Podcasting in Education

What is Podcasting?

A podcast is an episodic program delivered via the Internet using an XML protocol called RSS. Podcast episodes can be audio files, video files, documents, or any combination of the three.



How can Podcasts be used?

Podcasts can be used to send or receive information. For an example you can use Podcasts in the classroom. Students can use the information they are learning in a unit and turn it into a podcast and share it with who ever wants to hear. You can also listen to other podcasts such as educational ones, radio shows, debates, sport updates etc. Podcasts are very versatile technological tools. Podcasts can be used by educators as a means of reaching their students outside the classroom. Ideas and suggestions can also be shared through Podcasts between other educaters in order to improve teaching methods.



What are the advantages and disadvantages of Podcasts?

One advantage Podcasts has over radio is that people can choose what they want to listen to. They have access to the information and can pick and choose what they want to hear oppose to the radio where they have to listen to whatever is being played at that particular moment. Podcasts can also be downloaded with ease. If you have internet access, then you will be able to download any type of podcast you desire. Podcasts are also more up to date than say a newspaper or article. If an event occurs, a podcast can be broadcasted faster than a newspaper article can be published. The information can travel quicker. Grabbing the students' attention is another advantage that Podcasts possess. This is an alternative learning form for students which may interest them more opposed to just sitting and listening to the teacher lecture everyday.

One disadvantage to podcasting is that some can be hacked into. Because they exist in the open web, anyone can add misleading information to it or take information away form the podcasts.



Who is the audience for Podcasting?

Any and everyone can be an audience member. Depending on your topic, is the type of audience you will have. Teachers will often listen to podcasts created by other educators and classes. This allows the teachers to gain information and knowledge from the podcast and introduce it to her class. It is a way of sharing valuable information. In educational podcasts, teachers are the largest audience. Parents can also be audience members to these podcasts. It is a way for the teacher to share with the parents what the students are learning and working on in the classroom. If used often, it is an updated way to keep the parents informed as to what is going in in the classroom.

Teacher Podcast is an example of a podcast that teacher can visit for ideas to use in their classroom.



Where can we learn more about Podcasting?

Podcasting in Plain English

Educational Podcasting



Click on these links to find out more about Podcasting and how you can use it in your classroom!



Is Podcasting a useful tool?

Yes, indeed it is. I think it breaks up the monotony of the classroom. Often times teachers become bogged down with the curriculum that there is lack of time to 'spice up' the classroom lesson plans. Podcasting allows the teacher to break away from the everyday routines and allow the students to get involved in their education. This tool is also effective because it is another means to which teachers can share information to one another and better their classroom by using ideas and suggestions made by other educators about tools that have worked in their classroom. This tool also allows parents to be kept up to date with what is going on in their child's classroom. If a parents wants to know what their child may be learning about but does not have time to meet with the teacher, they will be able to use the podcasting tool to listen to the lesson.