
which he rattled off possible names for this booming new medium, the “pod”
of podcast is borrowed from Apple’s “iPod” digital media player; and the
“cast” portion of podcast is taken from Radio’s “broadcast” term.
As you may know, just because it’s named
after Apple’s iPod, does not necessarily mean that you have to own or use an
iPod — or any portable digital media player for that matter — to enjoy a
podcast (internationalpodcastday.com).
iPod+Broadcast=Podcast
As I
learned in our reading this week, podcasts are digital audio files posted on
the internet and pushed to listeners through XML/RSS feeds and are made
available via Web sites and podcast directories (King and Cox, p.34). I have a confession...I am not a podcast
listener. However, the more I research
and read about this medium, the more I shake my head that I have not taken
advantage of podcast listening! Did you know that six years ago Apple
announced that it had one billion podcast subscribers? Amazing!
There is even a National Podcast Day that just celebrated its sixth year
this past September 30 (internationalpodcastday.com). J
How do
podcasts fit in with adult learning?
Just like blogging, wikis, discussion boards, etc…podcasts have a place
in learning. The use of recorded audio
in education has a long history of effectively impacting student learning (King
and Cox, p.37). Let’s take a look at the
benefits of podcasts, and touch on a couple of pitfalls:
Pros:
· The success of
podcasting is due, in part, to the convenience and pervasiveness of the modern
smartphone. Think about it, people today
are constantly on the go—but almost never without their cell phones. And thanks
to music and radio streaming services, people have easy access to a wide range
of podcasts to listen to during their commutes, car rides, gym sessions, and
even during work. (Zoominfo.com) Some might
say that podcasts act like an audio Netflix.
· Reach! Anyone on the internet has access to podcasts,
whether one is looking for a class lecture, or perusing iTunes University for a
particular subject. Podcasts are easy to
get to and are useful for all ages.
· Podcast assignments require
students to think critically, plan and organize content, and demonstrate their
mastery of an area of study or subject.
· Completed student podcast assignments provide instruction and
real-life examples for future classes and learners.
· One
of the most significant advantages to an adult distance education program from
the use of podcasting is the ability to use interviews and discussions with
external or internal experts in order to teach and inform the adult learners
who might not find time for face-to-face education (Roy and Roy, 2007).
Cons:
·
A major drawback to podcasts in higher education arise when
podcasting are made synonymous with lecture webcasting (King and Cox,
p.37). This becomes useful for students
when content is edited for consumption (condensed).
·
One area that needs to be highlighted are the rules surrounding
copyright, patent, and intellectual property laws covering podcast components
to include songs, sound effects, etc. It
will be important for instructors to set clear guidelines for the do’s and don’ts
of podcast assignments. Without good
guidance, a podcast assignment may lead to legal troubles for
student/school/podcaster.
One thing
is clear to me from this blog assignment…I will be investigating podcasts for both my
work/school enrichment and for areas of interest! Please feel free to give me feedback and share your favorite podcasts! :-)
References:
https://blog.zoominfo.com/podcasting-quotes-business/
referenced on October 9, 2019.
https://internationalpodcastday.com/what-is-podcast/
referenced on October 9, 2019.
King, K.P. and Cox T.D., (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology.
Charlotte, NC: INFORMATION AGE PUBLISHING, INC.
Roy, A.K. and Roy, P.A. Intersection
of training and podcasting in adult education. Australian Journal of Adult
Learning Volume 47, Number 3, November 2007.
Image reference:
Snibbe, Kurt. Orange County Register. How podcasts compare to other
forms of media. August 24, 2017.
