There/'s Something In The Air: Podcasting In Education
There’s
Something
in the
PODCASTING
AIR
IN EDUCATION
“Imagine”
It’s midweek at Anywhere State University. Jenny rolls out of bed at about
nine a.m., as usual, and thinks about breakfast and her first class. As she’s
dressing and getting ready to go out, she fires up iTunes on her laptop
and checks her podcast subscriptions. There’s a new show from Adam
Curry at Daily Source Code, another one from Cody at Vinyl Podcast (“fair
use of forgotten music”), and three audio feeds from her classes. She
doesn’t notice that the classroom material and the leisure-time enter-
tainment are coming through the same medium and desktop utility; for
By Gardner Campbell
her, it’s natural that school stuff would mingle with other aspects of her
daily life. ■ The first school podcast comes from five group members in her
philosophy class. They’re presenting on Descartes that afternoon, and the
members take turns explaining what they hope to accomplish, as well as
reading aloud brief excerpts from the assigned readings—with just enough
commentary to whet Jenny’s appetite for the upcoming presentation. Even
better, Jenny can suddenly understand one of the tricky sentences in Discourse
on Method, a sentence that had never been quite clear to her. Hearing a class-
mate read it aloud with emphasis, feeling, and comprehension makes a huge
difference. The podcast ends with a little self-conscious giggling and a
shouted chorus of “See you in class!” Jenny smiles: this tag line has character-
ized each of the podcasts, starting with the first group’s podcast six weeks ago.
Gardner Campbell is Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning Technologies and
Professor of English at the University of Mary Washington.
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I l l u s t r a t i o n b y S t e v e M c C r a c k e n , © 2 0 0 5
© 2 0 0 5 G a r d n e r C a m p b e l l
N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 5
E D U C A U S E r e v i e w
33
Imagine a liberal-arts university supplying its community, and the
world, with “profcasts” of classes and presentations delivered by its
talented instructors.
She thinks about her own group’s presen-
breakfast line before it closes. The ear-
for a fall seminar in which his readings
tation and its preparatory podcast with
buds don’t block out ambient sound—she
will help students overcome obstacles of
some satisfaction: the group members are
can pause the playback and hold a con-
language and syntax in this difficult
planning to do a movie-trailer-style pod-
versation with a passing friend with little
verse. Imagine a liberal-arts university
cast on Nietzsche and Also Sprach Zarathus-
trouble—but they do allow her to start lis-
supplying its community, and the world,
tra, and she is already musing about how
tening to that last podcast as she walks the
with “profcasts” of classes and presenta-
to combine the sound effects with the
five hundred yards to the cafeteria. This
tions delivered by its talented instruc-
readings and commentary so that her
final podcast for the morning comes from
tors—not to give away intellectual prop-
classmates will be especially inspired to
her biology professor, who each Wednes-
erty but to plant seeds of interest and to
engage with the presentation that day. The
day does a quick, enthusiastic summary
demonstrate the lively and engaging in-
informal, good-natured podcasting com-
of several journal articles the professor
tellectual community created by its fac-
petition in this class means that Jenny
has read in the preceding week. This pod-
ulty in each course.
reads the assignments more carefully than
cast is a special favorite of Jenny’s; she
These things, and more, are happen-
usual, hoping to find something that will
loves to hear the excitement in her pro-
ing now.
make her group’s podcast especially
fessor’s voice. Sometimes the articles per-
memorable—and enjoyable.
tain to the class or lab work for the week.
“Hailing Frequencies Open”
Jenny’s next school podcast comes
More often they do not—at least, not di-
A complete history of podcasting would
from her Arabic class. Again, the students
rectly. But always, Jenny feels an intense
likely double the length of this essay. For-
in the class have put together a podcast,
bond with this teacher, who shares with
tunately, there’s already a good one avail-
but this time they’re interviewing each
her students not only her expertise but
able at Wikipedia: <http://en.wikipedia.
other in Arabic about a guest speaker
also her delight in continuing to acquire
org/wiki/Podcast>. As the article notes,
who visited their class last week. This dis-
and reflect on new knowledge. News of
podcasting is a portmanteau word that
tinguished writer had just published an
this biologist’s “scholar’s diary” podcast
combines iPod with broadcasting. The term
essay on international relations in the
had spread across campus last semester.
is mildly controversial, since it privileges
Arab-speaking world, and the current
To her surprise, Jenny had found herself
the Apple iPod and to some people im-
podcast includes excerpts from her pre-
getting hooked on each week’s install-
plies that one must own an iPod to listen
sentation mixed with students asking
ment herself, even though she had never
to a podcast. But podcasting is not limited
each other about the significance of her
taken a class taught by this professor.
