A lecturer in your pocket : the place and use of podcasting in virtual education

Abstract

“Adding technologies to the classroom while keeping the same old educational system will result in the same old, ineffective, shallow, rubber-stamp learning. The only way technology itself can truly affect the educational system will be if that technology is revolutionary enough to completely redefine what we mean by "education." (Grant Robertson, http://demml.blogspot.com/2009/07/philosophy-statement.html) This article explores the use of podcasts in the learning and teaching of Telematic (non-residential and part-time) students in the faculty of Military Science at the Military Academy. Podcasting has been identified as a potentially powerful tool for more effective teaching and deeper learning. Used wisely and well, it may break down barriers to learning that traditional classroom-based instruction has unintentionally created (Kuriloff, 2005). The article has three main sections. The first explores the pedagogic issues associated with the use of podcasts. The second highlights examples of good practice for using podcast material in lectures/seminars. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it outlines student attitudes to the use of podcasts within learning and teaching. This study draws upon similar studies conducted on the impact of Podcasting on student performance at universities in America and the United Kingdom (Williams, 2006; Hoskyns-Long, 2009). Data was collected from lecturers by means of unstructured interviews and from students by ways of an unstructured questionnaire. The results indicated a divergent view between lecturers and students: while lecturers regard the costs spent as exorbitant, students indicated that they find the broadcasts valuable.