Podcasting

This week, we explored podcasting and the educational benefits that it offers. In an article from Learning and Leading with Technology, podcasting was defined as automated technology that allows listeners to subscribe and listen to digitally recorded audio shows. At Duke University, iPods were given to their entire freshmen class and their uses were broken down into five categories:
1. Course Content Dissemination
2. Classroom Recording
3. Field Recording
4. Study Support
5. File Storage and Transfer

Making a podcast is as easy as 1-2-3: Script, Record, Edit.

The benefits of using podcasting in education are endless. Students can access podcasts made by other people which helps further the understanding and supplementation of curriculum. Teachers or professors can create podcasts which allow students to listen to lectures, gain extra help from their teachers, and listen to test reviews and supplements. By downloading this extra information, students can take it anywhere. This extends the school day and makes learning relevant outside of the classroom. Teachers can also create podcasts focused on education-related content for other teachers. Student produced podcasts let students learn about in-depth research, how to communication and speak effectively, and how to grab their audience's attention through the use of sound and intriguing content.

While podcasting is beneficial, there are also a few problem areas. First up is the area of legality. The podcasting industry is unregulated so people must be careful about the type of content they are advertising to their friends, families, colleagues, students, and professors. Also, podcasters must receive permission to use certain content and could be held legally responsible for anything they say.

I will use podcasting in my journalism career by using them for interviews and to share my stories with my audiences. Interviews can be conducted by using an mp3 player, connecting a microphone to it, and using audio software to import, edit and share the audio. Also, podcasting and vodcasting (podcasting plus video) is revolutionizing how journalists share information. People do not want to have to be chained to their televisions at 5, 6, or 11 pm in order to get the latest headlines. They want to have that information at their fingertips for easy download. Many big news organizations are producing free podcast and/or vodcast downloads so that audience members can have up-to-date information at their fingertips.


The following video gives the audience step-by-step directions on how to use podcasting in your blogger account. A lot of media is becoming multifunctional in the sense that one program can have multiple uses. This shows the convergence of media because the written blog becomes an audio blog but is still housed under the same site. My best friend is currently studying abroad and she uses a podcast on her blog so that people can read about parts of her trips and then listen to her explain things that may be too confusing to read (like stories or conversations with the natives). Using the podcast and written material makes her blog more user-friendly.