to the iPod or even to MP3s or portable
ideas in relation to what they had learned
When she was fortunate enough to snag a
music players. In some respects, podcast-
so far about Arab culture. Although it is
seat in the course this semester, Jenny
ing is not even new: both streaming and
frustrating for the students to try to dis-
found that the podcasts had done a great
downloadable audio are as old as the
cuss complex concepts in fairly basic Ara-
job of conveying the learning environ-
World Wide Web, and the RSS specifica-
bic—this is a first-semester intermediate
ment the teacher created in class. Jenny
tion that enables podcasting has been
course—Jenny finds that her classmates’
felt as if she had become an apprentice to
around for several years.1 What’s new
struggles help focus her attention on one
a master thinker. The interesting rhythm
about podcasting is the ease of publica-
particular moment in the speaker’s lec-
of lecture, lab, group projects, and each
tion, ease of subscription, and ease of use
ture, one that is becoming more interest-
week’s podcast gives her a rich sense of
across multiple environments, typically
ing the more she thinks about it. In addi-
what the life of the mind could be at its
over computer speakers, over a car stereo,
tion, listening to her classmates gently
most intense. Jenny has even e-mailed
and over headphones—all while the lis-
correct each other’s vocabulary and pro-
her parents to tell them about this profes-
tener is walking or exercising or driving
nunciation in the podcast reminds Jenny
sor’s podcasts, and now her parents are
or traveling or otherwise moving about.
that a big test is coming up at the end of
listening too.
Still, “ease of publication” may over-
the week, and she makes a note in her to-
Imagine a busy commuting student
state the case just a bit. A few intricacies
do list.
preparing both emotionally and intellec-
that lie behind the notion of publishing a
Now Jenny looks at her watch: each of
tually for class by listening to a podcast on
podcast deserve consideration. One is
these podcasts has taken about ten min-
the drive to school, then reinforcing the
that you have to produce a podcast before
utes, and she has one to go. She also wants
day’s learning by listening to another
you can publish it. It is true that one can
to hear the first two podcasts again to
podcast, or perhaps the same podcast, on
produce a podcast very simply. Some
catch things she missed. So she quickly
the drive back home. Imagine the mem-
gifted audio “jotters” can make very com-
synchronizes her MP3 player to her
bers of a debate team getting key instruc-
pelling off-the-cuff audio vérité podcasts,
music-management software to load the
tions from their coach on a podcast as
quick spiels spoken into inexpensive
latest podcasts onto her portable player.
they hurry from debate to debate. Imag-
MP3 players with voice-recording capa-
With player in hand and earbuds in place,
ine a professor reading aloud a series of
bilities. Nevertheless, such “first take”
Jenny walks out to get in the dining hall
poems over the summer in preparation
podcasting is difficult to sustain, and it’s
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keep saying “usually”? Because there’s a
will have the time, energy, or motivation to
Open-source tools such as
Audacity (see <http://
audacity.sourceforge. net/>)
trade-off between quality and file size.
add an entirely new skill set to our working
can help you record, edit, and
Whereas broadband access means that a
lives. Most of us, however, can and should
process digital audio. Detailed
ten- or twenty-megabyte file is a conven-
learn the potential uses and value of rich
instructions on how to produce a
ient download for many people, espe-
media authoring—in this case, the podcast.
podcast are beyond the scope of this
cially overnight, longer podcasts (of an
Once we have, we can certainly partner
article, but a Google search on “how
hour or more) can generate rather large
with the IT and AV specialists at our insti-
to podcast” returned nearly 80,000
files if one isn’t careful. If only for the sake
tutions, specialists who will do the techni-
hits at the time of this writing, so
of elegance and good bandwidth steward-
cal work to bring our teaching and learning
there’s no lack of free advice on how
ship, it’s good to try to hit the sweet spot
designs to life in the classroom and on the
to get started. For good general advice
where moderate file size meets pleasing
Web. Learning more about podcasts and
on voice recording on a PC, see
audio quality. Besides, bandwidth isn’t
other types of rich media authoring will
<http://www.sonicspot.com/guide/
free, and exceeding bandwidth limits on a
simply help us communicate more intelli-
voicerecording.html>. Podcasting News
Web-hosting service can shut down a
gently and precisely when we call in the IT
has a helpful brief tutorial at <http://
podcast very quickly.
specialists.
