Reasons why I think podcasting lectures is useful

1. Firstly reviewability if teachers want students to go to class to listen, surely with the price of a mp3 player, and cheap microphone, it’s a valuable resource for students

2. I have found that the content is so much more focussed with a podcast, for instance we recorded a 60 min podcast recently, where after editing getting rid of all the ahhs and emms, I reduced this to 25 mins, you can go straight the content and frame the lecture in key points with perhaps music breaks to emphasis key concepts, no time is wasted !!!!!

3. I found throughout my studies that some lectures were not concerned with updating there notes, and were just rehashing the same notes as the previous year. The nature of knowledge is that it changes all the time, and having last previous years lecture would ultimately demand reviewability from the teacher and student and hence more updating of the content.

4. Rss feeds are so easily consumed nowadays, and are generally supported in all the latest browsers. Students can easily synch content to be delivered to themselves effortlessly without having to navigate troublesome CMS or company intranets.

5. For thing like questions at the end of a lecture, where there maybe issues of hearing, all question can be reviewed and answered, also additional information can be added to supplement this answers

6. Everyone has a mp3 player

7. I believe all leading institutes have started. Universities who don’t not provide this facility will feel
A. Left behind
B. Not meeting the needs of there learners
C. Not advertising the real assets (teachers and lectures/ facilities etc) of there institute

8. For students who are not sure about taking a class, there is no better reference than listening to last years lectures to see if this topic would interest them

9. Podcasting in effect will only amplify the good or the bad. Podcasting in my opinion requires more planning, and more time, but delivers a far better one to one message. The content once released is under the scrutiny of everyone and managed properly this can provide the foundation for a effective collaborative work environment.

10. Through Skypecasting or Waxii the whole class can participate with an outside voice with lecturer moderating. I think listening to other voices is very important when learning something. They can offer a different voice, perspective, and expertise on the subject. The lessons I enjoyed most where often guest visits we had from professional working in that area. They gave insight on how what we where learning is applied in a professional context.