More than a few (as in, I don’t want to say “many”) faculty are generating podcasts as part of their course content, but even within that group, how many use already available podcasts to supplement their own course materials?  In my experience, that number is relatively low even among faculty generally familiar with podcasts.

Within my own class (Intro to Computers), I’ve identified several podcasts; in particular, The Real Deal by Tom Merritt and Rafe Needleman is an excellent supplement to my course content.  In the past, I’ve always made the link to a specific episode available within the context of my instructional module; I can’t confirm it, but I believe that link gets overlooked or ignored by students.

So, my question is, “How can I/faculty better incorporate already existing podcasts into my/their course?”

I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to survey my students to see how they use any MP3 player they may have and learn what podcasts they listen to if any; then I can begin to help them use podcasts and - here’s the key - better integrate podcasts into the way my course functions.

The first way is to integrate required reading for learners via a Google Reader tag and/or a Diigo tag.  I already use a shared_cfclass tag in Google Reader to tag articles I want to discuss or highlight in class; that tag results in this resyndicated feed.  I’ve also used, although not as much recently, a Diigo/Delicious tag to highlight specific webpages for the same reason.  I use those as an optional resource for learners currently; I could make subscribing to those two feeds required to ensure learners are engaging the content on a regular basis.  With learners using one or both feeds (or perhaps I could combine both into one Yahoo Pipe feed), I could easily begin including specific podcast episodes in that feed.  An important aspect of that would be to tag the podcasts and articles on a schedule synchronized with the course content.  Basically, instead of providing links to learners in a course module that they’ll blitz through too quickly, have them reading an RSS feed through which a podcast and other content will be delivered.  I’m wondering if that wouldn’t give the content more immediacy and attract more learner attention.

A second idea is apparently a bit more complex than I initially thought it would be or altogether not possible.  I’d like to be able to tag - using any social media tool - a podcast episode in a manner which the original enclosure would appear in a resyndicated feed.  If I tag a podcast episode using Google Reader or Diigo/Delicious, the text and description or made available in my resyndicated feed, but the original enclosure can not be accessed through my feed.  If a tool makes that possible, learners could simply subscribe to a resyndicated podcast feed I’ve created using their podcatching application.  I know the tools I’m currently using don’t enable that type of functionality, so I’m looking for a tool or possibility.

For general interest, what’s on my iPod?  At the moment, it’s a collection of general news, technology, sports and educational technology podcasts.  There’s also music, but I generally don’t use the iPod for music - I prefer radio ;-)

America Votes 2008
The Buzz Report
CNN=Politics Daily
Dilbert Animated Cartoons
EdTech Weekly
EDUCAUSE Podcasts
ESPN Around the Horn
ESPN Fantasy Focus Football
NY Times Front Page
NBC Nightly News
The Real Deal
TED Talks

Related posts:

1. Your Medium is Dying… Right, but Not Nice
2. Google Friend Connect @ Edtechatouille
3. Lecture Capture for the Masses with Camtasia Relay
4. My Browsing Experience
5. Classroom Clicker via Google Forms
6. Discourse: "Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants"

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags: edtech, education, podcasting, technology