www.podcastingnews.com/articles/
Producing a podcast is the hardest
The longer answer is more complex—
How-to-Podcast.html>. For a little
part of publication. Actually distributing
and also more daunting or exhilarating,
more depth, see About.com’s tutorial
a podcast is quite simple. Any RSS 2.0
depending on your point of view, risk tol-
at <http://radio.about.com/od/
feed includes an “enclosure” tag that will
erance, and curiosity. There may be very
podcastin1/a/aa030805a.htm>. There
send a signal to a special feed-reader or
good reasons for acquiring at least rudi-
is an excellent set of guidelines for
RSS aggregator (sometimes referred to as
mentary skills in “rich media” (or “multi-
recording and processing at the IT
a “podcatcher”) indicating that some kind
media”) authoring. More and more stu-
Conversations wiki: <http://www.
of binary digital content has been pub-
dents come to school with these skills.
itconversations.com/wikis/itc/
lished to that RSS feed and is available for
This is a language they not only under-
pmwiki.php>. Finally, there are lots
download. Typically, podcast publication
stand but use, often on a daily basis. Some
of good tips and tricks at Transom.org:
is part of a blog or is structured around a
of them have been blogging, shooting
<http://www.transom.org/tools/
blogging template. The blog is arranged
and editing video, creating Flash anima-
index.php>.
chronologically, of course, and it almost
tions, manipulating photographs, and
always generates an RSS feed as well. All
recording digital audio for many years.
one has to do to publish the podcast is to
These are the tools of their native expres-
upload the audio to the Web server that
siveness, and with the right guidance and
the rare individual who can make his or
hosts the blog, then link to that digital
assignments, they can use these tools to
her rambling into a compelling listening
content from somewhere within the blog
create powerful analytical and synthetic
experience.
entry. The enclosure tag for the RSS feed
work. Yet even such digitally fluent stu-
For most of us, podcasting will involve
is generated automatically.2 The blogging
dents need to learn to manipulate their
a little preparation, and perhaps a little
platform also has another advantage in
multimedia languages well, with concep-
editing or other post-production, before
that one can easily publish “show notes”
tual and critical acumen, and we in higher
we’ll be ready for the world to hear our ef-
or outlines in the dated blog entry for
education do them a disservice if we ex-
forts. The good news is that once you get
each podcast, a handy way to allow listen-
clude their creative digital tools from
the hang of a few technical issues com-
ers to search for particular podcasts, since
their education.
mon to any kind of audio recording, you’ll
searching within audio files is still an
At the same time, our own profes-
be on your way. You’ll need to understand
emerging technology.3
sional lives will increasingly involve rich
some of the basics of digital audio: sam-
At this point, many readers will have
media authoring. As the Infoworld writer
pling rates (higher is usually better), bit
thrown up their hands in despair. Am I
(and prolific blogger) Jon Udell points
depths (greater depth, again represented
suggesting that those of us in higher educa-
out, there was a time when professors did
by higher numbers, is usually better),
tion—we who have spent our lives perfect-
not do their own typing or line editing.
compression formats (the major players
ing our writing and speaking—must now
Now, however, moderate skill in typing
are MP3, Windows Media Audio or
learn to be audio and video engineers too?
and word-processing is simply assumed.
WMA, and Apple’s Advanced Audio
Can’t we leave the multimedia authoring to
Those of us who compose at the keyboard
Coding or AAC), and compression bi-
the audio/video gurus at our institutions?
probably prefer to do our own typing;
trates (higher is usually better). Why do I
The short answer is “yes.” Perhaps few of us
indeed, in most cases, the line between
Even such digitally fluent students need to learn to manipulate their
multimedia languages well, with conceptual and critical acumen.
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With a podcatcher, the listener can subscribe to his or her favorite
podcasts, which will then be downloaded automatically to the computer
at a time of the listener’s choosing.
typing and composing has grown so faint
terizes the best communication, indeed
opments in podcasting emerged during
as to be practically invisible. The same
the best listening and reading.) The real
the spring and summer of 2005. First,
process will inevitably overtake rich
power of podcasting, however, is un-
Adam Curry, a former MTV VJ and an
media authoring as well.4
leashed by the RSS function in tandem
early developer of podcatching software,
Once a podcast has been produced
with the podcatcher (audio-video RSS
helped to create a utility he calls a “cast-
and published, it’s ready to be down-
aggregator or feed-reader) described
blaster” that automates much of the
loaded by the listener. (Many writers call
above. With a podcatcher, the listener
recording, encoding, and uploading
podcast listeners “consumers” and speak
can subscribe to his or her favorite pod-
process.6 Second, Curry’s PodShow.com,
of the activity as “consuming content,”
casts, which will then be downloaded au-
“Odeo” (http://www.odeo.com), and
but that metaphor denies the delicate, re-
tomatically to the computer at a time of
other such services began promoting
sponsive human interaction that charac-
the listener’s choosing, usually overnight
themselves as one-stop-shops for pod-
as the listener is sleeping. When the lis-
cast creation, publication, and subscrip-
tener awakes and prepares for the day, as
tion. (Both PodShow.com and Odeo also
in Jenny’s narrative above, he or she can
acquired considerable venture capital
either listen to the podcasts from the
over the summer.) All these services aim
desktop or transfer those podcasts to a
to become easy-to-use hybrids of pod-
portable audio device for mobile listen-
cast production, distribution, and pro-
In a March 2005 podcast (http://
weblog.infoworld.com/udell/
2005/03/ 03.html), Jon Udell
ing throughout the day. The podcast re-
motion, offering something like the
persuasively identified five major
mains in the portable player as long as
blogging service provided by Blogger
factors behind the explosive growth
the listener wants and can be deleted at
but with the greater sophistication and
of podcasting and rich media
any time.
