Home on the Dot: Podcasts as a Learning Tool

Overview

Are podcasts just another tech fad, or can they be a valuable teaching and learning tool?

This project set out to understand the pedagogical potential of podcasts, to create a public-facing podcast to share student research about Singapore, and to share project findings with educators around the world curious about this technology and its teaching and learning potential.

The project began by implementing a podcast assignment in a large general education module with around 100 students. Using feedback from anonymous pre- and post-assignment surveys, as well as small focus group interviews, the project learned student challenges and benefits associated with podcasts. Initial results were used to refine the assignment in subsequent years, and initial results were followed up in subsequent years with additional surveys and focus groups.

This project discovered that podcasts can have immense pedagogical value, both as a tool for collaborative student research, and as a way of sharing student research in a creative, clearly-communicated way. Students found that the nature of podcasts as an audio-only form of communications encouraged them to use clearer language and structure to explain and apply academic concepts and content than in the typical written essay format. Podcasting also encouraged them to think creatively and collaboratively about how to share Singapore-specific places and experiences with listeners who might be unfamiliar with Singapore life. Finally, students found that podcasts provided a more permanent and shareable form of knowledge production; something they were proud to share with family and friends, as opposed to their written work.

The second stage of the project involved sharing excellent examples of student homework with the world. The aim was to demonstrate to students the value of applying academic theories to the spaces and objects in their daily lives, and to share with the world the excellent research conducted by NUS students. The podcast far exceeded all expectations. There have been 30 unique episodes produced over three seasons. Each episode focuses on a unique aspect of life in Singapore related to the idea of “home”—hawker centers, void decks, a grandmother’s sewing machine, a home-based baking business—and consists of narration and a personal connection by a current or former NUS student, an interview with an expert from NUS, and professional quality audio. The podcast has been listened to thousands of times by people from over 20 countries. It has been so widely regarded that it was selected for inclusion on the in-flight entertainment system of Singapore Airlines and select episodes have been used as assigned listening for modules about Southeast Asia at the University of Colorado (USA).

The final stage of the project involved sharing the findings with educators interested in incorporating podcasting in their own modules. Project results have been shared at both international academic meetings and in informal oneon-one advising sessions. The project has also published a blog with advice, technical guidance, sample homework assignments, and more, all specifically designed to be used by educators. These tools aim to help educators avoid obvious problems associated with using podcasts in teaching and to think clearly about how to incorporate them in their own classrooms.