Using podcasts to support indigenous students learning in remote communities

1. Using podcasts to support indigenous students learning in remote communities Jessie Mahjouri Liaison Librarian CDU Library ATSILIRN 2008 Conference Listen up, speak up! Charles Darwin University 8-9th April 2008

2. CDU Library Podcasts

3. What is a podcast? • The 2005 New Oxford American Dictionary defines a podcast as “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.” In other words, a digital audio file that’s created and shared. • An iPod or MP3 player is not necessarily required to listen to a podcast. You can listen to it on any computer that has Internet access. If users don’t have Internet access, you can burn your podcast to a CD Rom, make the file available via email or save it to the desktop of an accessible PC.

4. Why are podcasts useful to remote indigenous students? • Many students studying in remote communities have teachers or lecturers who visit to conduct classes. Podcasts can be easily created within the class context, recorded by the lecturer or the students, with the intention of being used by the students to revise significant lesson content before the next class. • Podcasts provide ‘just in time’ learning, available to be accessed when the student is ready to learn. • They are cost effective and very engaging to auditory learners.

5. “Podcasts enable students and teachers to share information with anyone, anytime. If a student is absent she can download the podcast of the recorded lesson. It can be a tool for teachers to communicate curriculum, assignments and other information with parents and community. Teachers such as those delivering your language lessons can record audio books, interviews and debates. Podcasting can also be a publishing tool for student oral presentations. One of the many advantages of podcasts as a training method is that its asynchronous and mobile, another is its low cost and on-demand channel straight to the ears of desired listeners. The limitations are clear however that on its own it can be linear and one-way, which is why it needs to be integrated with blogs, online simulations and interactive channels such as the utilisation of Skype technologies.” • http://www.arwarbukarl.com.au/ContentFiles/ACRA/Documents/Pullima%20National%20Indigenous%20Languages%20Introduction%20To%20Podcasting%20Short%20Notes.pdf

6. How do you create a podcast? • You simply need a computer with an Internet connection, a microphone and audio software to record, edit and compress the audio file. • You can spend time editing and adding music to your podcast, but it is also possible to create a quick and clear recording without editing. • Audacity audio software downloadable free from the Internet is highly recommended. • There are also many podcast creation tutorial websites available. Two of these are: Podcasting 101 and Podcasting Guide

7. Who is using podcast? Some examples….

9. This still remains a seed of the idea, yet to germinate, but if you would like to discuss any possible applications, let me know! I am hoping to work with lecturers here at CDU to help plant this seed.