complexity that multimedia authoring
authoring in general:
The subscription feature (or, seen
requires.
from another perspective, the notifica-
Is there a noncommercial alternative
1. Internet activity is pervasive.
tion feature) of the RSS feed transforms
to Podshow, Odeo, or other such ser-
2. Broadband has grown very
the experience for the listener. Think of
vices? Yes: “Ourmedia: The Global Home
rapidly, which makes it far easier
the daily newspaper delivered to your
for Grassroots Media” (http://www.
to “consume large media objects.”
door. It’s an aggregator combining the
ourmedia.org/). This service boasts
3. The multimedia personal
work of many individual reporters and
nearly 40,000 members worldwide and
computer can “more or less be
editors. Its production occurs while you
promises to host software, video, audio,
taken for granted.”
sleep. And though you could go to a
images, and text “forever” with unlim-
4. The “distinction between
newsstand to read or purchase the paper,
ited bandwidth. To achieve these lofty
streaming and downloading of
you don’t have to. Instead, you subscribe
aims, Ourmedia uses an open source
media content has begun to
to the newspaper and have it delivered to
content manager called Drupal as a front
blur. . . . People can now have the
your door each morning. As you prepare
end to media stored on the Internet
experience of streaming while
for the day, you look over the newspaper
Archive (http://www.archive.org/). Stu-
enjoying the simplicity . . . of
pages, read articles of interest, and if
dents and faculty may use Ourmedia to
downloading.”
you’re not finished with it, you take it
host blogs, store content, and publish
5. Finally, there is the iPod
with you. The difference with podcasts is
podcasts, all free of charge. The only
phenomenon and “the rapid
that persistence of content is potentially
catch is that everything must be made
adoption of portable MP3
greater (yesterday’s podcast may be more
available to “a global audience.” That kind
playback devices”—up to
worth preserving than yesterday’s news-
of sharing may sometimes not be appro-
eleven million devices in the
paper), skimming the content is harder
priate for certain class productions—but
United States alone. Udell
(though show notes help), and certain
then again, publishing to a potential au-
calls the portable audio
kinds of portability are enhanced. One
dience of a networked planet could be
device “the new transistor radio”
may be able to read a newspaper on a
just the motivation many students need.
and points to the beginnings of a
jostling subway, but one cannot (or at
Ourmedia is not a one-click-and-you’re-
“renaissance of creative stuff
least should not) attempt to read a news-
done operation, but it is free, and its mis-
happening.” Because this
paper while driving a car. Even reading a
sion is laudable.
renaissance coincides with the
newspaper while walking across campus
In the third development, both ease of
Creative Commons
is difficult, although some people try. By
subscription and ease of portability took
phenomenon, traditional
contrast, podcasts can be listened to very
a large step forward with the release of
business models need not
easily while driving, walking, or working
Apple’s iTunes version 4.9, which incor-
constrain the artist’s work.
out at the gym.5
porates an extensive podcast directory-
Several especially promising devel-
and-subscription service into the
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structure of the iTunes Music Store. Cor-
Adam Curry’s nickname is “the podfather.” His Daily Source Codepodcast
has done much to popularize the medium, and along with witty (and
porate podcasts, including content from
sometimes profane) banter, the show continues to be an inspiring example
all the major broadcasting networks, are
of what can be done with podcasts. In some respects, it’s as if the most popular
prominently featured on the front page of
podcast on the Internet is also one of its best proof-of-concept productions. That’s
the directory. Some of the more popular
in large part because Curry is besotted with the very idea of radio. Curry’s Daily
“indie” podcasts are featured as well;
Source Code is also free (as are almost all currently available podcasts), but Curry’s
several thousand that had already been
larger plans include a business model in which he and his co-investors will
listed in other directories were incorpo-
establish a service that hosts and aggressively promotes the most-listened-to
rated into the iTunes podcast directory at
podcasts, many or all of which will be available exclusively through Curry’s
launch. Indie podcasts that are not cur-
podcasting site (http://www.podshow.com). These shows will presumably make
rently in the directory can be submitted
money through advertising or, perhaps, through paid subscriptions.
