Podcast,+video,+and+screencasting

Podcasting is one of the many things that have enhanced the ability of students to learn online. With this technology, people are able to upload their audio, videos, and other materials that are free for others to download. Many teachers are beginning to post material online so that their students can revisit them for any information they missed the first time. This allows teachers to set up an online classroom in which students can hear the voices of their classmates and teacher. This can create a type of online learning that is very similar to physically being in the classroom. However, there are particular challenges to this type of technology being involved in learning. One of which is that many feel that if students can listen to lectures whenever they want, they may not actually listen to them or they will listen to them passively while doing other activities. But this challenge is not much different than trying to make sure students pay attention in class. Because of the advantages that podcasting can give students, I think the use of it will continue to grow in educational uses.

Video podcasting, or vodcasting as it is sometimes called, is very similar to it's audio counterpart. The main difference between the two is that video podcasting also includes a video component which complements the audio. The benefit to this is that if a teacher uses vodcasting he or she allows the student to visually see how things work. That is particularly helpful for visual learners. It requires a bit more of technology then audio podcasting which can make it more difficult for those using it. The maker of the vodcast needs to have some type of camera to record the video and then the viewer needs to have a video player of some kind. I think it video podcasting is most beneficial in the areas of mathematics and sciences but it can be used for all subjects. With technology continuing to improve video podcasting will most likely begin replacing more and more the audio podcasts.

Another medium for creating instructional material is [|screencasting]. This is where a computer user captures information on their screen and adds audio narration to create a presentation, often a lesson on some topic of interest. One benefit to screencasting is that it allows students to review instruction repeatedly for comprehension without any extra effort on the part of a teacher. This technique is relatively new for classrooms but one excellent example can be seen at [|Mathtrain.TV] where middle school students demonstrate math problems produced from their PC tablets for the web. Lack of awareness of these tools and comfort level to use them by educators are obstacles that screencasting faces before it can really catch on. But general applications becoming available on the Internet such as [|Jing] and [|Screenr] are making screencasting more commonplace and educators online, including [|teachers], [|librarians] and [|training professionals,] are spreading the word emphasizing its [|application to learning].


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