Podcasting for staff development
Simon Davis – SDDU University of Leeds
www.leeds.ac.uk/sddu/podcast
Background #1: Podcast delivery
Consumer PC
Content production (audio / video)
Aggregator
RSS feed
Upload
Files downloaded when published
Subscribe once to RSS
Synch with device
Background #2 – Podcasting @ Leeds
What? LT@Leeds podcast – online / iTunes
Who? Presenters, focus group and audience
How? #1: Content creation
How? #2: Podcast LX in VLE
How ? #3: Feedburner
How? #4: Google analytics
Why #1: informal staff development opportunities
“It’s a more efficient way of receiving information - I can listen (for example) while walking or driving”
“I can get a brief introduction into what other people are using and find out where to go for more information if I need”
“Keep up to date and get inspired”
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Why #2: link informal & structured delivery
Why #3: support “podsumers”
“I had never really used my iPod so efficiently - I found out I could get information which was useful for my work at times when I would never previously have had time. This could possibly be applied to my teaching for my students!”
Why #4: experiment with podcasting approaches
• Interviews– Edited– Live / conversation– Video (overlays and titles)
• Single voice• External experts• “Recycled” content• Course participants• Screencapture teasers / demos
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Evaluation (n=20)
• “Very easy” to receive podcasts• Most do not use iTunes• Most listen on computer• Check for new content weekly• Ideas and examples of use = most popular• “Technical explanations” = least popular• 5 minute format “about right”• Overall very positive • Production process has improved significantly
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Impact
• 100% of focus group – “changed use of digital media”• ~20 visits / day from 11 countries
– average 25 downloads / episode
• 20+ podcasts created / recorded– Casebook– Learning objects– Links from other support sites
• Profile and visibility– L&T bulletin– Impact and evaluation of wider program
• Long term impact to be evaluated
Image courtesy “nxb” – Flickr
Barriers
• Content creation– Variety and commitment
• Marketing– Take up
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Next directions
• Cross institution ownership & development– Cross pollinate with other “news”– Market from multiple angles
• Tutorials and teasers• Closed series of podcasts
• ????
Image courtesy “The Ancient Brit” - Flickr
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/sddu/podcast
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