Podcasting gives students more options

University of Cincinnati professors are trying their hand at Podcasting, a new, experimental program in the classroom.

Podcasting is a way for teachers to record their lectures and then download them onto the Internet for reviewing.

During class, the professor wears a recording device called an i-river on his or her arm to record the lecture. Professors then transfer the lectures to a computer in a MP3 form. Students are able to download lectures that they missed or wish to review.    

"Students will always eventually miss class," said Nancy Jennings, a professor of communication at UC. "Now they have an opportunity to catch up."

Jennings was one of the first to implement the new technology.

Despite the positive aspect of podcasts, some professors worry students will not show up to class when they can simply download the lectures.

However, Jennings said she did not feel that posting entire lectures online would cause every student to stop coming to class. She feels there are many more benefits to podcasting than there are drawbacks.  

"Students can use it as a review tool for tests, missed classes and now student athletes who have to miss [class] will have an easier time catching up," Jennings said.

William Jennings, also a communication professor at UC, said that he has successfully posted his lectures on Blackboard. He puts the podcast in his front shirt pocket and said that he likes the system a lot.

"Students won't be able to just skip class because I still have an attendance policy," he said.

Jennings says that another use for podcasting is that it can be a good critique tool.

Nancy Jennings said she could listen to herself and know if what she said was correct or if she needs to be more precise in her explanations.

"This is a unique process and its coming to UC is an advantage for us," she said.

The McMicken College of Arts and Sciences decided to try podcasting this year and see if students and professors have a positive experience.

Jennings said she liked the idea and wanted to participate when she found out about the new technology.

"I work in a unique department and have a unique position to try this out," she said.

Jennings said that podcasting could also be used for student presentations.

It can be a huge benefit for those who want to go back and check what their classmates did right or wrong in their presentations, she said.

When Jennings first talked to her students about podcasting, she said the majority of them were surprised, but she felt they were enthusiastic.  

She doesn't know if anyone has tried to download her lectures yet, but it is still early in the quarter.