EDACE-765 Podcast Interview

Greetings

I chose to conduct my interview for our podcast assignment with a colleague at Washburn University. I was fortunate to be able to interview Dr. Margaret Wood, Prof. of Anthropology and Sociology. Dr. Wood is also the Director for C-TEL, (The Center for Teaching and Excellence in Learning) at Washburn University. The goal of C-TEL at Washburn University is to promote excellence and innovation in learning and enhance student learning.

To accomplish this goal, C-TEL provides seminars and training for Washburn staff in a variety of areas. The reason I chose to interview Dr. Wood for this podcast project was because of her use of technology in her own teaching, and through her support of staff development in the area of technology at Washburn University.

Enjoy the interview.

Tony P.  

 Interview with Dr. M. Wood, October9, 2015)       (Interview on YouTube with video)                                                       


Interview with Dr. M. Wood, October 9, 2015   (Interview on Buzzsprout, no video)

THE USE OF PODCASTING IN ADULT EDUCATION

What is a Podcast?

A "podcast" is a digital recording that once uploaded to a server and placed online can serve as a lecture or presentation. The roots of the podcast can be found within the independent music industry, but experienced an upswing in educational popularity beginning in 2004 (Cox and King, 2011, p. 34). According to Cox and King (2011), podcasts are created by recording on a computer through the use of portable digital audio recorders, edited, and posted on an internet site (p. 34). If a podcast is listened to without downloading the file, it is known as 'online streaming', but still requires the use of some kind of audio device (Cox et al, 2011, p. 35).
According to Cox et al, (2011), the podcast creates an opportunity to use an inexpensive, simple technology to enhance teaching and learning for our specific disciplines and classes (Cox et al, 2011, p. 34).

An example of a free podcasting service is Office Mix. Office Mix allows the user to create a presentation using Microsoft Power Point, and record lecture over the presentation.  This creates a life like image, and makes the listener feel in touch with the presenter.

Example of Office Mix 
Example of Office Mix      (click on the link, and another link will appear.)

Pros of Podcasting

1. Podcasting is easy to do: In my experience, all you need is a recording device, or microphone on your computer, and you're ready to go.

2. Not easily searchable: As of 2012, podcasts are not easy to search for over the internet (Cornell, 2015, p. 1). They are not readily found by search engines.

3. Personable: As you record a podcast, you infuse your emotions, facial expressions and body language in to the podcast. This creates a more personal experience for the viewer.

4. Excellent way to create a permanent record of material for a class, such as a class review session (see Office Mix link, above).

5. Tap in to the use of different learning skills: Provides a great way to assist struggling students, and provide a mechanism for review of difficult concepts (Cox et al, 2011, p. 36)

6. Lectures and presentations can be memorialized for people who missed the lecture or need to see it again.

7. Breaks down traditional instructional barriers: by allowing students to engage and respond to class material in private (Cox et al, 2011, p. 40).

8. Expert guest lecturers: (Cox et al, 2011, p. 40) provides an excellent way to have a guest appear to the class,  especially if there is a distance barrier that may have presented the guest from appearing to the class in person.

I used Zoom for a guest lecture over the summer, by inviting a Chicago Police Department Area 3 Deputy Chief to visit my class for a guest lecture. The lecture was originally scheduled to last for 60 minutes, but went on for 2.5 hours. Luckily, I had scheduled a 3 hour block for the Zoom meeting. The guest lecture would not have happened were it not for the online live ability of Zoom. I consider this to have been a live lecture webcast/Podcast.

9. Multiple listening opportunities: listeners can listen to the podcast over and over, picking up on things that they may have missed the first time.

Cons of Podcasting

1. No redesign of the instruction or presentation: which does not allow the viewer to see anything other than the original podcast (Cox et al, 2011, p. 37).

2. Not easily searchable: As of 2012, podcasts are not easy to search for over the internet (Cornell, 2015, p. 1). They are not readily found by search engines. Because of this fact, unless you have a link for a podcast, you may not be able to listen to it.

3. While the software is relatively easy to use, the set up and practice takes a lot of time and energy for preparation.

4. Many podcasts may become outdated, and without some kind of update, lose their relevance for anything other than review of old, past concepts.

5. This may seem trivial, but the quality of the voice of the person making the podcast may not be suitable for a long recorded podcast. This may cause listeners to listen less effectively.

Sources

Cox, T. D. & King, K.P. (2011). The professor's guide to taming technology. Charlitte, NC:   Information Age Publishing.

Cornell, S. (2015). Pros and cons of podcasting. Small Business Chronicle. Retrieved from: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/pros-cons-podcasting-54405.html

Wiki for Collaborative Learning

TITLE
The title of this class is: Seminar : Metropolitan Policing

TARGET 
 Undergraduate students, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Major

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Review the evolution of Policing and Law Enforcement in our Criminal Justice System
2. Focus on issues that are experienced in large metropolitan areas, and smaller jurisdiction
3. Review the goals of the Police organization.
4. Analyze in detail specific issues in Law Enforcement and understand their impact.

