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Evaluation of iTunes University Podcasts on Undergraduate Biology Education
Author(s) -
Smith Christopher J,
Beliz Tania,
Martin Theresa,
Gibbs David,
Mach Jean
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.658.4
Subject(s) - class (philosophy) , medical education , mathematics education , psychology , computer science , medicine , artificial intelligence
The recent emergence of podcast use in education has enabled faculty to offer students access to digitally recorded lectures and course material. These approaches to education present the student with supplements and alternatives to study, lecture review and learning. This study was undertaken to evaluate these efforts to support student learning in undergraduate‐level science courses. Unedited podcasts of recorded lectures of biology classes were posted on College of San Mateo's iTunes University website provided by Apple Corporation. Surveys were administered to students at the course mid‐point to evaluate the use, effectiveness and outcome of the recorded lectures. Survey results were grouped according to level of use, subjective student impression of use, and the outcome of use in order to explore the effect on actual performance outcome. The results showed that in second level classes the majority of students accessed the recorded lectures. In contrast, the majority of students did not access the recorded lectures in introductory level biology classes. Students that used the podcasts the most felt that doing so improved their performance in the class. It was also indicated that the group of second level students most in need of review used the podcasts the most. Further studies are underway to evaluate the effectiveness of podcast use on performance in order to more effectively use the podcasts to support both in‐ and out‐of‐class learning and contribute to student success.