Podcasting now available for faculty and students
Sitting at home in pajamas and watching a professor’s lecture is the type of new technology being offered today.
Information Technology Services announced a new podcasting service that will be made available to students and faculty through Blackboard.
The new service will be used for many different purposes and could have the potential to increase student learning.
According to ITS, podcasting is a method of publishing media files to the web. The files are then made available to be automatically downloaded to a personal computer or MP3 player.
Podcasting could be used for any of the following things: news updates, guest lectures, student presentations, music instruction, short language lessons or supplementary course material.
The general thought among students and faculty members, about podcasting was if it were used properly, it could be beneficial to student learning.
“If relevant material was used in the right situations and right classes, I think podcasting could be helpful in learning,” Tesia Walther, a junior majoring in architecture, said.
A lot of support was expressed for using podcasting to enhance student learning through online courses.
“I think that in situations where students are using online classes it will add a good new component: actually being able to hear the professor lecture,” John Pike, a communication instructor, said
Students and faculty members did express some concerns about the use of podcasting in the classroom.
“I can see a problem where podcasts would be used instead of lectures,” Marinus Otte, head of the department of biological sciences, said. “The presence of a professor during lectures helps convey the message ... it is interactive. Podcasts are only one-way.”
Several other professors shared this concern.
“What if you have a question the moment you hear something and want to engage the professor in dialogue?” said Pike. “I think that’s lost with the podcasting. The most diligent professor may not get to a student question for a couple of days.”
Another concern was that retention of material presented would be lower through podcasts.
“From the times that I’ve ‘listened’ to podcasts, I’ve found it difficult to store it in my long-term memory due to the lack of visuals,” Timothy Zelazny, a junior majoring in architecture, said.
The possibility of lower class attendance was also a concern of faculty members.
“I suppose one danger is that students may stop coming to class unless the podcasting itself was part of an online course rather than just a supplement to the usual course,” Terry Pilling, physics professor, said.
Despite some concerns, there seems to be a good amount of support for the new podcasting service and for those who wish to experiment using podcasting in the classroom.
“I am all in favor of anything that helps students learn. I would be supportive of any of my faculty who wanted to try it,” Don Miller, professor and chair of the department of pharmacy, said.
The podcasting service is available to all faculty, staff and students working on academic projects related to the university.