Podcasting for learning:
design, technology and
institutional embedding
Dr Palitha Edirisingha, Prof Gilly Salmon, Dr Ming Nie
Beyond Distance Research Alliance
University of Leicester, UK
Workshop objectives
• Gain insights into podcast models from a
variety of disciplines and institutional contexts
and their transferability
• Apply the ‘IMPALA ten-factor design model’ to
develop podcasts to address specific teaching
and learning challenges
• Consider technological and cultural challenges
of integrating podcasts into institutional VLEs
and academic practices
• Identify approaches for institutional scaling up
Introduction to the workshop
WELCOME
- Podcasting - a definition, benefits for learners and teachers…
- Podcasting approaches
- Group work: how can podcasts be used to support teaching and learning
- Group work: reporting back
- Podcasting – a framework
- Podcast recording and editing software – a demonstration
REFRESHMENTS (and installing software)
- Two approaches to integrating podcasting
- Group work: developing an outline for a 3-minute podcast
- Group work: Recording a podcast and publishing on a VLE
- Sustainability and institutional embedding
END
So… what is podcasting…
Technical definitions - distinguishing
podcasts from other means of delivery and
access to digital media files
- Distributed on the internet using syndication feeds
- Downloaded automatically through a subscription
service
- Content to be automatically delivered to user’s
computer as soon as new content is posted on the
web (BBC, 2005).
But there is a simple way …
A podcast is:
-
a digital media file
that plays sound (or sound and visuals)
made available from a website (via the internet)
can be opened and / or downloaded and played on a
computer, and / or
- downloaded from a website to be played on a
portable digital player
(Salmon et al., 2008, p. 20)
Podcasting Vs early uses of audio
Aspect
Podcasting
Early approaches
Content Capture
Computer, sound recorder,
anywhere, free software, tools
Distribution
Feeders (RSS) – free VLE
Specialised equipment,
recording studios
Duplication / copying
Postal services
Aggregator (iTunes, Google
Reader) - content ‘dripping in’
Postal services
Download
Collecting personally
Use
Mobile devices (MP3 players)
Computers
Cassette player
Logistics of use
Easy, flexibility, indexing,
near-unlimited storage
Bulky tapes, limitations,
lack of flexibility
Content
contributors
Teachers, students, alumini,
stake holders, non-specialists
Teachers, institutional
Applications
Many
Instructional,
motivational
Access
Walkman
Benefits to students and staff
Flexibility and learner control
Learner motivation and engagement
Cognition and learning
Novel way of presenting information
and instruction
Benefits to students and staff
Learning in locations
Fostering discussions
‘Contributing students’
Accommodating different approaches
to learning
Over to Ming…
Approaches of podcasting
Approach1:
Screencasting,
Support
podcating lectures
Lectures
Lecture
summaries
Approach 2:
“iWalk”:
Location-based
Support
information
Fieldwork
Instruction on
technique &
equipment use
Approach 3:
Support
Practical-Based
Learning
Approach 4:
Supplement
Material
Approach 5:
Studentgenerated
Anatomical
specimens
(structures, tissues,
dissections)
Additional
information
on the subject
Student
discussion/
debate
Provide
feedback &
feedforward
Pre-lecture
listening materials
(complex concepts)
Video footage
prepare for
field trip
Software
teaching & learning
(replace text-based
instructions)
Giving advice on
skills development
Guidance
Student- created
on assessment
podcast on
tasks
transition
Digital
Story-telling
Over to Pal …
How can podcasts be used to support
teaching, learning and assessment?
Group activity (a ‘pod-tivity’)
Reading a use case of an approach to podcasting in HE
Reporting back
Pod-tivity 1
Approaches to using podcasting for
teaching and learning
Purpose
To familiarise yourself with pedagogical approaches to using Podcasting for
teaching and learning activities, and to reflect on possible applications in your own
teaching practice.
During the next 20 minutes…
Please read the one-page case study of an approach to using podcasting in higher
education.