to iTunes for inclusion, though all such
What’s particularly interesting about Curry’s model is not that it seeks to
submissions are subject to review and
commercialize podcasting, an inevitable development despite complaints from
one must have an iTunes Music Store
some quarters that Curry is out to ruin the medium. No, what’s interesting is that
account to submit a podcast. But even if a
Curry plans that the money earned by hosting and promoting premium podcasting
podcast isn’t in the directory, it can be
content will help pay for a free service that will enable podcasts with smaller
subscribed to very easily in the iTunes
audiences to reach those audiences and sustain their service. If Curry’s plan works,
interface by simply typing the podcast’s
it could restore older models of public service and public access in broadcasting—
URL into a special subscription field.7
models that have withered as deregulation has spread across the industry over the
This new version of iTunes could take the
last three decades. Or it could end up simply confining premium podcasts within
entire podcasting phenomenon into the
a “walled garden” along the lines of MSN or AOL. It’s a measure of this new
mainstream. Indeed, Apple reported that
medium’s potential that so many interesting developments and troubling questions
iTunes customers subscribed to over
have emerged so quickly.
one million podcasts in the two days fol-
lowing the launch of iTunes support for
podcasts.8 As of this writing, Apple states
embrace of podcasting troubling to edu-
lineup, nearly double the number of just
that more than 15,000 podcasts are avail-
cators? Because this easy-to-use audio-
two months ago.
able for subscription through iTunes 5.0
content manager just happens to sit in-
But the collapse of radio is only part of
(http://www.apple.com/podcasting/).
side a store that sells music.
the story of the rise of podcasting. The
For educators, the implications of
endurance of radio, or the idea of radio, is
Apple’s embrace of podcasting are both
“Radio Is a Strange Craft”
the other part and is a major reason why
exciting and troubling. The development
Radio began as an amateur medium. Even
podcasting has such potential value in
is exciting because students will have a
after it became thoroughly professional-
teaching and learning. There is magic in
free, easy-to-use, dual-platform (Win-
ized, radio retained a strong flavor of par-
the human voice, the magic of shared
dows and Mac) audio-content manager
ticularity linked to specific announcers
awareness. Consciousness is most persua-
that will help make podcasting pervasive
and specific localities. Beginning in the
sively and intimately communicated via
and effective. Even more important for
1980s, however, more and more radio sta-
voice. The voice is literally inspired lan-
educators, the new version of iTunes en-
tions were bought up by giant broadcast-
guage, language full of breath, breath as
ables “enhanced podcasts” that offer a
ing conglomerates such as Clear Channel
language. Consider the phrase “thinking
chapter function, allowing the listener to
and Infinity Radio. The result was pre-
aloud.” Consider a Shakespearean solilo-
jump directly to sections within a pod-
dictable: a few popular syndicated shows;
quy. This peculiar capacity of spoken lan-
cast. Each of these sections can be accom-
a timid playlist relying on overplayed
guage puts the edge on Tennyson’s grief in
panied by an image and by a clickable
songs; and a homogeneous approach to
In Memoriam: death is horrifying not be-
URL. Since one of the challenges with
programming and announcing. Part of
cause of decay but because of silence.
audio feeds has always been that of mak-
the reason that podcasting has taken off
Photographs are undeniably powerful,
ing individual parts of the feed directly
so quickly is that there’s very little worth
and perhaps a picture is worth a thousand
accessible, encoding chapters within
listening to on the radio. Ironically, Infin-
words, but a few words uttered by a dear
podcasts (as opposed to dividing the
ity’s KYOU in San Francisco is now an all-
voice may be worth the most of all.
audio into tracks, each of which would
podcast radio station with substantially
Of course, the droning voice of a pro-
need to be downloaded separately) is a
listener-generated content. As of this
fessor reading from yellowed lecture
very attractive feature. Why is Apple’s
writing, KYOU has 2,338 podcasts in its
notes will not be so affecting, but a voice
The new version of iTunes enables “enhanced podcasts” that offer
a chapter function, allowing the listener to jump directly to sections
within a podcast.
