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“Do iWant iPod iNformation?” Using Podcasts in a General Speech Course Tim Brown, Ph.D. - University of Central Florida

Problem Are students willing to accept academic information in different forms? –Will audio supplements be used? –Will students see them as mobile learning? Why or why not? –What other methods are more accepted, or more effective?

Scenario Supplements = Audio and corresponding written material for large introductory speech course Supplements designed to help students with speech assignments Students from two semesters access material from open web site Researcher surveys students on their use of supplemental material and their opinions

Results - Users 169 respondents (53% response) 53% of those reported using supplement –47% used all or mostly written –39% used all or mostly audio 65% of written users said “it was easier to read than to listen” 79% of audio users listened only on computer

Results - Non users 47% of respondents reported not using supplements (audio or written) 44% of those said they didn’t have time (supplements up for three weeks before assignment due) 35% said they didn’t think they would need it or didn’t think it was important –65% of non users didn’t talk to anyone who used supplement

Potential reasons - Categorizing Media Fun/ Relaxing UsefulnessFashion/ Status MP3/iPod Computer Internet Pass time Relax Scale: 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) Respondents see MP3 players as relaxing, not useful to education Computers bridge gap - prepare papers/chat online

Of Interest Two correlations stood out: –“Supplemental information helped me” and “Listening to information appeals to me” (r=.81, p<.001) “Listening to information on the way to class does NOT appeal to me” (r=.73, p<.001)

Meaning Students are willing to use supplemental material, and even willing to listen to it But their time is their own time, and they don’t want to use their relaxation time or devices for instrumental uses

Suggestions for Future More study into relationship between media classification and use Focus on “infotainment” - though with much debate

Suggestions for Future Determine value of supplements in first place Encourage students to develop their own guides to distribute as they see valuable