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Ideas for Using Podcasts in a Course

To use podcasts in your course, you will need to download the software to create the podcasts, have a microphone, and have the ability to upload the podcast to your course management system either through a building block that supports podcasts (such as Learning Objects Podcast LX) or by simply uploading an audio file as an item in your course.  If you are creating a podcast blog, there is also the option of using RSS and creating a subscription area in your course that will automatically be updated with the latest podcast to your blog.  For more information on these topics see:  How to Create a Basic Podcast, and RSS.

Some ideas for using podcasts in your course are:

• an audio introduction for the instructor - create a short audio introduction of yourself for your students. 

• creating introductory lectures to a new learning module - create a short podcast that introduces the topics that will be studied, states the objectives for the module, and poses questions for the students to think about while completing their initial reading and/or assignments.

• explication of material - this would be especially good for courses with high-level readings, or in which there are ESL students.  An explication of the text covering the various ideas and emphasizing what the students need to "get" out of the material can help to reinforce learning.

• creating review lectures for a learning module - create a short podcast that reviews the material that has been covered, highlights the essential learning elements, and connects the information learned with previous and future areas of study. 

• assessment reviews - a short podcast could be created after an assessment that covers the ideas with which most students appeared to have trouble, and reinforcing those areas in which the class seemed to do well as a whole.

• feedback on individual assignments - short podcasts could provide more detailed feedback on student assignments while conveying the tone of the instructor more effectively to the student.

• guest speaker - an audio interview or lecture could be created by a guest speaker.

   

In addition, podcasts could be used by the students in your course.  Here are some ideas:

• student introductions - students could create short, audio introductions of themselves for the rest of the class.

• student journaling or blogs - reflective assignments could be used by students to create audio journals/blogs of their cumulative learning in the course.

• projects - in addition to other mediums for final projects, audio podcasts could be used by students to tell about their project and share their learning experience with their fellow students.

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Tip:  An effective podcast needs to be planned out ahead of time.  Creating a script for what you will say is the best way to ensure that you stay on topic and convey your information in an organized and professional manner.

A Word on Accessibility:  To ensure that your audio can be accessed by everyone, it is good practice to provide a transcript along with your podcast.  Creating a script (see above) not only can help you create a more professional audio presentation, but it automatically provides you with a transcript to go along with your podcast.

Below are some links to more excellent resources for using podcasting in a course:

• Podcasting Collaborative Learning Community - http://podcastingclc.blogspot.com/2006/09/excellent-podcasting-resources.html

• "Podcasting for Education" - http://www.darcynorman.net/2004/10/30/podcasting-for-education/

• General posts on podcasting/audiocasting from Will Richardson's blog Weblogged - http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/podcast-crazy/

• Engage from the University of Wisconsin - Podcasting Plus - http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/podcasting/index.html

• "Using Student Podcasts in Literature Classes" - http://www.academiccommons.org/ctfl/vignette/using-student-podcasts-in-literature-classes

   

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