Lecture Capture: Good Student Learning or Good Bedtime Story? An Interdisciplinary Assessment of the Use of Podcasts in Higher Education
Abstract: Nowadays podcasts are used in many university courses and often viewed as an effective way to augment undergraduate education. We present research on the use of podcasts in four disciplines (Art, Dentistry, Design and Psychology). We surveyed 386 students on their opinions, perceptions, and use of podcasts. We found that students had preconceived notions that the use of podcasts would help them learn. In spite of students’ perceptions, we found that the use of podcasts did not have a positive impact on their learning. Also, in spite of a common perception reported in the literature, that is, that the availability of podcasts leads to increased class absenteeism, we found that the use of podcasts to supplement face-to-face lectures had no negative impact on class attendance. Variables that explain how podcasts influence learning outcomes are considered and theories that contribute to our understanding of instructor and student misconceptions around the use of podcasts are discussed.
Presider: Madalina Ungur, University of Bristol, UK