Task
Make a note of a particular teaching and learning challenge that you might be able
to address through the use of podcasts.
Also share your thoughts with your group members.
And, be prepared to present your group’s reflections to the whole workshop.
Response
Take notes of each group’s reflections and be ready to comment on how you might
consider various approaches presented and to challenge the ideas presented.
eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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eLearning Africa, Nairobi, 28 May 2007
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Recording and editing
software
Audacity
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Lame encoder
http://lame.sourceforge.net/
Appendix: How to create podcasts –
practitioner’s guide (pp. 188 - 204)
Coffee, tea, refreshments
20 minutes
Designing for learning – 2
approaches
• Supporting campus-based students’
online learning - ‘Profcasts’
• Developing study skills and helping
with assessed work
Supporting campus-based students’
online learning - ‘Profcasts’
An undergraduate module on Electrical
Engineering, one semester (12 weeks)
Lecturer – PVC / Vice President of university
for teaching and learning
Course online: 40 online lectures (10-mins;
sound, illustrations, video), Web-resources,
‘e-tivities’, formative and final assessments
Majority students: non-native English
speakers
7
8
9
10
11
End-of-semester
assessment
6
Assessment 3
5
Tutorial
4
Assessment 2
3
Tutorial
2
Assessment 1
1
Tutorial
1st meeting
40 online lectures (each 10 minutes long) + 40 MCQs
12
40 online lectures (each 10 minutes long) + 40 MCQs
Pod-3
Pod-2
E-tivity 1
1st meeting
1
MCQ
MCQ
Gets learners
geared up for
MCQ
Pod-4
Reminds
2
MCQ
E-tivity 2
3
4
5…
Assessment 1
Pod-1
MCQ
MCQ
Tutorial
MCQ
Representation of the course design - 1:
Incorporating podcasts to support campus-based students’ online learning
Personal surgeries
Further
info
reminds
Issues
5
7
Personal surgeries
8
9
10
Personal surgeries
Issues
Feedback
Advice+
tips
Advice+
tips
11
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
6
12
PORTFOLIO
4
Lecture
Lecture
Seminar
Lecture
3
Presentation
2
presentation
1
Seminar
Lecture
Seminar
Lecture
Lecture
Representation of the course design - 2:
Incorporating podcasts to develop study skills and to improve the quality of
assessed work
Format of ‘profcasts’
2 minutes
Beginning
6 minutes
Middle
2 minutes
End
A ten factor design framework










1. Pedagogical rationale
2. Medium
3. Convergence
4. Authors and contributors to podcasts
5. Structure of podcasting
6. Reusability
7. Length
8. Style
9. Framework
10. Access system
http://www.atimod.com/podcasting/PDModel.html
Pod-tivity 2
Developing an academic podcast
Purpose
To familiarise you with the basic steps involved in developing an academic podcast
and to get hands-on experience in producing and recording a short (3-4 minutes)
podcast.
During the next 60 minutes …
Task
Response
Following on from the previous group activity, please identify a suitable topic /
theme for an academic podcast. Based on the podcast ‘ten-factor design model’,
please write an outline for a short podcast (3-4 minutes). You may want to use the
story-board templates provided to guide your narration. Please record the podcast
using a laptop or a voice recorder. Decide how you might advice your students to
make use of this podcast; and finally, report to the whole workshop group.
Please take notes of each group’s reflections and be prepared to comment on how
the various ‘approaches to developing podcasts’ have informed your practice.
Colleagues ….
• Please start recording your podcasts ….
Over to Gilly…
Present
Mission /
Market
Existing Students
Existing Technology
Existing Students
New Technology
core
New
New Students
Existing Technology
peripheral
New Students
New Technology
Present
31/07/2017
Pedagogy/
Technology
Gilly Salmon
New
35
Thank you for your participation…
Podcasting resources at …
www.impala.ac.uk
www.podcastingforlearning.com
Jan 8, 2008