Feasibility Study of the Use of Podcasting
for Instruction
The term “podcasting” refers to a “a means of distributing audio and
video programs via the Internet that lets users subscribe to a number of files,
also known as ‘feeds’, and then hear or view the material at the time that they
choose. A feed is usually in the MP3 audio format. “ (Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast).
The advent of iPods and other portable MP3 devices has increased the
amount of podcasting that is being developed and used
by all members of society but particularly by the college population. To listen
to a podcast a student does not to own an iPod but rather have access to the Internet. While these
devices were initially being used to download music, educators are beginning to
create their own podcasts to share lectures with
students or to integrate the creation of podcasts by
students as part of class assignments. This provides a ripe environment for the
library to begin using podcasts to provide outreach
to its users.
This grant would support a
feasibility study of using podcasts to provide
outreach to the library’s users. A group
of three librarians will use podcasts to bring
information about resources and research to students and faculty. At least two
examples will be developed, including a tour of a library and a general session
for an instructional
class. After creating these podcasts, the librarians
will create focus groups to use the podcast and to
provide feedback.
Purpose and Expected
Outcome of the Project
The purpose of these podcasts would be to bring the library to its users. In
particular this project would support several tenets put forward in the
library’s Strategic Plan: provide immediate access to and seamless integration
of information in diverse formats from a variety of sources; work in
partnership with faculty, students and others to develop, assess and support
the use of technology in teaching and research; and meet the changing needs of
the library and its users by developing innovative solutions, practices and
services in a creative work environment that supports flexibility,
collaboration and an openness to new ideas and practices, risk taking and
forward thinking. These podcasts would allow users to
access information about specific libraries or about research oriented tasks
when they want and how they want to. For example, if a student is interested in
learning more about a particular library s/he could either listen to a podcast about X library in their residence or download the podcast onto their MP3 player, go to X library and listen
to the tour as they walk through the library on their own, at their own pace.
If the student is unsure how to find online articles for their upcoming paper,
they can download a library podcast instructing them
step-by-step how to navigate the library’s webpage.
This project would support
goals of the Yale Library and it would allow instruction librarians the
opportunity to experiment with the technology of creating and using podcasts and gathering feedback from users to determine the
feasibility of continuing and expanding the project.
Budget: Tools need to create podcasts
(in addition to computer):
·
Microphones - Behringer C-1
Studio Condenser Microphone (each $40)
·
Software (Audacity – freeware)
·
RSS Feed
(University’s site – free) and manage Feed-for-All
($40)
Budget
3 microphones (@40/ea) = $120
3 copies Audacity (@fee/ea)
= $0
3 Copies Feed-for-All
(@40/ea) = $120
1 iPod = $299
Methodology:
In order to learn about creating podcasts, we will
create several.
Once we have become
comfortable with the hardware and software, we will create a library tour podcast and at least one instructional podcast. These podcasts will
be posted online so as to be obvious to library patrons. At the link to the podcasts,
we will include a link to a survey and request that all those who listen to the
podcast rate it and the experience.
In the Fall Semester, we
will integrate podcasting into 2 – 3 research
courses, including English 114 and the law school small group research
program. We will survey the students involved
to determine whether they felt that the podcasts
added to the research instruction.
Timeline:
A SCOPA grant for a podcasting feasibility study would allow library
instruction staff to experiment with a technology that is rapidly gaining in
popularity with a minimal investment of time and money. The chance to create a small number of podcasts over the course of a calendar year would also
allow instruction librarians to test whether this new communication method is
effective for delivering library content in ways that students (and others) are
coming to prefer - at a time and place of their choosing. Such a study would
also allow instruction librarians to investigate populating other environments,
such as