This week I learned about podcasts. Podcasts refers to non-musical audio of video broadcast that is distributed over the internet. What makes it different from regular streaming audio or video is that the delievery method for podcasts is done through RSS.
Podcasts take many forms, from short 1-10 minute commentaries, to much longer inperson interviews or group panel discussions. There is a podcast out there for every interest area and the best part is all you need is a PC with headphones and a speaker. Also, you can download the podcast to your ipod, so you can take these broadcasts with you and listen to them when you want.
So, I looked at some popular podcast directories at podcast.com, then searched "education" and up popped many podcasts. I decided on the art & design of living & learning 2.0, which is like a weekly radio broadcast show. There are like 23 episodes to chose from, I picked the first one titled "Join Us in the Garden Studio of Teachers" a podcast resource and news-packed episode.
Kathy and Mark were sharing advances in podcasts, art and technology. I clicked the "subscribe" button and a transcript of the interview was deposited in my Google Reader account and then my Itunes account opened with the podcast...really cool.
The hosts of the show were in New York, but they were talking about Florida and Florida's on line education program. A statement they made really surprised me: with in a decade the most common form of education will be online, no matter what kind of school you go to, elementary, middle, high school, or college.
If this is true, and I think it is, schools better get with it.
Thinking about how to use podcasts in libraries, I can see librarians using them to stay informed of the latest issues effecting libraries. It is kind of like a blog, except you get to actually hear the interviewer's voices.Or, like being in the room of people having a panel discussion.
Podcasts are another medium for staying informed and learning new ideas.
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