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The whole idea of creating the podcast was to give the students more flexibility when
revising so providing a different way of revising so that they can listen to the topic while
they were out and about, when they were on the bus, running, or doing exercise and not
being tied up to one single place. I think students have different ways of learning so
this was a way of providing them with aural learning – some are better at learning by
listening. This was an idea that came about when podcasts were still starting to emerge,
I know now they are a lot more popular. The whole idea was to give the students that flexibility
of learning so they could read a book, they could go to the website of the module, or
they could listen to the podcast as well. I put them into groups and gave them a topic
and asked them to create podcasts and I didn’t specify any format so they could select whatever
format they chose. Some of them were very creative so they used for example television
or radio formats like 24 or Question Time, and they incorporated the topic into that
format, and that helped them to structure the podcast and also to remember it.
The benefits are that they take ownership of their content of the revision, there was
also the creative aspect and also they learn about new technologies – they learn about
how to create podcasts and this was one of the comments that came in feedback year after
year The benefits for me were that I enjoy playing
with technology so there was an opportunity to put together a technology which was emerging
at the time and helping the students and providing them with a different way of revising; increasing
the options that they have to revise. Basically that was the whole idea. Benefits obviously
it’s quite fun as well to listen to. Some of the podcasts are really really well produced
and it was quite exciting to see all the work students have done, and that they were motivated
to do it. The students really enjoyed experience of
creating the podcast feedback was overwhelmingly positive and it showed a degree of commitment
and effort that students had put into the podcasts
In summary using the podcasts allowed the students to have more flexibility when revising.
It allowed them to be creative as well in producing the podcast and learning new technologies
that may be useful when they go out to the workplace. It was very satisfying from my
own personal perspective and I will be very happy to share my experience with anyone who
is interested in learning more about this technology.