Dr. Kathleen King
The Bronx, NY - Nov 2006
Why Use Podcasting in Higher Education?
Dr. Kathleen King
The Bronx, NY - Nov 2006
In higher education podcasting has been widely identified with recording lectures and then uploading them as podcasts. Unfortunately this single use of podcasting in higher education has seemed to become its identity. We really need to work hard at changing this narrow definition because there are so many other possibilities.
Podcasting is only one technology within a whole array of web-based technologies that are used in distance education. In addition, podcasting can be used in many different instructional ways. Therefore, there are many combinations of what is possible with podcasting in education.
For example, let's consider combining a teacher podcasting with student and teacher discussion groups, and vlogging of student presentations. Or maybe a face to face class in which students create a podcast project that extends in rotation across several class sessions as they participate in sharing research and perspectives on the material.
Result: We do not have to be confined to one model of instruction. Especially when we have the opportunity to also work with digital natives who may very well catalyze new perspectives of the content during this process.
Podcasting has been a movement by which more of the general public could be part of the media. It is called the "democratization of the media".
In a similar way, couldn't podcasting be a push in the direction of co-learning in colleges and universities? Perhaps, we could begin to see teachers and students share, dialogue and engage more through this media. The professors are content experts, the students may provide expertise in the digital culture. This provides a place where we might have a creative nexus.
In addition, large questions lie right in front of us that I believe students of all ages in higher education can explore, such as:
What does that mean for a 20 year old podcaster, 30 year old, 50 year old, or 12 year old podcaster? Or similarly aged podcast listener?
From creating podcasts, to critiquing their meaning and constructing new understandings, digital media is a nexus of innovation, technology and empowerment and these are generative elements.
At Podcast for Teachers we seek to encourage innovative developments in educational applications of podcasting, therefore, in 2006 we started the Podcast for Teachers Best Educational Podcast Awards. This competition evaluates innovation and excellence in 5 categories.
For more information about the 2nd Annual Podcast for Teachers Best Educational Podcast Awards visit http://www.podcastforteachers.org/PFTbestpodcastawards.html the deadline is May 1, 2007.
AND DON'T FORGET OUR NEW BOOK...
Comparative Adult Education Around the Globe (2006)
by Dr. Kathy King & Dr. Victor Wang, (Eds.)
Hangzhou, PR China: Zhejiang University Press
BX Media LLC - Worldwide Distributors
About the Author
(C) Copyright 2006, Dr. Kathleen P. King
Dr. Kathleen P. King is a professor and director of the RETC Center for Professional Development at Fordham University in New York City. She is also the co-host of Podcast for Teachers a podcast featuring lively conversations about technology and education with leaders in the field, and "Adventures in Transformative Learning", a podcast about lifelong learning. She has also been an educational and technical consultant since 1990. The emphasis of her work is Changing Lives and Learning through Outreach.
Fordham University, RETC - http://www.retc.fordham.edu
Join us at Podcast for Teachers http://www.podcastforteachers.org
Podcast for Teachers feed: http://podcastforteachers.org/feed.xml
Also check us out on Internet Radio: www.coolcastradio.com and 24/7 streaming lifelong learning www.ilearnradio.org
Email - kpking@bxmedia.net