PODCASTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: MAJOR FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ITS EFFECTIVE USE

Podcasting can serve as a primary delivery method for content in higher education. Often “how to…” reports do not offer an effective description of the possible applications that podcasting can bring to the classroom, because these reports often focus on how a single or several applications were used to meet their specific needs. The objective of this paper is to provide a general description of podcasting outlining the major characteristics that contribute to its effective use. A review of the history of podcasting and its current use in higher education, previous research on learning with audio, effective audio communication principles, and the selection of appropriate media were used as the basis to improve the reader’s understanding of the capabilities of this new technology. In order to identify the most important factors that contribute to the use of this technology, an analysis of two implementation reports at two major universities and interviews with experts in the field were conducted.