How Podcasting Can Boost E-Learning in a Mobile World

Proceedings of ‏The 2nd International Conference on Research in Teaching and Education

Year: 2020

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/2nd.rteconf.2020.03.36

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How Podcasting Can Boost E-Learning in a Mobile World

Jaime Selwood

ABSTRACT: 

The first two decades of the 21^st Century have developed into a digital mobile age as increasingly the world interacts through hand-held mobile devices and via the mobile Internet. Therefore, a crucial dilemma for educators and learners is how to best integrate mobile technology into a successful learning environment. One potential solution to this problem is podcasting, a still undervalued educational resource, which can offer educators an inexpensive, beneficial and portable learning tool easily accessible through the mobile Internet and on mobile devices. This presentation will provide in-depth detail into ongoing research into the use of podcasts as a learning tool, specifically at the university level. The goal of the research was to integrate podcasting within an English language-learning course and to observe and analyse any benefits and drawbacks. Over the five years the research has been conducted, detailed feedback has resulted in an 82% favourable disposition by students towards the use of podcasting as a central tenet of their learning process. Additionally, the presentation will focus on experience gained during the last nine years of a publishing a free language-learning podcast in which the presenter will outline how anyone, teaching any subject, can cheaply develop and publish their own highquality podcast. An easy to follow step-by-step guide will be made available to all conference participants that will detail free useful apps, mobile-technology and easy-to-use software that can be useful when creating and publishing podcasts for any level and subject.

Keywords: mobile-internet; mobile-learning; online-resource; self-learning; smartphones.