Podcast, Vodcast?

Naturally there have been a few sessions on the subject of podcasting, vodcasting, vidcasting, or the generic "netcasting." Call it what you will, many educators are intensely interested in this technology/term/stuff. And yet the conversation is plagued with warnings of tech driving pedagogy. It's a good warning, but I've heard them before. Let's move on. Remember, no significant difference.

Briefly, whatever-casting allows you (the producer) to push media content (video or audio) to subscribers (students). The types of outcomes you can hope to address by pushing media to students include review of materials, slow down of speech (nice for ESL and disability students), preview of materials, maximizing class time for more interactive activities, reaching multiple learning styles, delivering in a mode students enjoy, portably available content and probably many more.

The tools necessary to whatever-cast are readily accessible. The presenter suggested a 4th generation iPod with Belkin mic input and a lapel mic for creation. Another presenter suggested the Sony hard-drive video camera with the Sony wireless mic - pretty neat, but certainly not without some investment.

If I understood Dr. Jackson correctly, at the heart of podcasting in education is a paradigm shift from "learn this" to "learn to think" or from "cover material" to "uncover knowledge." It's compelling, but maybe there is a bit of biased spin in there.