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The endurance of radio, or the idea of radio, is a major reason why
podcasting has such potential value in teaching and learning.
that creates a theater of the mind—radio’s
Donne poem each day during the sum-
ement of the promise of podcasting is its
time-honored heritage—can connect
mer, thereby building up a collection of
potential to be uniquely immersive, to
with the listener on a profound level. The
poetry and commentary in little five- to
evoke the intimacy and focus of a study
theater of the mind can be both com-
eight-minute chunks that students can
carrel deep in the stacks of a library. One
pelling and transformative, often far
use to help them prepare for each day’s
emerges from those dark, womblike
more than anything witnessed visually. A
reading assignment. My hope is that stu-
spaces blinking and perhaps a little dis-
gifted teacher could be said to create just
dents will understand the main argument
oriented: a useful state of being in the
such a theater of the mind, as well as the
in each poem faster as a result of hearing
constant struggle to defamiliarize one’s
conditions whereby students may be en-
my reading and will thus come to class
surroundings and to prepare oneself for
ticed to create such a theater for them-
better prepared to mine the depths. I also
fresh insights. Podcasts, then, are like
selves. At its best, podcasting can serve as
hope they will come ready to question,
books in a study room, an information
training in rich interiority and in shared
even to take issue with, my reading
technology that may be scaled without
reflection.
and/or my commentary; indeed, I will en-
necessarily becoming a mere commodity.
There’s also considerable value in
courage them to do so. As usual for my
The voice also conveys our common
what I call “the explaining voice,” the
poetry seminars, I will also assign a recita-
humanity. For example, the Washington Post
voice that performs understanding. The
tion for each student, and my reading can
recently reported that many e-commerce
explaining voice doesn’t just convey in-
serve as a paradigm to emulate or to work
sites have found more economic benefits
formation; it shapes, out of a shared at-
against. Best of all, I’ve found that reading
in allowing customers telephone contact
mosphere, an intimate drama of cognitive
these poems aloud to prepare them for a
with real people rather than forcing all in-
action in time. The explaining voice con-
public audience has put me on my mettle
teraction through the Web. In another ex-
veys microcues of hesitation, pacing, and
and has taught me that some lines I
ample, several newspapers are producing
inflection that demonstrate both cogni-
thought I understood well could stand
their own podcasts. Why would one want
tion and metacognition. When we hear
more sustained attention from me before
to listen to a newspaper? Frank Burgos, the
someone read with understanding, we
the fall term.
editorial page editor of the Philadelphia
participate in that understanding, almost
One of my colleagues at Mary Wash-
Daily News, tells us why: “Podcasting, done
as if the voice is enacting our own com-
ington, a cognitive psychologist, insists
the right kind of way, can . . . make a news-
prehension. In other words, the explain-
that audio is a poor channel for conveying
paper sound like a human being. Because
ing voice trains the ear to listen not just
information to learners because the
that’s what newspapers are: they’re a col-
for meaning but for evidence of the
learner cannot control the pace. The lis-
lection of human beings.”9
thought that generates meaning.
tener is at the mercy of the speaker’s
There’s a strong analogy here. Done
I’m counting on the explaining voice,
tempo. I take the point, but I wonder if
well, podcasting can reveal to students,
or at least as much of it as I can muster, in
that necessity doesn’t have a virtuous di-
faculty, staff, communities—even the
my current series of podcasts: A Donne a
mension. Perhaps it is sometimes a good
world—the essential humanity at the
Day. This fall I’m teaching a senior semi-
thing for the learner not to control the
heart of higher education. Among the im-
nar on John Donne, and in my summer
tempo, particularly if one wants to lead
pressive facilities and intricate processes,
preparation I was reminded just how dif-
the learner away from habitual patterns of
colleges and universities are essentially
ficult it can be, even for a specialist, to
perception and cognition. Perhaps listen-
collections of human beings who seek to
make sense of some of these poems. The
ing attentively to the pace of another
share the fruits of their labors with the
syntax is tough, made even knottier by
mind, revealed in voice, can help train the
world that helps support them. If this po-
Donne’s various poetic licenses. The sub-
learner to be more attentive generally. One
sition seems extreme or sentimental, con-
ject matter is self-consciously erudite, in
can listen to a podcast with “half an ear”
sider Todd Cochrane’s assertion: “Pod-
fact recondite. The poetic voice is witty,
just as easily as one can skim a written text,
casting represents a new way for
bitter, exuberant, desperate, naughty,
but in the case of the podcast, it is more
individuals to communicate about the
hyperintellectual, self-mocking, self-
difficult to believe that one has actually at-
things they love. They can actually broad-
celebrating. I can’t pretend to capture all
tended to the words. Moreover, effective
cast content that comes from their
of that in my own recitations, but I know
listening is no less crucial a skill than ef-
hearts.”10 If a mass-market text on pod-
that I start from a position of greater com-
fective speaking, and even if the learner
casting begins by stressing the affective
prehension than my students (at least, I
cannot control the tempo of a speaker’s
dimension of this new medium, educa-
hope I do, though I always look forward
delivery, with a podcast he or she can lis-
tors would do well to think about how
to being surprised). In casting about for a
ten again and again, in whole or in part,
they might harness that energy in their
way to share that tacit knowledge without
and thereby grow more practiced in lis-
teaching and learning practices.
spending every class meeting doing noth-
tening. Listening is an activity. No good
The English word radio comes from the
ing but reading aloud—lovely as that
audience is passive.
