Instructional Technology
Conference 2007
Title: Podcasting: Tips for Teaching On-Line
Name: Dr. Pam Petty, Dr. Marge Maxwell
Audience Level: all
Audience: Faculty, Instructional Technology Specialists
Length:
1 hour
Abstract:
This session offers tips and strategies for using Podcasting in on-line instruction. Two university faculty members will demonstrate and provide ideas for Podcasting for on-line courses. Additionally, projects created for online courses that are currently being taught will be shared. Discussions and demonstrations will include the software and hardware components necessary for Podcasting as well as pedagogical considerations. This presentation takes participants all the way from initial questions about and justifications for using Podcasts to implementation and student feedback.
Description:
Technology has transformed teaching and learning in online courses in higher education. Podcasts are an avenue through which educators can share their knowledge, insights, and passions for teaching and learning. Two university faculty members have created a series of professional development podcasts for instructors of online courses. Their goal has been to provide a convenient, authoritative and enjoyable place for faculty to learn tips for teaching online classes and how they can overcome technology difficulties.
There are sound theoretical arguments for investigating the effectiveness of podcasting as a pedagogical tool. Vygotsky (1978) drew attention to the strong links between the culture and social influences upon the learner, and their relationship with the learner’s cognitive development. Many students in schools today already have access to a portable music player, it would appear to make sense (at least from a motivational point-of-view) that the potential of using such players for goals which are more explicitly linked to the curriculum be explored. Broadly speaking, educators are using podcasts in two main ways – namely, consumption and production. The learning curve is, of course, less steep from a consumption perspective. That is, it is relatively easier to search for, and use, existing podcasts in one’s lessons, than it is to actually design learning tasks around the production of podcasts themselves. Thus the teacher who just wants to get a feel for ‘what’s out there’ has recourse to any number of podcast directories – many of them having specific categories focusing on education-themed podcasts (such as the iTunes Music Store), and a handful of such directories even focus exclusively on education alone.
The presenters will discuss and demonstrate both the consumption and production of podcasts in education. “Tips for Online Instruction,” a podcast series created by the presenters, will also be demonstrated.
Session Type: Lecture/Presentation
Contact information/affiliation:
Dr. Marge Maxwell
1906 College Heights Blvd., #71030
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-745-2435
Marge.maxwell@wku.edu
Dr. Pam Petty
1906 College Heights Blvd., #71030
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-745-2922
Pamela.petty@wku.edu