Podcasting...why not?
My odeo podcast didn't work.. so I'm just going to comment a little about podcasting. Podcasting is becoming more and more popular everyday. I believe that offering schools online via podcasting is a good idea. I think the idea of getting information this was is just like taking this online class. You learn a lot and it's becoming more and more popular. I think that you get more out of it. I think it's sometimes a better alternative than not going to class. A lot of people have busy lifestyles with work and all and that's what makes taking courses this way so much easier. I feel like I learn more because it's on my time to do the work. I know that I have to do it and I will do it. Where as if you have to be in class at 8am everyday, your bound to miss a few days.
From reading the article, Still, “ease of publication� may overstate the case just a bit. A few intricacies that lie behind the notion of publishing a podcast deserve consideration. One is that you have to produce a podcast before you can publish it. It is true that one can produce a podcast very simply. So is publishing a podcasting considerd a real publication? I think that it does show validity.
Comments
I have wondered how to cite a podcast, or whether that sort of thing would be accepted as a valid source on a research paper, since citations are supposed to make it easy for the reader to find the source. If I take a fact or a quote from a 3-hour long podcast lecture, how is the person reading my research paper supposed to check the source? I also wonder if podcast educational materials provide an opportunity for plagiarism that is difficult to detect. Hypothetically, of course.
Posted by: e_rose | April 28, 2007 12:16 AM
While I do love podcasts and listen to them regularly, I find it hard to see how offering podcasts for classes is a good idea. While for some people who are sick or just cannot get to class podcasts are great, but for the remaining stuedents it just gives them more of a reason to skip class. I know that when professors post notes online I tend to skip the class more and if the lecture was online, I may not even listen to most of it. I do not see how this benefits me in my education or socially. When you say that you're bound to miss a few 8 o clock classes it begs the question, are you going to have the same attitude with work? You can't get your work day on a podcast and if you miss a few days you're bound to get fired. Podcasts are great for entertainment but I don't know about education.
Posted by: Mark Mahan | April 29, 2007 9:32 AM
I agree with you that podcasted lectures would add to the flexibility of college learning. Many students have a lot of activities, sports, and jobs that they have to attend. Making lectures available on podcasts, students could listen to lectures on their way to places and learn the same amount of material. The fact that podcasts are rewindable is even more beneficial than listening to lectures because students are able to hear material over and over again.
Posted by: Natalya Goncharova | April 29, 2007 8:49 PM
I agree that Podcast will just give students more reasons to skip class. It's less personal but if I was offered my courses through Podcast, perhaps I would prefer listening to the lecture at home rather than driving to school.
I guess I would agree that there is a limit with the use of podcasts on education. It might suite entertainment more but I also think it can be beneficial as an option for learning as well.
Posted by: May | April 29, 2007 11:33 PM