Latin radiare, to “emit rays.” Podcasting,
might be for me—I decided to podcast a
Along these same lines, one crucial el-
like radio, has the potential to spread its
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effects to people both near and far and to
read these words, the University of Mary
unite them into a community of shared
As an experiment to accompany this
Washington, where I teach, will have be-
learning. Like radio, podcasting is less
article and test some of its claims, the
gun its “profcasts” (http://www.profcast.
like a web and more like the spokes of a
author’s reading of “There’s
org). The University of Chicago will be
wheel. There may be many or few spokes
Something in the Air” is also
continuing its Poem Present series (http://
radiating from the podcast, but the con-
available as an audio file. See the
poempresent.uchicago.edu). Students at
nections are essentially one-to-one, no
online version of this article
Manhattan Marymount College in New
matter how many listeners are in the au-
(http://www.educause.edu/er/
York City will be extending their fascinat-
dience. Indeed, one of the lessons I
ERM05/ERM0561.asp). Or, for the
ing “Art Mobs” project (http://mod.blogs.
learned in my own thirteen years of pro-
full podcast experience, RSS
com/art_mobs/), in which they record
fessional broadcasting was that no matter
subscribers to Gardner Campbell’s
their own guides to art galleries through-
how far the station signal carried or how
podcasts at his blog (http://www.
out Manhattan. Purdue University’s
many people lived in the listening area, I
gardnercampbell.net) will receive
“BoilerCasts” (http://boilercast.itap.
was speaking to one listener at a time
the podcast automatically. Those
purdue.edu:1013/Boilercast/Index.html)
every time I turned on the microphone.
who both read the article and listen
will be bringing entire courses to students
That kind of direct personal connection,
to the audio version are invited to
as podcasts or streaming audio. My hypo-
scaled to encompass a large and diverse
comment on how the two
thetical Jenny will be producing podcasts
audience, offers a powerful glimpse of
experiences compare.
of her study-abroad experience, or her
how podcasting can be a transformative
service-learning assignment, or her job
instance of information technology in
search. These podcasts will be listed in
higher education. And the persistence of
mate probably seemed liberal to Searls,
iTunes or in directories such as Podcast
this content enables the “long tail” phe-
but in reality it was far too conservative.
Alley (http://www.podcastalley.com) and
nomenon to bring new listeners into the
On May 25, just eight months later, a com-
PodNova (http://www.podnova.com).
community many weeks or even years
menter on Searls’s blog entry clicked on
With a speed that makes even Moore’s
after a podcast was first published.
the search link and found 4,460,000
Law seem sluggish, podcasting has won a
Google hits for “podcasts.” On June 23,
prominent place among the dizzying vari-
“Call Out the Instigators Because
that same Google search link returned
ety of grassroots media now available to
There’s Something in the Air”
well over 6,000,000 hits. On August 28, it
everyone. As Jon Udell has noted, “When
By the time this article is published, the
returned over 21,000,000 hits. On Sep-
all the players are bloggers, podcasters,
phenomenon called podcasting will be
tember 18, the number had exceeded
and screencasters, the game can be taken
about a year old. Its growth has been star-
60,000,000. Clearly, this medium has
to a whole new level.”13 Those of us in
tlingly rapid even by IT standards. In April
caught the imagination of a large and
higher education owe it to our students to
2005, the Pew Internet & American Life
growing audience. During his keynote
bring podcasting and other rich media
Project reported that over six million adults
address at the Apple Worldwide Devel-
into our courses so that they can lift their
(eighteen or older) in the United States had
opers Conference in June 2005, Steve
learning to a whole new level too.
listened to a podcast.11 Teenagers, of
Jobs estimated that more than 8,000 pod-
In Areopagitica (1644), John Milton ar-
course, are the ones who use mobile audio
casts were available through iTunes. At
gued: “For books are not absolutely dead
devices the most. Who knows how many
the time of this writing, that number has
things, but do contain a potency of life in
of them have listened to a podcast?
nearly doubled.
