MP3 players are becoming ubiquitous. Even the latest cell phones are being promoted on billboards around the country as multimedia centres that happen to have a phone attached to them. The must have attachment is a shiny set of earphones that give the phone the ability to provide a ‘soundtrack’ to our lives! Amongst the youth, however, it seems a dedicated audio player is still the coolest way to go. Fortunes have been made at Apple because they developed the minimalist MP3 player, the iPod. It remains the hippest accessory despite a plethora of imitators.  But can we teachers harness this device and others like it to improve teaching and learning?

The answer is “Why not!”

The iPod and its namesakes have introduced today’s youth to audio content. We might have grown up in the golden age of radio but this is something new to our learners. Podcasts, available for free download to an MP3 player or appropriate cell phone, are basically potted radio shows. The advantage is that you listen to them when you feel like it. You don’t worry about broadcast times. In fact the ideal is to subscribe to a podcast and as new episodes are published they are automatically downloaded to your device.

“What content is available?” you might wonder.

Podcasts are popping up on many subjects. Yes, there is news, comedy, celebrity and sport content but there are also many topics that relate directly to the curriculum. Recently, I collected together a catalogue of FET appropriate History podcasts. I am amazed at the scope of titles. Predictably General History is much better represented than Local or African History. However, there are episodes that span ancient times, medieval history as well as the World Wars and the Cold War. There are also some excellent audio content that records the narratives of individuals who experienced first hand the evils of slavery. These podcasts relate directly to the FET History syllabus. Languages, science and technology are other subjects where there are lots of options.

So how might we use these materials that support the learning process? Two strategies come immediately to mind. Firstly use them as either introductory, lesson support or revision materials. Allow those children who struggle with text materials the option of listening to the content they need. Distribute the MP3 files to the class and assign them the task of listening to the content as they walk home or ride the bus or taxi.

An alternative strategy would be to make the class construct their own podcasts. Above I complained about an apparent lack of materials on African History so it makes sense that the class should script and record their own episodes on these topics and offer them to the global community. It’s not as ludicrous as it might sound. A podcast called Hank’s History Hour is freely available from iTunes. Hank, a US high school student, has made a series of recordings originally aimed at his peers that summarise a number of sources available to them, the textbook, class notes and some library references. The podcasts are a success, however, and now have a global audience. The reason might have something to do with Hank’s accessible delivery and informal tone. The episodes are rich with student slang are told with an unassuming attitude and are in simple English. Hank is quick to break down complicated historical terms into straight forward language. Why can’t our classes have a crack at making podcasts that might help students of African History?

“How do I go about getting podcasts for my classes?” is a question you might now be contemplating.

The easy route is to download free software called iTunes and install it on an Internet connected computer. Navigate to the iTunes store using the software and then click on Podcasts. An extensive directory of podcasts is contained within. Identify something that is promising and subscribe. The vast majority of podcasts are free. Attach your MP3 player to the computer and the latest edition will be downloaded to your MP3 player.

Another way is to search the Internet for podcasts using a search engine. There are many sites that link to podcasts. You click on the link and the MP3 file is saved to your computer. Then you must use the file transfer system on your computer to move the file to your MP3 player or phone. This sounds easy but can get a bit technical at time. For the innovative teachers reading this you might ask, “How can I learn about recording and distributing podcasts”. Despite the fact that it sounds very involved it is surprisingly easy because the process has been automated to a large extent. Use the links below to start the process.

So, can podcasts help in the teaching and learning process? I think so. Use the following links to see if you agree.

Podcast Subscription Software

1] iTunes – Apple Software - Free - http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview/

2] Juice – Open Source - Free - http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/

 

Making a Class Podcast

1] Learning to Podcast from Suite101.org - http://podcasts.suite101.com/article.cfm/learning_to_podcast

2] Podcasting Tools from Podcasting Tools.com - http://www.podcasting-tools.com/how-to-podcast.htm

3] How to Start Your own Podcast from WikiHow - http://www.wikihow.com/Start-Your-Own-Podcast

4] How Podcasting Works from How Stuff Works - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/podcasting.htm

5] Tools for Podcasting from Free for All - http://www.feedforall.com/tools-for-podcasting.htm

 

Additional Information about Podcasts and Education on the Internet

1] Podcasts for Colleges, Schools and Learning from RECAP - http://recap.ltd.uk/podcasting/

2] Education Podcast  Directory from Learn-On-the-Go - http://www.learn-on-the-go.com/directory/

3] Podcasting and Education from Shambles.com - http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/infolit/edupodcast/

 

Andrew Moore (andryn@iafrica.com)

An edited version of this blog post appeared in the