Monday, October 14, 2013

Final blog...

My interview is located in the drop box due to the nature of where it was done...thanks!

Friday, October 11, 2013

"Audio/Video / Podcast: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners."


This week’s blogging assignment (and our last) is to identify the pros and cons that you think the integration of audio/video/podcast into our lesson plans may bring to our adult students?  While there are both pros and cons to utilizing audio, video and podcasts into our lesson plans, it is my belief that there are more pros than cons.  King and Knox state,  “Digital media such as podcasting offer the capability for students to use their popular media and be critical thinkers and creators of knowledge across disciplines rather than sitting in the background as passive spectators to their own education” (2011, p.33).  I think this statement resounds through additional means of technology such as the use of audio and video as well.

Our lives seem to change every time a new piece of technology hits the market.  This is not only for every day consumers but for students and educators as well.  It is not only limited to the younger generation as well.  This was apparent in this week’s podcast assignment produced by Stan Alcorn of NPR.  This podcast showed the power of technology and podcasts with senior citizens and their experience with such technology and their preconceived notions about using it.  With that said, the following are what I believe are the pros and cons of podcasts. 

Cons:

Advertisements: Most podcasts have advertisements that distract from the learning experience and put the viewer/listener on edge or distract them from the content of the podcast.  Users may think that the podcast in some shape or form may be associated with the advertisement and make them biased.

Users access: Some students/users may not have the access or means to view podcasts.

Users attitude: Some students may not want to watch a podcast because they feel as though they cannot ask questions and or get answers right away about the content of the podcast. 

Pros:
User access: users can access the podcast at their convenience or leisure.

User attitudes: Students/users may want to see a podcast about a particular subject, with a subject matter expert than listening to their instructor lecture. 

Technology integration:  Students/users can utilize their technology to access and view a podcast, which will allow them feel as though they have a say in their learning experience or that feel comfortable with. 



King, K. and Cox, T. (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming
Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Alcorn, S. (Producer). (2012, July 12). New Online Users Have A
Longer Timeline [Podcast]. Retrieved from
8/new-online-users-have-a-longer-timeline.