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
Hi Tony, Good list of the pros of podcasting! Your blog is very clear and precise. I did look at your Office Mix video. I tried to download it, however, I do not have Office 2013 so I couldn't:( We have mentioned some of the same pros and cons of podcasting, although I did not think of the quality of the person's voice on the podcast. Many people don't like the sound of their own voice. I can see how that would affect the quality of the podcast and the motivation of the listener to continue listening if he/she does not like the voice quality. We have all heard people complain about monotone lecturers and I can't imagine listening to a podcast with a monotone speaker!
ReplyDeleteBarbara, as a student of K-State, I think you can install office 2013 for free on 5 different devices. The catch is that you will lose that privilege after you graduate unless you want to find a way to stick with us. :) I tried to download the office mix too but couldn't because it is currently supported on Windows PCs only and we are unfortunately a big Mac family. If you have a PC and have a k-state id, I think you can give it a try. It is a very nice tool to convert a boring ppt to an engaging podcast.
DeleteKang
Barb - that is an issue with Office Mix. I am a Mac (Mac Book Air) user, and I am able to use it only on my work PC. Not a major inconvenience, but one that prevents me from creating these Podcasts at home. I do like Office Mix more than Adobe Presenter.
DeleteI checked out your "example of Office Mix" and it was awesome! I thought about doing that type of podcast with my own classes before but haven't done one yet for the reason that you mentioned that "many podcasts may become outdated." I change my class activities a lot semester by semester so it will be very time consuming if I have to recreate audio/video podcasts every semester. I did do content-based podcasts in the past and it went well because I didn't have to update those podcasts semester by semester.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I second the point that you and Barbara both made about the quality of the voice of the person. It does affect the overall quality of final podcast products (Is your podcast interesting and engaging). Who wants to listen to a podcast with a monotone speaker? I hope the voicethread activity I created for next week does not make everybody think that I'm a monotone speaker. :)
Thanks for sharing the Office Mix tool!
Kang
Prof.- Thank you. I found that was a problem, the inability to install and use Office Mix on a Mac. (I use a Mac Book Air). I do like toe Office Mix a bit more that Adobe Presenter. It's easier to use, and is free.The university provides me with a license for Adobe each year, and I think it is around $200 per year.
DeleteGreat blog post! You have definitely made some excellent points in the pros and cons. I am a fan of podcasts and have seen my students react well to those that they deem beneficial to their learning. In thinking further about some of your cons, I also had not considered the quality or tone of the presenter. There is not much worse for me, than to have to pay attention to a dull or monotone speaker. I would imagine that a possible remedy for that could be found in the Office Mix application you use (love, love, love!). Many people have valuable information to share, but may not have considered their presentation styles (some of my students may think that's me!). The opportunity to combine the PowerPoint with the video may help to keep students more engaged. I echo the thanks for sharing the Office Mix tool as well! I will be using that in the very near future!
ReplyDeleteToni - Office Mix is VERY EASY to use, and as I have stated in another blog response, it is free. I don't think there were any limitations regarding time and space, as I experienced with BuzzSprout, a Podcasting online software. I really like what I have created with Office Mix, and hope to show empirically that grades in the online class go up with the exposure to this type of semi live material review and presentation.
DeleteTony,
ReplyDeleteGreat information Tony!
I really enjoyed your pro list and my favorite was:
#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 love this idea and have actually already been making contact with expert in our field of child development to be guest lecturers to include in my online course that will begin in the spring semester.
I think as a facilitator, we must use them with different purposes along with applying different production approaches. Using a podcast in the teaching environment can be a very effective tool in delivering content, feedback, guidelines, etc. One of my other favorite uses for using podcast in the classroom is I could develop pre-course listening material. What to listen to before coming to class. Give an idea of what course material and information will be discussed. I think this will help students be better prepared walking into course.
I think over the next couple of years and with more and more talk/teaching of podcast for educational purposes we will see many more use them for in the classroom.
According to Podcasting in Higher Education (http://www.bcs.org/content/ConWebDoc/20217)
I did find their Top Six Tips for podcasters:
1. Don’t get bogged down by the technicalities of podcasting
2. Keep things simple
3. Keep your podcasts fairly short (10 minutes)
4. Plan ahead and use a script for guidance
5. Keep your podcasts entertaining
6. Informality works in most cases.
This tips seem right on task and are very workable in course curriculum.
Thank you Tony for providing a great blog, I really enjoyed reading through it.
Melinda Bennett
King, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The professor’s guide to taming technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Melinda - I like the "list of 6" things that should make a Podcast successful. I have to keep them solidly in mind when designing the insertion of a Podcast into a classroom. They seem to be almost so rooted in common sense to be forgetful.
Delete