Session Information
16 SES 05 B, Podcasting and Reading on the Internet
Paper Session
Time:
2009-09-29
08:30-10:00
Room:
NIG, HS 2H
Chair:
Jiri Zounek
Contribution
Over the past 10–15 years, mobile learning has been investigated at the University of Helsinki from various perspectives in a number of empirical studies (Kynäslahti & Seppälä, 2003). Our latest research project focuses on Web 2.0 and on—as well call it—volitional media literacy (cf., Kynäslahti et al., 2008). In this project, mobile learn-ing and the social web are combined. The idea of “users as producers” is tested by using podcasts as part of the learning processes. Podcasts are transferred from PCs to mobile devices, but they can also be delivered on-demand and played back like a stream on the cell phones. A mobilecast is a podcast that can be downloaded or streamed to a mobile device.
A pilot study was carried out in the autumn term of 2008 as one module of the 25-credit media education course at the University of Helsinki. The module topics in-cluded the concept of media education, critical media education, media literacy, and the different uses of the social web in education. (See also Knobles & Lankshear, 2007). The pedagogical rationale of this course emphasized the users’ role as active agency. Also, the meaning of user-created content (UCC) in formal learning was highlighted. UCC refers here to publicly available media content produced by end-users. The aim of this 25-credit course was to engage students more deeply in the studying and learning process by supporting and encouraging them to produce and publish their study outputs and to share and integrate their expertise collaboratively.
In our project, podcasting is investigated with an aim of finding answers to two questions: 1) What kind of experiences did students have when using podcasts as a mean of studying? and 2) What was the content of the podcasts produced by the students?
Method
Interviews during the 25-credit media education course. Qualitative content analysis of the interviews. A systematic analysis of the content of the podcasts produced by the students attending the course. Analysis of the content of the podcasts is in progress and will be finished in the Spring 2009.
Expected Outcomes
Our preliminary results indicate that the students regarded podcasting in higher edu-cation as a promising method of learning and teaching, in addition to the more
traditional ways. They saw podcasting as a new alternative in the same way as PowerPoint presentations seemed superior to OH slide presentations earlier. Pod-casting also represented a new educational avenue to them, as future experts of me-dia education, when using information and communication technologies. A salient feature of podcasting seemed to be the focus it required from its producers. This led to more precise planning and preparations before the actual recording of the pod-casts. In addition, the students clearly made an effort of expressing themselves briefly, understandably and to the point. Our interpretation is that podcasts can be very useful especially when students are asked to work on concepts and their defini-tions.
References
Lankshear, C. & Knobel, M. (2003) New literacies : changing knowledge and classroom learning. Buckingham : Open University Press, 2003. Kynäslahti, H. & Seppälä, P. (Eds.) 2003. Professional Mobile Learning. Helsinki: IT Press. Kynäslahti, H., Vesterinen, O., Lipponen, L., Vahtivuori-Hänninen, s. & Tella, S. (2008) Towards volitional media literacy through Web 2.0. Educational Technology 48(5), pp. 3-9.
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