The Podcasting Project
Why Podcast?
Podcasting can stimulate discussion about course topics, give updates on projects, showcase group presentations, offer language practice sessions, provide a venue to debate news stories and current issues, and offer an interesting option. The equipment is all on hand and useable.
Quite a large amount of college lectures consist of the professor talking to students with a powerpoint presenation. Something that podcasts allow you to do is take that lecture and make it available to students for repeated viewing. Additionally, whether there is an instance in which a student has to miss a class and needs to catch up, or if someone is trying really hard to remember what a professor said one day, or if someone is simply trying to aid their studying, a podcast gives that person the ability to refer back to the lecture and get that information.
Studies in cognitive psychology have shown that pairing audible and visual sources can greatly aid in the retention of information. These audible and visual sources can also help to focus one's attention while studying. This makes audio and video podcasts the ideal format for enhancing your study time.
Podcasting also makes the classroom a portable place. Once podcasted, the class lectures are then readily available right on your iPod, Zune, or portable media player of choice. You can then stick that device in your pocket and take it with you anywhere you go.
