Podcasts and RRS

An internet technology which has become increasingly popular over the last year or so is the ‘podcast’. A podcast is a small digital media file (audio and/or video) which can be downloaded from the internet. These podcasts can also be embedded in an RRS feed so that users automatically receive the podcasts periodically. Because the files are small they download quickly without hassle and can be stored on the users device (PC / mp3 player, etc) with ease. A podcast can be made by anyone with access to a recording device, i.e. PC with a mic, an mp3 player with a recording device. They are completely free to make and free to distribute.

A popular example of podcasting is Radio One’s ‘Chris Moyles Show’. They release a podcast daily so that listeners who may miss an interview or such alike can catch up with the show and listen to it as and when they wish.

With regards to education many university lecturers are now recording their sessions and making them available for students to download for reference. This does not only act as a learning aid for students when they either miss a lecture or are revising for an exam or essay, but is also creates an archive of material for the university staff for future use and reflection. Furthermore, educators also release podcasts embedded into RRS feeds or emails with updates, news or reminders. This saves the hassle of writing out everything and then sending it around everyone, instead, every time a lecturer may think of something they simply record it and send it to students.

 With regards to MSFR Youth Engagement Programmes, podcasting could be used a useful tool for students to document their progress on a course and record and present their evidence. The podcasts can then be used in their presentations and archived for each individual’s reflection and for the staff’s evidence.