The use of Podcasting/Vodcasting in the Classroom By: Jessica Davey, Amanda Carrigan, Cassie Henefield, Brittany Woestman, Taehyo Kang Introduction Podcasting is the distribution of multimedia files over the Internet for playback on a mobile device, often in MP3 format. Vodcasting is the same as podcasting but with video to complement the audio. Anyone can create their own pod/vodcast if they have the necessary equipment. We wanted to further our research on podcasting/vodcasting. We sent out a survey to local Winona area teachers about podcasting/vodcasting to gather more information. We then analyzed our data and were able to come to an established conclusion based on their answers. Method We created a ten-question survey using Survey Monkey, an online survey website. This survey was designed to help us answer the following research question: Can podcasting/vodcasting be effectively used in the education of students? We sent our survey to about 60 Winona area teachers to gather data on the use of podcasting and vodcasting in the classroom and 21 responded. The survey included 7 multiple choice questions and 3 free response questions. Here are the questions we asked. 1. Do you know what podcasting/vodcasting is? No, I’ve never heard of it before. I’ve heard of it before, but I don’t know exactly what it is. I can explain what it is, but I don’t know how to pod/vodcast. I can explain what it is as well as what software is needed. 2. What software do you have to download or create podcasts/vodcasts for your class? iTunes Windows media player Quicktime None 3. Have you seen your students work successfully with technology? Yes No Sometimes 4. How many times have you used/worked with technology with your students in your classes? Never Once Twice More than 3 times Very often – too many to count 5. In what ways have you experienced podcasting/vodcasting? 6. Why do you think podcasting/vodcasting would be beneficial or non-beneficial to your students? 7. What do you think is the ideal age group to start introducing information through podcasting/vodcasting? Choose one. K-2 3-5 6-8 9-12 8. In which subject do you think podcasting/vodcasting would be most useful? Choose one. Language Arts Science Math Social Studies Other 9. How would you best assess a student’s understanding of materials when the materials are introduced via podcasting/vodcasting? Including a worksheet with the pod/vodcast Giving a quiz over what was covered Have students discuss what they learned from the pod/vodcast All of the above 10. Name 3 different ways that you would use podcasting/vodcasting in your classroom? Findings Conclusion In conclusion, we found that podcasting and vodcasting could be used effectively in the education of students.  However, we also concluded from our survey results that the technology has not yet been utilized by many teachers in the Winona School District.  In the information that we received, we found that many teachers are very optimistic about using technology in their classroom, however, not many classrooms have the equipment to effectively set up technology needed for podcasting/vodcasting.  Another problem the teachers that we surveyed faced was that they were not educated enough in using podcasts/vodcasts.         We were fortunate to get many great responses, opinions, and ideas from our survey takers.  The reason that we concluded that podcasting and vodcasting could be used effectively in the education of students, is because so many of the teachers we surveyed were incredibly interested in learning how to develop podcasts and use them purposefully in their classrooms.  Many responses explained the importance in introducing technology to students at a very young age, so that they can make use of it as they get older.  Many surveyed teachers also agreed that podcasting and vodcasting could help supplement their students’ learning in areas such as language arts, science, math, social studies, and reading.  All in all,  as long as their teachers are educated in the use of the technology required for using podcasts/vodcasts and can put them to effective use in their classrooms, students can benefit References Meng, Peter. "Podcasting & Vodcasting: Definitions, Discussions, and Implications." University of Missouri, Mar. 2005. Web. 27 Jan. 2010. <http://www.wssa.net/WSSA/SocietyInfo/ ProfessionalDev/Podcasting/Missouri_Podcasting_White_Paper.pdf>. Moore, James. "Vodcasting in the Classroom." DePaul University, 6 Nov. 2008. Web. 27 Jan. 2010. <http://www.sloanconsortium.org/conference/proceedings/2008/1225947862029.pdf>. "Podcasting in Education." Digital Media Center. University of Minnesota, 17 Feb. 2006. Web. 27 Jan. 2010. <http://dmc.umn.edu/technologies/podcasting.pdf>. This graph shows that 20% of the people surveyed have never heard of podcasting/vodcasting, 35% have heard of it, but do not know what it is, 40% can explain what it is but do not know how to use it, and 10% can explain what it is as well as what software is needed. The information was gathered from question 1 from the survey This graph shows that 25% of the people surveyed think that podcasting/vodcasting should be introduced in Kindergarten through 2nd grade, 30% think 3rd through 5th grade, 40% think 6th through 8th grade, and 5% think podcasting/vodcasting should be introduced in 9th through 12th grades. This information was gathered from question 7 of the survey. This graph shows that there is not one particular subject that podcasting/vodcasting should be more useful. This information was gathered from question 8 of the survey.