Podcast Steering of Independent Learning in Higher Education

Podcasting in higher education is a relatively new development that emerged mainstream in the latter part of the last decade (Stoerger, 2006; Salmon and Edirisingha, 2008). Since then, academics have variously begun to incorporate podcasting elements in a variety of teaching and learning contexts. The relative ease of using podcasts and minimal technical requirements for both lecturer and student means that it is a learning technology of considerable practical value, and its portability is particularly well-suited to the diverse and non-traditional student body of today. By drawing on the experience of podcast support provided for a final-year module of approximately 100 students in Geography at National University of Ireland, Galway, this paper reflects on how podcasting can practically and creatively prompt and steer independent learning outside of the lecture environment.