Audio/Video / Podcast: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners

What is a podcast? 

Podcasts are digital audio files, posted on the Internet.  Many podcasts are free and include audio books, news shows, talk shows and lectures as well as self-guided museum tours, job training, story telling, historical fiction, and dramatic reenactments (King & Cox, 2011). Podcasts have been making their way into the classroom since 2002, but have recently gained momentum as high speed bandwidth is more common and therefore downloading or streaming can be instantaneous  (Kay, 2013).  

Pros for Adult Learners:  Integrating Audio/Podcast into Lesson Plans 

As with the blogs and the wiki pros I've posted this semester, I believe the pros outweigh the cons to integrating podcasts into lesson plans.  I believe that one of the greatest benefits to using podcasts is that because they are a digital medium they are therefore portable and can be shared globally.  Podcasts have also been found to promote critical thinking as well as benefit people with different learning skills (King & Cox, 2011).  When podcasts have been integrated into curriculum, studies have shown that students have also found podcasts to be enjoyable, motivating, interesting, stimulating, easy to use and a great tool to use when preparing for class (Kay, 2013).  

I also enjoy podcasts for the following reasons:

• They are portable - I can put them on my ipod and listen to them anywhere
• Many podcasts are free
• I can listen a podcast as many times as I want

Cons for Adult Learners:  Integrating Audio/Podcast into Lesson Plans 

With any new technology in a classroom cons must also be considered, however, there only seem to be a few cons when integrating podcasts into the curriculum.  The potential for technical difficulties should always be considered when using any sort of technology in the classroom.  Also it has been found that listening to podcasts outside of class requires more self-discipline and therefore students may be more likely to pass over assigned podcasts (Kay 2013).  

Personally, I enjoy podcasts, but there are a few problems I run into when I am listening:

• Does not work well for complex subjects - When dealing with complex subjects, I need visual support as well.
• Passive medium - Since I am primarily a visual learning, I really have to concentrate when listening to podcasts. I find that with podcasts, I tend to daydream more and have to replay the podcast
• Lacks Feedback - I might have questions  

Videos in the Classroom 

Videos are also a great tool for the classroom and should be utilized when appropriate.  According to King and Cox (2011. p. 69-70) pros for using videos in the classroom include the following:

• Easy and quick to create
• Inexpensive to create
• Highly effective learning media
• Available anytime as many times as you want
• Incorporates both visual and audio learning styles
• Consistent delivery of content

Interview with Dr. Cotten:

Below is a Youtube video I created with on of the professors I work with at the University of West Florida.   Dr. Cotten works in our social work department and he was tasked with implementing a new technology into his classroom this past year. The technology is called the Tandberg System, which is a video teleconference system that he uses to teach students on Eglin Air Force base and in Pensacola simultaneously.  He discusses the challenges he has faced while integrating this technology into his adult education curriculum.

My Favorite NPR Podcasts

Another Pro for podcasts is that they can be great tool for learning and they can be fun too!  Below are my three favorite podcasts from NPR.  Although, I primarily listen to these podcasts for fun, learning just happens to be a great byproduct as well. 

                     Car Talk 

               This American Life 

          Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me 

REFERENCES

King, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.  ISBN: 9781617353338   e-book ISBN: 9781617353352

Kay, R. (2013). Exploring the use of video podcasts in education: A comprehensive review of the literature, Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 28, Issue 3, May 2012, Pages 820-831, ISSN 0747-5632,

IMAGES

(September 4, 2013).  New logo and identity for wait wait..don't tell me [Web Graphic].  Retrieved from http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_wait_wait_dont_tell_me_by_michael_casebolt.php#.UkxVb4Z6adI

(2013).  Car Talk [Web Graphic].  Retrieved from http://www.kqed.org/radio/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=RD11

(2013).  This American life [Web Graphic].  Retrieved from https://www.prettygoodgoods.org/categories/12432-this-american-life

(2013).  Human Rights Animation by Amnesty International [Web Graphic].  Retrieved http://brinebooks.com/human-rights-animation-by-amnesty-international/

(n.d).  The business of freelancing podcasts [Web Graphic].  Retrieved from  http://brennandunn.com/category/podcast/

VIDEOS

(April 19, 2013) Podcasting in plain english [Video File].  Retrieved from  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7V-CBgpsmI

(October 07, 2013) Interview with Dr. Cotten [Video File].  Retrieved from  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlY2VpZDaM0&feature=youtu.be