Educational podcasting: A taxonomy of pedagogical applications

Web 2.0 and social software technologies make possible a new wave of online behavior, distributed collaboration, and social interaction, and are already having a transformative effect on society, triggering changes in how we communicate and learn. The chapter illustrates the new forms of learning, communication, and participation enabled by one such technology, podcasting, and the pedagogical innovations that are possible with this audio-based educational technology. Beyond having access to a wider range of content, learners are now engaged in creative authorship through the ability to produce and manipulate digital audio content and make it available for consumption and critique by classmates, teachers, and a wider audience on the Internet. A range of podcasting activities are described in contemporary learning environments, with an emphasis on tertiary education settings, where students are engaged in content creation, self-directed learning, and metacognitive skill development. These examples are discussed in terms of how they are indicative of the pedagogical choices now available to teachers and learners.