I’ve recently learned more about something I've already
come to love: podcasting. Podcasting,
derived from “iPod Broadcasting”, is a new form of media which allows
broadcasters to upload audio or footage to the internet and for viewers to
download it for later viewing. Unlike
traditional broadcasts which could be missed, podcasts are watched at the
viewer’s time of choice, giving them a distinct advantage over traditional
media. But it’s also more than that. Because they are uploaded to the internet,
viewers use software called “podcatchers” which allow them to subscribe and
receive notifications when more content is uploaded by the broadcaster, giving
podcasters and their viewers a unique connection that had not existed before.
Podcasting is similar to other Web 2.0 applications in that
it gives the power of creation to the average person and allows them to
collaborate with other podcasters, or even their viewers. Multiple podcasters could podcast together, or
exchange valuable information through their casts. However, the difference between podcasting
and other Web 2.0 applications is that podcasting does not directly involve the
viewers in the constructive process. It
is the dissemination of a broadcaster’s information, while the viewers simply receive
the information. They may provide
feedback to help the podcaster, but their role is more passive than other
applications which involve contribution from everyone.
I own a PC, Kindle tablet, and cell phone which all can play
MP3’s. I use all of them to listen to
podcasts on a regular basis and learn a lot from it, so I naturally believe
there are significant advantages to using podcasts as educational tools. But it honestly depends on what sort of
learner you are, in my opinion. Personally,
I learn more easily when I can pause and rewind something until I completely
understand. But that can’t be done in a
traditional classroom setting with live instruction. On the other hand, podcasts are limited by the
same thing that gives them an advantage.
If the information in the podcast is unclear no matter how many times I
watch/listen, I cannot ask for clarification like I can in a classroom. I can see myself using podcasting when
educating in the future, but I want to make sure the information can be quickly
and easily clarified when necessary.
Mason,
ReplyDeleteI really like that you mentioned that the podcast could be rewound over and over until the student can fully grasp the information being provided. I had not considered that aspect of a podcast before but now it seems like a very obvious advantage of a podcast. That along with the ability to listen to it at the students convenience make podcasts a very versatile way to communicate new ideas and information. I also agree with you that the main drawback of the podcast is the lack of immediate feedback by the listener to the podcaster. It is a much more passive type of communication but podcasting along with regular face to face communication in a traditional style classroom can really help to emphasize the most important parts of a lesson and reach out to learners with all different types of learning styles.