Large-scale podcast projects in HE:

iPod projects:

• At Duke University in the US, first year students were given iPods and academics were encouraged to develop applications. Early uses included course content, classroom recordings, field recordings, study support, file storage and transfer. For more information about this project, visit a detailed evaluation report.
  
  
• At Stanford University, students can subscribe to Stanford on iTunes U and download courses, faculty lectures and interviews and listen to them from their iPods.
  
  
• Georgia College and State University (GCSU) began to introduce the iPod to a range of courses in Liberal Arts from 2002. Their podcasting initiatives soon began to span academic disciplines and student university life.
  
  
• Educational podcasts at the Pennsylvania State University.
  
  
• Other examples of early use of iPods and podcasts were included in ‘The Potential Use of Mobile Devices in Higher Education’.

Podcast research projects:

• From Australia
  A large Australian research project of the broad educational benefits of student-generated podcasts was carried out at Charles Sturt University. At first the study was based on a pilot group of undergraduate on-campus students studying Information Technology, but it soon expanded to include a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects and involve both on-campus and distance learning students. Their research found that this approach is beneficial for both student producers and listeners. Their published work was listed below:
  
  
  • A pilot study of the use of learner-generated podcasting to address preconceptions and anxiety among first year university students.
    
    
  • More discussions on benefits of learner-generated podcasts to listeners, producers and educators.
    
    
  • A study of learner-created podcasts for distance learners.
    
    
  • Learner-generated podcasts for knowledge creation.
    
    
  • Learner-generated podcasts for fostering reflection and metacognition.
    
    
  • Another article on podcasts to facilitate reflection.
    
    
• From UK
  In the UK, a large pedagogical podcasting research project called IMPALA, funded by the UK Higher Education Academy (HEA) was carried out at University of Leicester, to explore the subject-specific pedagogical benefits of podcasting to support students’ learning in HE. Around 20 university lecturers and 500 students across six topics, subjects and disciplines and different modes of learning were involved. The project shows that there is a wide range of intrinsic advantages offered by podcasting that can have a positive impact on student learning in a wide range of subjects. A range of subject-specific user exemplars, case studies, podcast examples, publications and presentations were listed below:
  
  
  • Subject-specific user exemplars.
    
    
  • Podcast examples.
    
    
  • Presentations based on various case studies of using podcasts to support different subjects.
    
    
  • More presentations based on case studies of using podcasts for GEES subjects.
    
    
  • A paper on a ‘Procasting’ model.
    
    
  • A paper on using podcasts to support English Language and Communication.
    
    
  • A short paper on how to integrate podcasts into GEES subjects.

Papers and articles on pedagogic podcasts:

• iPod-learning - An Epic white paper on how iPod, and similar MP3 devices, offer a new channel for learning.
  
  
• Podcasting, student learning and expectations – A paper that examines student expectations of delivery of podcasts and how podcasting impacts on student learning and study patterns.
  
  
• Podcasting for e-learning communication, and delivery – An online article to provide an overview of podcasting and webcasting, and to examine student preferences between the different delivery richness of communication media.
  
  
• Virtual lecturing: delivering lectures using screencasting and podcasting technology – A paper examines student use of screencasting and podcasting lectures.
  
  
• Podcasting lectures – A paper discussing the best media format and acquisition solutions for delivering podcasting lectures.
  
  
• Podcasting at the UW: an evaluation of current use – An online article focusing on students’ feedback on their use of podcasting lectures.
  
  
• Using podcasts as audio learning objects - A paper that presents an introductory investigation on approaches to tailor and use audio podcasts as learning objects in learning management systems and learning object repositories.
  
  
• Fishing for learning with a podcast net – An online article that provides background on blogs and podcasts, academic examples and a plan to use podcasts as a teaching and learning tool.
  
  
• Audioblogging and podcasting in education – An online article providing ideas on what podcasts can offer for learning and considerations on how to develop podcasts for educational purposes.
  
  
• The promise of podcasting – An online article focusing on the potential of podcasting to support online learning.
  
  
• Audio in online courses: beyond podcasting - A paper discussing the use of podcasts and other audio products for distance learning. The authors conclude that the creative and appropriate use of audio can help capture students’ attention and make instruction more interesting, however, it will not lead to greater student achievement.
  
  
• Using asynchronous audio feedback to enhance teaching presence and student’s sense of learning - A paper reports the findings of a case study in which audio feedback replaced text-based feedback in asynchronous courses.
  
  
• Podcasting and mobile learning: can they aid social inclusion for students with dyslexia? - A paper that describes a study on the use of podcasts as an Assistive Technologies to help enable learners with dyslexia to participate fully in Higher Education.
  
  
• The effects of digital audio on social presence, motivation and perceived learning in asynchronous learning networks – A PhD dissertation explores the possibilities of applying digital audio to asynchronous learning environments, so that students can speak and listen rather than type and read.
  
  
• Digital storytelling connects youth across cultural divides – An online article discussing the potential of digital storytelling in engaging and empowering youth.
  
  
• Storytelling grows up: using storytelling as a reflective tool in higher education – A paper explores the opportunity of storytelling in engaging learners to develop reflective learning skills.
  
  
• Not just music but medicine. Podcasting surgical procedures in otolaryngology – A paper introduce the use of podcasting technology for medical, by providing audiovisual material to surgical trainees via podcasting.

Podcasts and learning theories:

• Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age - A paper introducing a theory that takes into account trends in learning, the use of technology and networks, and the diminishing half-life of knowledge. It combines relevant elements of many learning theories, social structures, and technology to create a powerful theoretical construct for learning in the digital age.
  
  
• The design of personal mobile technologies for lifelong learning – A paper that sets out a theory of lifelong learning mediated by technology and indicates how it can provide requirements for the software, hardware, communications and interface design of a handheld learning resource.
  
  
• Disruptive device: mobile technology for conversational learning – A paper that outlines a theory of learning as conversation that can provide a framework for the design of mobile networked technology for learning.
  
  
• Big Issues in Mobile Learning – A report addressing broad issues of mobile learning.
  
  
• Guidelines for learning/teaching/tutoring in a mobile environment – A report focusing on Mobilearn project deliverable.
  
  
• Literature Review into Mobile Learning in a University Context - A report focusing on an extensive survey of the existent literature surrounding the fast-growing field of mobile learning or ‘m-learning’.
  
  
• Evaluating mobile learning: reflections on current practice – A paper examining current evaluation practice, based on evidence drawn from conference publications, published case studies, and other accounts from the literature.
  
  
• mLearning: Mobile, Wireless, in your Pocket Learning – An online article about what is mobile learning.