Podcast Special: Professional Series

We are delighted to announce that the first podcast in our new series has been posted and is available via our RSS feed, on our website and is also listed on iTunes.

In this podcast, we feature a selection of podcast channels from our category on educational news and items for professional educators. You can locate further details of all the featured podcasts, their associated website URLs, RSS feeds and iTunes information at our Podcast Directory for Educators.

The channels we feature in this first podcast are:

• Critical Literacy in Practice : CLIP Podcast
• Inside Learning
• John Merrow Podcast
• Learning and Teaching Scotland
• Wisconsin Center for education Research News

Do you know of other good quality podcasts that would be ideal for use by professional educators and their professional development? If the answer is "yes" then do please let us know or, alternatively, just submit details about the podcast for review. We are always keen to showcase and promote educational podcasts from around the world.

Podcasting Research

How effective is educational podcasting within teaching and learning?

With an increasing uptake of educational podcasting within schools, colleges and universities, there has been relatively little empirical research that has been published widely to inform a professional debate so far.

Some early research was undertaken by a few universities to explore the impact and take-up of podcasting amongst their students. During 2006, interest in the pedagogical aspects of educational podcasting has emerged, exemplified by the term "Podagogy". Internet searches on "podagogy" and "evaulating podcasting" reveals a somewhat limited range sources.

The blog "Podagogy - Where podcasting meets teaching & learning", based in the USA, provides a range of information and discussion on various podcasting topics. In particular, the blog post "Thinking about podcasting models - Podagogy" provides a useful commentary and brief overview with reference to a specific instructional model. Also in the USA, a brief report of podcasting in litracy classes at Swarthmore College presents a useful account of the project and an evaluation of impact in terms of student responses.

In the UK, for example, a research team within the the University of Wolverhampton's School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure are currently researching the ways in which iPod technologies can be used as a learning tool, within teaching programmes, promote student learning and as an assessment and feedback tool.

With the increasing emphasis on personalised learning approaches, there is a real need for active research by teachers and educational professionals into the effectiveness of podcasting as a tool for teaching and learning.

Can you help?