Podcasting in Education

Podcasting in Education by Michael J. L. Myers

Podcasting to Provide Teaching and Learning Support for an Undergraduate Module on English Language and Communication (Edirisingha, Rizzi, Nie, & Rothwell, 2007)

A Survey by Edirisingha, Rizzi, Nie, & Rothwell in a UK national research project into integrating podcast into 1st Year Undergraduate, the paper reports findings from research into the benefits of integrating podcast into a first year undergraduate module on English Language and Communication at Kingston University.

The model is based on three main features of podcasts identified as facilitating student learning: learner choice and flexibility offered by podcasts; tacit knowledge and experience of peers conveyed in discussions; and a sense of informality brought into formal learning.


Learning experiences were evaluated through focus groups, personal interviews (six students), and an end of the semesters evaluation.

Podcasting is being used as a supplementary or alternative means of delivering content by audio format.

Core Content is Audio. Tutor initiated audio messages

delivered via email have contributed to increasing student participation in group activities, and overall learning experience.

Data gathered from an end of the semester questionnaire including multiple answers, choices, and open end questions.

Reasons not listening to podcast included lack of time, not being aware of the availability of and technical difficulties.

Many formats dictated the appeal of the usage including designs, voice, and discussion styles.

Different ways of learning incorporate informal learning

Access to peer knowledge through listening, formats and features, especially voice, were vital for learning.

Podcast provides new way of learning. Informal and fun!


Evidence from data clearly shows students benefit from podcasting. Podcasting used in education provides new learning experiences, a new core tutoring format, along with an enhancement in knowledge. I am wooed by the constant benefits learned from using podcasting in education. A few minor reasons podcasts were not used were lack of time and not being aware of the availability. Wow, how easily that could be countered and changed. The above quote signifies and need for change in education format and the benefits produced from using podcast in education. The following article in the next slide is a continued research document with more statistical data on the benefits of podcasting in education.

“The above comments and observations by students reveal an important point aboutthe potential of podcasts as a means of tapping into the knowledge of peers andsenior students as a valuable learning resource.” (Edirisingha, Rizzi, Nie, & Rothwell, 2007)


Instructional Podcasting in Higher Education: Rockingham Community College Pilot Study (Preuss, 2008)

Survey by Michael Preuss at Rockingham Community College over 2 semesters.


Survey showed Courses that integrated podcasting had fewer absenteeism.

Survey showed Courses with podcasting had fewer withdraw rates

Survey showed Courses with podcasting had improvements in students GPA

Students from other colleges were using these (Rockingham Community College faculty’s podcast) and were sending in thank you emails.

After results came out of study, 50% of faculty began integrating podcasting

Lee and Chan (2007) reported 83% of students listened to 77% of podcast made available by their instructors.

It is recommended that instructional podcasting be continued and expanded in all colleges.

It is recommended that instructional podcasts be piloted in courses with high withdraw rates and low success rates for students.Podcasting in Education by Michael J. L. Myers

This last line written from Michael Preuss truly stood out to me as the overall theme and action needed to be taken from this article. It truly dawned on me, after reading this report, how much of an impact podcasting is having in education and could further more have. I never realized or thought for a moment how we could so greatly benefit from podcasting within college courses. I hope and have been persuaded to support any developmental programs to expand podcasting in education. I would highly suggest you read this article and be impacted as I have been to support podcasting in education. Please read the following article on the next slide to see how education can further more enhance through podcasting.

“This case and the testimony of faculty active in podcasting suggest that 11 instructional podcasting may have a strong impact on the instructor and classroom practice.” (Preuss, 2008)


Reducing the Effects of Isolation and Promoting Inclusivity for Distance Learners through Podcasting (Lee, & Chan, 2007)

Article by Lee and Chan is a report on the potential use of supplementary audio podcast to reduce anxiety caused by isolation and to promote a sense of inclusivity amongst under and post graduates.

Findings proved to be largely successful in areas including but not limiting clarifying and enhancing understanding of the subject, providing backup/reinforcement of what they had learned, as well as supplying guidance.


Students want a sense of belonging at a university.

Podcasting provides more contact with the professor.

Use of Audio in online and distant education is inexpensive and readily available, easily produced, stimulates listeners, and portable.

Possibilities and current apps- low cost and based on RSS (Really Simple Syndication), easily flexible and controlled, easily transferred to a variety of mobile devices.

The Study was a large project in using podcasting in education by Undergraduate IT students in ITC204 and ITC504 during a 13 week semester. Survey included multiple choice, open-ended questions, and 9 podcast. 30 under, 8 post grad.

Podcasting can counter negative implications from learning and can play a big role in re-integrating students to the class.

Surveys conclude at the college that podcasting positive in enhancing learning, cognitive aspects, clarifying and further developing subject material.


In lieu of this article, students from all around benefit from using podcasts in education. I never would have thought how distant college learners would benefit so highly from this application. I really enjoyed this 21 page article because it enlightened me on a wide variety sub points including more positive outcomes of podcasting in education, countering techniques, and the substantial role it applies in integrating students to the class or course. Like the previous 2 articles, this article further supports the enhancing learning process and further developing points to why podcasting should be used in education. As the above quote states, any form in which we as the students can submerge and further develop our knowledge and understanding in education, why would we not take advantage of it?

“Students of all kinds want to have a sense of belonging to a larger university community, rather than simply being an enrollee, or worse still, a statistic, in a course.” (Lee, & Chan, 2007)


In conclusion to the three previous articles you have now been informed and educated on, an action needs to be supported and taken on integrating podcasting in education. There is a wide variety of supporting evidence that further backs the claim in the three previous articles that podcasting enhances and develops the mind of students and backs with positive reinforcement. In the first article, we learned from Edirisingha, Rizzi, Nie, & Rothwell that implementing podcasting in undergraduate learning will starts the foundation of enhancing your college experience. (Edirisingha, Rizzi, Nie, & Rothwell, 2007) In the second article from Preuss, there is a overwhelming and startling concluding data why podcasting in education is vitally important to further develop learning and comprehension. (Preuss, 2008) The last article from Lee and Chan demonstrates the positive outcomes of enhancing your college experience by using podcasting in education. (Lee, & Chan, 2007) These three articles greatly coincide with one another and should be sustaining enough to join the movement to support podcasting in education. There is a great deal of positive influences from these articles and study.


Preuss, M. (2008). Instructional podcasting in higher education: rockingham community college pilot study. ED500985.

Edirisingha, P, Rizzi, C, Nie, M, & Rothwell, L. (2007). Podcasting to provide teaching and learning support for an undergraduate module on english language and communication. ED498818.

Lee, M. J. W., & Chan, A. (2007). Reducing the effects of isolation and promoting inclusivity for distance learners through podcasting. ED494811.
