Audio/Video Podcasts: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners

Podcasts are digital audio files that can be used to facilitate learning. Videos provide the visual component to accompany the audio information.Both forms of technology can be useful for instructors to facilitate instruction and/or creating engaging student assignments using the technology. Following are some pros and cons to consider when including technology for either of these purposes:

• Pros:
• Portable and can be globally shared, meaning we can "cultivate the means to building and sustaining global scholarship communities" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 34). 
• Technology is simple and inexpensive
• Ability to build assignments that "generate deeper research, analysis, and knowledge construction" (King & Cox, 2011, p. 34)
• Connect creativity to content
• Instructors can record lectures and turn them into podcasts or videos so students who had to miss the lecture can still have an opportunity to hear it
• Instructors can slice lectures into smaller sections that focus on difficult concepts. In this way students can review the material to get a better understanding of critical concepts. 
• Instructors can record Q&A sessions so that future students can benefit from the answers. In addition instructors don't have to answer the same questions repeatedly for each new class
• Instructors can use podcasts or videos to supplement instruction so that students can be exposed to different instructors and forms of instruction (e.g. interviews, book reviews)
• Instructors can create tutorials to dive deep into difficult concepts in the curriculum to provide instructional support.

• Cons: 
• An audio or video device is required, as well as an internet connection and a host site for the podcast or video
• Notetaking can be difficult, and listeners can't highlight certain information they want to revisit
• Recorded lectures just provide a review of the material covered, rather than providing the material in a different or novel way to further understanding
• Instructors mainly use podcasts and videos as full lecture recordings and fail to use them in more innovative, effective ways to promote learning
• Podcasts and videos are housed on the internet and open to the public
• Instructors that assign podcasts or videos for grades have to take the time to listen and/or view every student's submission and create a rubric for grading

One particular consideration for smaller schools is the amount of support for technology. Due to limited resources, smaller schools may have to outsource technology support, which means it's not readily available onsite (Anderson, et al.,  2019). One benefit for small schools is that decisions can be made quickly, so it may be easier to incorporate technology into curriculum when an instructor chooses to do so (Anderson, et al., 2019).

Overall video and audio podcasts can be effective tools for instructors and students, particularly for online learning formats. Instructors can be aware of potential pitfalls and avoid them to make the best use of technology to support their instruction.

References:
Anderson, B., Brassard, K., & Thomas, C. (2019). Little college, big world: Big tech wins for small schools [podcast]. https://er.educause.edu/multimedia/2019/4/little-college-big-world-big-tech-wins-for-small-schools

King, K.P. & Cox, T.D. (2011). The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology. Information Age 

         Publishing, Inc: USA.