them to be as active as that soul was
In a blog entry dated September 28,
In the meantime, Musselburgh Gram-
whose progeny they are; nay, they do
2004, Doc Searls, a co-author of the book
mar School in East Lothian, Scotland,
preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy
The Cluetrain Manifesto, discussed podcast-
carries on with its podcasts (http://
and extraction of that living intellect that
ing in some detail and noted that a Google
mgsonline.blogs.com/mgspodcast/) and
bred them.” Podcasts too convey that po-
search on “podcasts” brought up twenty-
brags that it is the United Kingdom’s first
tency of life, and they can preserve and
four hits. Searls went on to predict that in
regular schools podcast. Steve Sloan, of
communicate the living intellect with un-
another year, the same search would
San Jose State University, tracks and
usual immediacy. The air within the
“pull up hundreds of thousands, or per-
reflects on educational podcasting (http://
human voice retains its inspiration, even
haps even millions,” of hits.12 That esti-
www.edupodder.com). By the time you
as it inspires the listener to speak in
Done well, podcasting can reveal to students,
faculty, staff, communities—even the world—the
essential humanity at the heart of higher education.
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response. In this way, podcasting can
com/pub/a/network/2005/03/18/primetime.
Another personal favorite, the BBC’s In Our
help education realize one of its noblest
html>. Udell has an extremely rich body of writing
Time (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/
goals: to make a better conversation out of
and thinking. In my view, Udell is one of the most
inourtime/), offers mini-seminars on the history
important practitioners and theorists of what
of ideas, with subjects ranging from “Perception
the thing we call civilization. e
many people are now calling “Web 2.0.” His work
and the Senses” to “Renaissance Mathematics,” all
also has tremendous implications for education.
facilitated by the redoubtable Melvyn Bragg.
Three unusually fine pieces offer a good introduc-
6. A free beta version for podcasts up to ten minutes
tion to Udell’s work. One is a podcast on podcast-
long is available at <http://www.podshow.com>.
Notes
ing, rich media, and the blogosphere: <http://
1. “RSS” stands for “Really Simple Syndication,” a
7. For a look at the design and operation of this ver-
method of subscribing to Web pages and being
weblog.infoworld.com/udell/2005/03/03.html>.
sion of iTunes, see Steve Jobs’s demonstration at
notified automatically when they are updated. By
Another is Udell’s “screencast” on Wikipedia and
the June 2005 Apple Worldwide Developers Con-
definition, podcasts are RSS-enabled. For more in-
heavy-metal umlaut bands, a fascinating look at
ference, available online at <http://www.apple.
formation on RSS, see the Wikipedia entry at
the social construction of knowledge (or under-
com/quicktime/qtv/wwdc05/>.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_
standing, depending on your theoretical model):
8. “iTunes Podcast Subscriptions Top One Million
format%29>.
<http://weblog.infoworld.com/udell/gems/
in First Two Days,” Apple press release, June 30,
2. My own blog—at <http://www.gardnercampbell.
umlaut.html>. A third is Udell’s justly famous
2005, <http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/
net>—uses the popular open-source blogging
walking tour through Keene, New Hampshire, a
jun/30podcast.html>.
script called WordPress, which in its latest version
screencast uniting rich media, a compelling phys-
9. Reported by Frank Langfitt, “Papers Turn to Pod-
(1.5x) includes this automatic support for pod-
ical environment, Google Maps, and a global posi-
casting, the Newest of Media,” All Things Con-
casting. Sites such as FeedBurner (http://www.
tioning satellite (GPS) receiver: <http://weblog.
sidered, June 2, 2005, <http://www.npr.org/
feedburner.com) will enable RSS 2.0 feeds from
infoworld.com/udell/2005/02/25.html>.
templates/story/story.php?storyId=4673646> .
any blog, ensuring that all blogs can sponsor a
5. Since I’ve been subscribing to IT Conversations
10. Todd Cochrane, Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide
podcast no matter what version of RSS or Atom
(http://www.itconversations.com) and to the
they support.
EDUCAUSE podcasts (http://connect.educause.
(Indianapolis: Wiley Press, 2005).
3. But see <http://www.streamsage.com> and
edu), my morning commute and all my road trips
11. See <http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_
<http://www.nexidia.com/> for a fascinating look
have become extremely valuable development
podcasting.pdf>.
at recent developments in this area.
opportunities as I listen to expert presentations
12. See <http://www.itgarage.com/node/view/462>.
4. See Jon Udell, “Hypermedia: Why Now?” O’Reilly
on every conceivable facet of information tech-
13. Blog entry, June 17, 2005, <http://weblog.info
Network, March 18, 2005, <http://www.oreillynet.
nologies in culture and particularly in education.
world.com/udell/2005/06/17.html>.
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