MATERIALS
1. (8) Journal Articles
2. (5) Power Point presentations
3. Computer access for Zoom meetings
 
 INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL
 (For class outline, go to this link: Syllabus and Class Outline

1. Classroom lectures (Virtual via Zoom)
2. Discussion questions
3.  **Wiki**assignment #1
    A.  The wiki assignment will be used to create a free flowing online discussion on the topic of Comparative Policing.
        1. Topic: What issues are different and similar depending on the size/population of a city?
4. **Wiki** assignment #2
        1. Topic: Class discussion about (3) guest speakers
5. Journal Article Reviews (2)
6. Guest speaker review (1)

SUGGESTED LEARNING ACTIVITIES
See below, and follow links.
Click on link.
The actual link appears below the first link, and will take you to my temporary Wiki page.

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT
See below and follow the links. 

References
West, J.A. & West, M.L. (2009). Using Wikis for Online Collaboration. San Francisco, CA: Jossey - Bass Pub.
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Home Page

Seminar: Metropolitan Policing

Purpose:
This class/wiki will provide students with an overview of the Criminal Justice system from the perspectives of small town policing, medium sized city policing, and mega-large urban city policing. Students will focus on issues that are inherent in different sized areas, and on those issues which are shared between the different cities.

About this Wiki: to learn more about this class and wiki, follow these links:

Syllabus and Goals for the class

Assessment Project #1

Journal Article Review

Table of Contents                                                         Teams                  
 Small Town Policing                                                     Team Alpha

Medium Sized Cities                                                      Team Bravo

Mega Large city Policing                                               Team Charlie

Guest Speaker #1

Guest Speaker #2

Guest Speaker #3

Group Reports                                                             

Materials Needed
1. Reading material
    A. Articles for Article reviews
    B. Rubric for Guest Speaker review
    C. Power Point presentations

"Wikis: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners"

What is a Wiki?
        A wiki, according to West and West (2009) is an online collaborative writing tool (p. 3). The Wiki tool provides users and readers the opportunity to contribute to a wiki site, which can be created through any one of several online websites such as wikispaces.org, and published for no cost to the author. Wikis are easy to learn in terms of construction, and require a minimum of technical expertise to maintain.

        A wiki is different than a blog. Blogs are generally posted by a single author, and may or may not invite users and readers to contribute comments to the blog (West & West, 2009, p. 4). A wiki allows multiple users the opportunity to add to the original wiki posting. wikis have the potential to be more suitable than blogs or threaded discussions for supporting online collaboration (West et al, 2009, p. 5). Group work can take on a new more effective meaning through the use of a wiki for class work. By way of the collaborative authorship, the project flows between readers and users. The wiki is not simply organized along linear or chronological guidelines, but instead offers users the opportunity to both add to and create new lines of thought to the wiki topic.

        Wikis are powerful collaborative tools that provide students, faculty, and administrators with new dynamic opportunities in working together (Cox & King, 2011, p. 123). According to Cox et all (2011) wikis allow for much social interaction (p. 124). This is an enhancement when compared to the blog or threaded discussion. The blog tends to be very author oriented, and the threaded discussion moves along one discussion point without fluidity or interaction, much like a discussion board.

        Pros regarding the use of a wiki site include the community thinking based orientation of the wiki itself, which encourages discussion, and broadening of original thought. The wiki is a free internet based service, and is easy to monitor and maintain. The creator needs little or no expertise in the mechanical process of setting up and maintaining a wiki site. It is easy, through my experience to add users if that level of security is required. The wiki allows for a free flowing process of thought and comment, which in my opinion simulates a classroom discussion and setting. Students in the online class environment desire this contact with instructors and students, and a wiki based assignment can provide this to them. As a professor, the wiki allows me to monitor and track progress on both a group, and individual basis, which is beneficial in terms of the grading process associated with a class.

        Cons of the wiki are few. The wiki as a web based product is generally open to public viewing. It is possible to restrict those who can contribute comments, which reduces some of the fear of using such an open internet product. As with class based discussions, it may be difficult to draw students in to the wiki based discussion. This may serve against the success of wiki use, if all students do not participate in a positive manner.

Sources

Cox, T, & King, K.P. (2011). The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.

West, J.A. & West, M.L. (2009). Using Wikis for Online Collaboration. San Francisco, CA: Josey-Bass, Pub.

What is a "blog"?

A blog is a frequently updated Web site characterized by a reverse chronological listing of entries that can be searched, archived and categorized according to labels, called tags, assigned by the author (Cox & King, 2011, p. 90).  In addition, Ferdig and Trammel (2004) define weblogs, or blogs, as Web pages that are often likened to online personal journals. 

A blog, short for "weblog" is a portal to exchange information across internet boundaries. According to Cox & King, (2011), early blogs were almost exclusively used by the computer design and programming industry (p.90). A blog takes on the appearance of a diary, with posting ordered in chronological sequence. Oravec (2002) discussed application of weblogs and online journals as educational tools and identify that they can be used to enhance students' critical thinking and literacy skills. It should be noted that this type of online journaling is not supposed to be restricted to use by young people and college students. There is an academic use for the blog as well.

 
  Sources

Oravec, J.A. (2002). Bookmarking the world: Weblog applications in education. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(7), 616-621. 

Ferdig, R.E. & Trammell, K.D. (2004). Content Delivery in the "Blogosphere". T.H.E. Journal, 31(7),.

Introduction

Greetings-

I have created this blog in an attempt to discuss all matters related to Adult Education and the use of technology. Please feel free to post your comments in the comment section. 

Prof. Tony Palbicke