Pros:
Podcasts allow students to "use their popular media and be critical thinkers and creators of knowledge across disciplines rather than sitting in the background as passive spectators to their own education" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 33). Creates more engaged, independent lifelong learners.
Ability to use this digital media to build upon our academic expertise
Reach greater audiences as the digital media is "portable and globally shared" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 34)
Capability of content and delivery to be tailored to students' needs, whether if created by the teacher or if created by the students.
Variety of learning styles addressed, particularly with audio, but also when students create the technology (audio / video / podcast) "as a project development activity" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 37)
When this technology is used to post as student opinion publicly, it helps with student "empowerment through public expression of opinion [and deepens student effort for] research because of their public reputation" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 41)
Cons:
Availability of technology / devices that support the technology being used; Could limit to certain audiences.
Mere content review as opposed to there being "redesign of instruction" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 37), testing and feedback to learners, limiting what learners gain from the experience
Given the expansion of the use of digital media, copyright, patent, and intellectual property practices and law have continuously transformed (King & Cox, 2011, p. 46) such that staying up-to-date on these laws is important for creators of this digital media. That being said, resources are easy-to-find, and readily available. The "trickiest areas are permission, whether it be with music, voice, sound effects, etc" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 47).
Concern from some instructors regarding quality of instruction with digital media, as some "perceive they are more capable of connecting with students and assessing their understanding of content in traditional settings" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 52).
My Experience:
I really enjoy all forms of digital media to aid in my educational experience. The biggest benefit I enjoy from the use of podcasting and videos is that I have a strong element of control in my own learning. If I feel as though my in-classroom experience is lacking in any way, I rely on a number of resources to help me better understand the material. Additionally, in my profession, content and knowledge base is continuously changing as medications change, research arises, and we better understand the art of medicine. For this reason, I am forced to remain a lifelong learner if I want to excel at what I do. Podcasts and video lectures, especially, help me maintain an up-to-date knowledge base since I do not currently work actively with residents in an academic institution. Furthermore, I enjoy learning period. My favorite lectures are TEDTalks which help me explore content areas I may not normally know much about, and iTunesU which help me review / learn new skills I maybe had always wanted to learn, but never had time for in my formal education days.
A few examples from my stash:
EKG case lectures on YouTube from Dr. Amal Mattu
I just love TEDTalks!
I hope you enjoy creating and using all the different types of digital media in your learning experiences!
References:
King, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Hi Kayla!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog this week. I think you pointed out some of the crucial pros and cons that were covered in this weeks readings. It was also really interesting to see your own views and experiences with using audio/visual technology. One of the main themes I have found throughout this course, and especially in our discussions this week, is student engagement. King (2011) did a good job of providing examples of the multiple ways in which audio technology can enhance a students educational experience and help them feel more engaged. I was also glad that you noted her point about how the use of technology can help students utilize their own media and technology to think more critically and gain knowledge. I think the fact that you were able to say you feel more in control of your own learning supports her points. Keep up the good work!
Reference:
King, K.P. (2011). Podcasting: Learning on demand and content creation. In K.P. King & T.D. Cox, The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology (33-50). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing Inc.
I enjoyed reading your post Kayla!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that especially caught my notice was your quote from King and Cox that talked about empowering the student by posting their opinion publicly and deepening student understanding because of the research involved in that process. When I read this in the book I wondered a little about it since I’ve found things posted by students or individuals online which did not seem to help their public reputation in the least. Mostly for the reasons King and Cox mentioned but in reverse since the student neither thought about or deeply researched anything before throwing information out there. This is where some of the problems with quality of information accessible to all other students using technology to further their own personal understanding come in and the issue of being able to really trust the information as academic come into play. Seeing as you participate in a career that is dependent on continuing education do you worry about that discrepancy or some of the information out there?
King, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. ISBN: 9781617353338
Hi Kayla:
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice blog posting. It is informative, visually engaging and very personalized. First, you have a great introductory paragraph. Digital media is everywhere and is pervasive in American culture, education, and life. You are absolutely correct in stating, "The pros far outweigh the cons." In particular, two of your pro comments really struck my interest:
* Academic Expertise: "Ability to use this digital media to build upon our academic expertise."
Many adult learners have a wealth of prior knowledge and life experiences which they are often willing to share. Integrating digital media into the course curriculum will provide adult learners with relevant and meaningful pathways to expresses their ideas, opinions, and personal perspective. The delivery devices and methods they can choose from are diverse and myriad ranging from the novice use of making a simple digital audio recording to engaging in advance video recordings and simulations.
* Empowerment: "When this technology is used to post as student opinion publicly, it helps with student "empowerment through public expression of opinion [and deepens student effort for] research because of their public reputation" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 41)"
I think student empowerment is a wonderful thing. Adult learners are often highly self-directed (Knowles, 1973). Digital media linked to course learning activities and assignments provide adult learners with creative opportunities to express their personal voice and academic agency.
Best,
~Aja
________________________________________________
References
Knowles, M. (1973). The adult learner: A neglected species. Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing.