What is Podcasting?
Hi there,
Today, I will now look podcasts as another form of technology that can be used for elearning purposes. According to wikipedia, a podcast is ‘a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers. The term “podcast” like “radio”, can mean either the content itself or the method or the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also termed podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster. The term “podcast” is a portmanteau of the name of Apple’s portable music player, the iPod, and broadcast: “pod” refers to iPOd, and cast to the idea of broadcasting”.
Podcasts can also be defined as an audio file which has been converted to an MP3 which can be downloaded onto a computer or MP3 player. The popularity of podcasts is its portability. Files can be easily transported from a computer to a portable device. Another reason for its popularity is due to the fact that the incredibly popular iPod utilises such file formats to store music and video clips.
Podcasts can be used in many different ways, such as:
1) Interviews
2) Music
3) Lectures
4) Radio programs
5) Special interests group reports
6) Recipe instructions
7) Political commentaries/propaganda
All of these functions are now being utilised in education.
