We PODCAST

There’s now a wealth of information on the internet associated with both the practical and pedagogical aspects of podcasting. One of the best pieces yet that I’ve read is a Teaching with Technology White Paper published in April 2007 by Carnegie Mellon University (and available here). One passage in particular struck me as being useful for our project, and stands as a useful corrective to the technologically determinist idea that we can simply throw technology at teachers and students and expect immediate results in terms of success rates:

As with any educational technology, whether and how podcasting impacts the quality of the learning experience and/or educational outcomes depends largely on how the technology is put to use. Does podcasting enhance education? The answer to that question depends entirely on the educational context, including goals and appropriate learning activities, and on how the tool is implemented. Podcasting does not contain any inherent value. It is only valuable inasmuch as it helps the instructor and students reach their educational goals, by facilitating thoughtful, engaging learning activities that are designed to work in support of those goals.