Podcast/ Vodcast for the Educational Field

1. Podcast/Vodcast for the Educational Field Brittney Hendrickson, Kelly Kuisle, and Nate Dietzman Introduction We created this poster based on research we conducted. We started by writing a research paper concerning the use of podcasts and vodcasts in the classroom. We then created and conducted a survey among 20 of our peers using Survey Monkey. We chose the subject of podcasts and vodcasts because we were curious about the emerging use of them in the classroom. We wanted to find out how they are being used and how successful they have been thus far. Technology is always changing. Cell phones come with more applications than ever, along with being wireless, the Internet is becoming faster at loading, and appliances are becoming more convenient with the help of technology. Podcasting and vodcasting are two relatively new, similar forms of technology that are getting more recognition as time goes on. Although they sound almost the same, a podcast and a vodcast are two different things. A podcast is a form of audio technology that “allows listeners to subscribe and listen to digitally recorded audio shows.” (Flanagan, 2005). A vodcast is known as video podcasting, “that is, podcasts that contain visual information either in the form of still images, animation, or video.” (Brown, p. 3). Listeners or viewers of podcasts/vodcasts can listen from their computers (no special server is needed), or download them to an mp3 player, such as the popular Apple iPod. Podcasts and vodcasts on computers and mp3 players are most commonly used by students to listen to the latest tunes, but it is quickly becoming an educational tool (Maag, 2006). They are mostly used to broadcast lectures and discussions. It is an easy way for students to take online courses, and listen to the lectures when students are most focused. The students also have the opportunity to listen to the podcast/vodcast over and over, which is beneficial when it comes time for the test. Not only is it beneficial to teachers and students who need more time outside of the classroom, but it also helps with classes that involve foreign language and music. Teachers can show videos, play audio clips, and give assignments through podcasting/vodcasting. Students can put together audio/visual assignment, and share them with the entire class with the touch of a play button. It is a great way to connect with people across the world, giving students the opportunity to communicate with people in a language they may be learning how to speak (Flanagan, 2005). Methods We first put together a survey using the website, www.surveymonkey.com, we then sent the link out by email to our classmates, and later to our friends and families. Once we got twenty responses, we collected the data and plotted it on graphs for each of the questions and their answers. The questions on the survey revolved around people’s knowledge of Podcasts and Vodcasts and how or if they had been exposed to them before in an educational setting. We also asked if they had any plans as to if they were going to use them in their own classrooms in the future. Findings Results/Conclusions After doing a lot of research on this topic, creating the survey, and getting results from our survey we found out the 75% of the people who responded knew what a podcast or vodcast was. Half of those people have seen it used for educational purposes. More have seen it in the higher level of school, like colleges, then in the lower levels, like elementary schools. None of the people that took the survey have ever created their own podcast or vodcast. Everyone knew that a podcast or vodcast could be heard or seen on computer and then about half knew about having them on an iPod. It was surprising that only about 1/5 of the people who took the survey figured out that the podcast/vodcast could be viewed on other MP3 players other then iPods. A lot of different fields are using podcasts and vodcasts to help them. In the survey almost everyone agreed that police departments, teachers, and broadcasting radio shows. For teachers, it is just surfacing in some schools. Some ways that school are using podcasts and vodcasts would be to help students who missed class to be able to hear or see the lesson they missed. This can help in any subject. Another way teachers can use them is to have podcasts or vodcasts as projects they do in the classroom. After completing them, then the teacher can publish it on a website that the parents are able to view.Wethought it was interesting in the survey that only about 60% of the people said they would actually use podcast or vodcast if they were teachers. This is a good way to show how podcasts or vodcasts are going to become more popular in the future because new teachers are learning how helpful they can be. Our group thinks that podcasts and vodcasts would be a very useful in the work world, especially in the school. The graph below shows how podcasts and/or vodcasts are just beginning to enter into the educations field because a little over half of the people who took the quiz have been exposed to them in their educations. • Podcast/Vodcast Survey • I know what a podcast/vodcast is. • True • False • Have you been exposed to podcasts or vodcasts in any part of your education? • Yes • No • I have created a podcast • True • False • Tell us about a podcast or vodcast you have listened to or viewed for educational purposes. • How have podcasts/vodcasts been used in the past? • Police departments distributing public service announcements. • Teachers sending lessons to sick students. • Broadcasting specialized radio shows. • All of the above. • Which of the following devices to you use to listen to podcasts? (select all that apply) • Computer • iPod • An MP3 player other than an iPod • Which of the following subjects can podcasts be used in? • Social Studies • Literature • Science • All of the above • If I were a teacher I would use podcasts and vodcasts in my classroom. • Yes • No • What are your thoughts on using podcasts and vodcasts for educational purposes? • I have been exposed to podcasts/vodcasts in the following places (select all that apply): • Middle School • High School • College (general courses) • College (education courses) The graph below shows a little over half the people who took to quiz would use podcasts and vodcasts in their classroom if they were teachers. This means that more people are thinking about podcasts and vodcasts for classroom purposes for the future. References Breen, Christopher. How to create a vodcast. 2009. Macworld. Retrieved February 23, 2009 from, <http://www.macworld.com/article/46066/2005/07/howtovodcast.html>. Brown, A., & Green, T. Video podcasting: when, where, and how it’s currently used for information. 1-7. Retrieved February 19, 2009, from ERIC database. Flanagan, B., & Calandra, B. (2005, November) Podcasting in the classroom. Learning and Leading the Technology. 20-25. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from, ERIC database Free Podcast Course, How to Podcast, Learn about Podcasts and Podcasting. Fluctu8.com. Retrieved February 23, 2009 from, <http://www.freepodcastcourse.com/>. Maag, M. (2006, January/February) Podcasting and mp3 players: emerging education technologies. CIN: Computers Informatics Nursing. 9-13. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from, www.cinjournal.com Podcast. February 24, 2009. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved February 23, 2009 from, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting>. Podcast Picture. Google. <http://blogs.oracle.com/fusionecm/podcast.png>. Podcasting Plus. 2007. Engage – Transforming teaching and learning through technology. Retrieved February21, 2009 from, <http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/podcasting/>. Vodcasts Picture. Google. <http://assets.bayrestaurants.co.uk/haha/recipes-vodcasts.jpg>. What Is Podcasting? FDS. Retrieved February21, 2009 from, <http://www.fda.gov/oc/podcasts/podcasthelp.html>. What is vodcasting/video podcasting? 2009. Sacred Heart University. Retrieved February 21, 2009 from, <http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/26192_what_is_vodcasting_video_podcasting_.cfm>. The graph below shows how in higher education, a person is more likely to see podcasts and/or vodcasts. It also shows that podcasts and vodcasts are being used in all these different levels of schooling.