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Work in Progress - Using Podcasting in Engineering Education Jennifer A. Polack-Wahl

Professor of Computer ScienceUniversity of Mary Washingtonjapwahl@gmail.com

+What is Podcasting?

Podcasting is an audio broadcast that has been converted to an audio file format for playback over the Internet or in a digital music player.

+Podcasting

Does not replace the classroom

Gives students a new way to broadcast concepts.

Interaction can occur outside of the classroom.

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I wanted to get the students involved inside and outside of

class

Why Did I Try

Podcasting?

+What do students think about outside coursework?Based on an informal survey conducted at

the University of Mary Washington, 75% of students who responded do not even open their book

50% of students look for answers on the Web instead of in course material even if they own the book or have prepared class notes.

More disturbing is that 40% of the students responding say they do not do any assignment that is not graded and believe there is no benefit to pen-and- paper assignments.

+Software Engineering CourseThe students were broken into 7 teams

of 3. The podcasts were spread out over the

semester; approximately one podcast was released every two weeks.

Teams were randomly assigned due dates and each team researched a major failure of a software engineering system/project.

No system failure/project could be repeated.

Instructional Technology Department Presented

+Lecture Based Podcast Best to use on campus

studio 15 to 30 minutes. Teams spent hour in the

studio and an hour of editing.

Audacity to edit their podcast.

One team did not use the studio. Quality of this podcast

was inferior and it was hard to hear in several portions

Each of the podcasts offered good information, and unique introductions and endings.

+Results100% said they

listened75% Students

Commented on Podcast

90% Enjoyed Assignment because of technology but found it dry

+Information Systems course7 groups of 3 and 1 group of 4. Investigate a major software

failure/project,Lecture from the division of instructional

technology.Randomly assigned groups and the

presentations were spread throughout the semester.

The students created a non-graded individual podcast prior to the group assignment.

+Results News talk show with a host, guests, and

sometimes call-ins and commercials. 11⁄2 hours recording and 2 hours editing. Longer times for recording were due to

laughter, excitement, and retakes. Editing was longer due to the additions of

commercials, editing music, editing out laughter, and voice alteration.

60% of students posted comments Everyone talked about the different podcasts in

class Students primarily used Audacity, LAME

(convert your audio to MP3), iTunes, Media Player and FTP for the assignment.

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Questions?

More engaged than the previous years when a writing project on the

same topic was assignedComputer Information System course enjoyed creating and producing the podcast more than

the Software Engineering students.