All you ever wanted to know about podcasting:

an evidence based approach

John Sandars Paul Arnold

Senior Lecturer Lecturer in Medical Imaging

/Academic lead for e-learning

Medical Education Unit School of Healtcare

Podcast Defined

combination of iPod and broadcast

or, Program On Demand

Podcasting Defined

Podcasting is a means of distributing audio and video programs via the Internet that lets users subscribe to a number of files, also known as a "feed" and then to hear or view the material at the time that they choose. A feed is usually in the MP3 audio format.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

Podcasting Process

Access

Download episode

Playback episode

Subscribe - podcatcher

Create

Record episode Edit episode

Distribute

Web site / email /CD ROM

RSS feed

How are students using podcasts?

Two surveys in Leeds Medical Students

Literature Review by Sara Koo

Experience in other areas of HE

How are students using podcasts?

What do students want?

Survey – all first years in first term

(n 213)

Female 142 (67%)

Male 71 (33%)

Mean 19 yrs (M=F)

Age groups

Age groups

30+26 to 2920 to 2517 to 19

Pe

rce

nt

100

80

60

40

20

0

Thanks to Matt Homer, Godfrey Pell, Tom Crocker

Sex Sample Number (percent) Gender difference

Do you own an MP3 / digital media player?

 Female

140 118 (84)

NS 

Male

 71 72 (83)

Do you download podcasts? 

 Female

 136 12 (9)

Male p=0.007

 Male

 68 19 (28)

 

Do you create your own podcasts ? 

 Female

 134 3 (2)

NS

 Male

 67 0 (0)

Student views – Medical Students

answer optionsResponse Percent

Response Count

A PC or laptop? 67.90% 55Your digital media player, also called an iPod or MP3 player?

32.10% 26

8149

Do you mainly listen to your downloaded audio files (MP3 files or podcasts) on...

answered questionskipped question

Student views

answer optionsResponse Percent

Response Count

To a great extent 27.87% 34To some extent 52.46% 64To only a little extent 17.21% 21Not at all 2.46% 3

1228

If downloadable audio files (MP3 files and podcasts) were available to support your studies, how likely would you be to use them?

answered questionskipped question

answer optionsResponse Percent

Response Count

In place of attending lectures 0.82% 1As a way to reinforce or review what has been discussed in a lecture

42.62% 52

As a revision aid before exams 54.92% 67Not at all 1.64% 2

1228

If downloadable audio files (MP3 files and podcasts) were available to support your studies, when would you most likely use these educational materials? Please only choose one option.

answered questionskipped question

Student views

answer optionsResponse Percent

Response Count

Audio only – a full recording of each lecture provided on the course

30.33% 37

Audio only – a short collection of the key learning points related to a specific topic

63.11% 77

Audio only – a short journalistic style interview with an expert on a specific topic

22.13% 27

Audio-visual material – audio material and powerpoint slides

78.69% 96

Audio-visual material – audio material and video footage.

61.48% 75

1228

If downloadable audio files (MP3 files and podcasts) were available to support your studies, what kind of material would you find useful? You can choose more than one type.

answered questionskipped question

Student views

answer optionsResponse Percent

Response Count

Basic sciences, such as anatomy and physiology

80.33% 98

Ethics and law 10.66% 13Communication skills 14.75% 18Clinical skills 65.57% 80Data interpretation and case histories 41.80% 51Paediatrics 36.07% 44Obstetrics and Gynaecology 38.52% 47Primary care 34.43% 42Psychiatry 36.07% 44Public Health 21.31% 26Medical and Surgical specialities 48.36% 59Revision for written final exams 66.39% 81Revision for OSCE final exams 77.87% 95

1228

If downloadable audio files (MP3 files and podcasts) were available to support your studies, which subjects would you find most useful? You can choose more than one type.

answered questionskipped question

Podcasts and first year dental students – University of Michigan

• Main use to review lecture material

Only 9% substitute for attending lectures

• Most downloaded podcasts close to exams (44 %),

Only 26 % as soon as made available

• Mainly listened to at home (75 per cent)

Only 9 % during commuting and 2 % at the gym

• 84% stated that podcasting was useful and a positive effect grades

But 12.7 % no effect grades

Brittian S, Glowacki P, Ittersum JV, Johnson L. Podcasting Lectures. Educase Quarterly, 2006; 3: 24-31

University of Washington 41 students on 4 courses

Use by students

• 67 % liked opportunity to download podcast anytime after a lecture

• 81 % to catch up on missed classes

• 70 % used them to prepare for exams

• 50 % to clarify concepts

• 81 % listened to podcasts on computers at home

• 77 % no effect on attendance

Lane C. Podcasting at the UW: An Evaluation of Current Use [Online]. 2006

< http://catalyst.washington.edu/projects/podcasting_report.pdf>

University of Washington 41 students on 4 courses

• Most students - selective approach and search for an area of interest

• 54 % difficult to follow discussions

Suggestions - lecturers repeat questions asked by students before answering

lecturers refer to slide headings when giving their lectures

Lane C. Podcasting at the UW: An Evaluation of Current Use [Online]. 2006

< http://catalyst.washington.edu/projects/podcasting_report.pdf>

Any surprises ?

How can podcasts be used in teaching and learning?

Possible Benefits

• Appeals to auditory learners

• Mobility – take content anywhere

• Listen when it is convenient

• 24/7 availability

• Easy to review

Possible Uses

To distribute mini or full lectures

To provide short revision topics

To interview interesting people

Possible Uses

To distribute mini or full lectures

To provide short revision topics

To interview interesting people

To engage students in projects

Possible Uses

To distribute mini or full lectures

To provide short revision topics

To interview interesting people

To engage students in projects

To provide feedback to students

Finding and listening to podcasts

Finding podcasts

Podcast Alley (http://podcastalley.com/)

Digital Podcast (http://www.digitalpodcast.com/)

BMJ / NEJM

Dentistry Library at the University of Michigan

(http://www.lib.umich.edu/dentlib/resources/guides/podcast.html)

http://www.pod-planet.com/

http://videopodcasts.tv/

Bloglines

http://www.bloglines.com/

•no software to download

•new podcasts show up to listen to

How can podcasts be made?

Getting Started

Developer considerations

• create content

• deliver content

• incorporate into web site or blog

Equipment needs

• computer with recording/editing software

• microphone

• web server space