Podcasting to Support Lectures and Practicals in Bioscience Stephen Gomez Principal Lecturer, Bristol UWE Holger Andersson Student, Lund University, Sweden Leicester 5 December 2007
Rationale & purpose of using podcasting Dissatisfaction with handouts Students learning at different paces Increase interaction during lectures Get away from lectures being ‘glorified dictation’ sessions My version of podcasts Short video & audio files; 2-4 min each Not podcasted or available for download Presented in a player Allows greater control over content & control of access
Module and student background Human Physiology Level 2 module Popular module; 120 students Lecture and practical sessions Diversity of subject topics: nervous system, cardiovascular, respiratory … Only time for ‘surface teaching’
Description of podcast content Podcasts contain ‘factual’ information ie material previously covered in the lecture
Demonstration Science.uwe.ac.uk/medialibrary/sgomez/hp
Technology & techniques used Not hosted on Blackboard Faculty server Pointecast / Camtasia / Audacity – Powerpoint / video
Student evaluation Positive + learn at own pace + fits student lifestyle Mobile learning High tech On demand + ‘shows lecturer cares’ + Not a substitute for lectures Negative - lack of uptake by lecturers
Reflection & future work Tracking student usage More assessment pod files Collaboration between producers Producers being academics & students Encouraging more academics to produce files… … Therefore, thanks to the organisers for hosting this event!!!