Coming soon to an "earbud" near you
Podcasting's on-demand audio holds educational promise
Heard of podcasting? If not, join the crowd. In a July 2005 survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, only 13% of respondents "have a good idea" what podcasting is.
Tim Wilson is out to boost that number, and he's taking his message to the schools. Wilson, a technology integration specialist for the Hopkins Public Schools (Hopkins, Minn.), is also the author of The Savvy Technologist blog and spinoff podcast. As recently as last October, Wilson was discussing podcasting to a group of teachers, remarking that "hundreds" of such downloads existed. Today, that number is in the thousands.
His point: technology grows rapidly to the point where something unheard-of just a year ago is soon part of the tech vernacular. Those familiar white earbuds sprouting on owners of such products as Apple Computer's iPod player are primarily used to hear music downloads.
But podcasts – radio-style shows from major media outlets and individuals alike – are gaining a foothold. It's audio (and, increasingly, video) downloaded, organized and played according to the listener's time and interest. Think of it, says Wilson, as "TiVo for the radio."
Still, as an emerging technology, "podcasting isn't likely to threaten traditional broadcasting any time soon, as the number of digital music players is only in the tens of millions, compared with hundreds of millions of radios," wrote Associated Press reporter Matthew Fordhal in an article printed in USA Today in February 2005. "But as the player market grows – and more devices such as cell phones become capable of play audio files – it could pull away advertising dollars, especially those that target younger generations."
Podcasting goes to school
On-demand audio opens up a new dimension for learning, says Wilson. "For a history teacher, it could be period music," he says. For a social studies class, interviews with veterans of the Civil Rights movement. For language arts, recited poetry or scenes from a play. Such sites as the Education Podcast Network are dedicated to school applications across the entire K-12 spectrum.
For science? A search of a podcast directory revealed audio downloads geared toward biology, chemistry, physics, technology and more. And the opportunity for learning extends beyond a pre-recorded podcast. A field trip or a museum tour could become the basis of a student-produced and narrated download. Even the everyday assignments can be discussed in detail via the Internet. "I suspect if kids are using podcasts as a curriculum tool, teachers will be creating them more consistently," Wilson says.
Of course, as with any technology from Web surfing to streaming video, a certain amount of responsibility is required to keep young listeners away from inappropriate material.
As Wilson sees it, podcasting enhances listening skills in students. And as the technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible, "students can develop from listeners into producers." As for educators, "I see a lot of potential for professional development," Wilson says. "In my district, I'd like to have teachers journaling their experiences" during training or conferences. He points to the Technorati site (which podcast live from space during July's Discovery shuttle mission) as an example of bringing how blogs, posts, photos and podcasts can work together to cover important events.
So should every school district rush to equip staff and students with podcast technology? No, says Wilson. In an environment of rapid change, "you pick and choose" the tools that suit your needs.