Week 7 - Podcast

Audio podcasts and  area of study called Performance Improvement (also sometimes called Human Performance Technology).

Reading
Chapter 14 focuses on an area the books calls Human Performance Improvement (this area goes by several names: Performance Improvement, Human Performance Technology are other popular ones). Performance Improvement concerns itself with the whole spectrum of ways we can design interventions that will help people perform tasks better. From this perspective, instruction (education) is just one way to help improve people’s performance. This area is of particular interest in organizations where they want to find ways to maximize the performance of their employees with the end goal of maximizing their organizations’ performance. However, I think this area has applications in all walks of life, including schools. We’ll see what you think.

Activity
One of the more (increasingly) popular uses of the Internet is Podcasting. Here’s a quick intro:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting
• http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/07/20/WhatIsPodcasting.html
• http://www.podcasting-tools.com/what-is-podcasting.htm

Option 1: Subscribe to and Report an Education-focused Podcast

• Determine the tools you need to subscribe to and listen to Podcasts
  • One option is through your RSS reader that you set up earlier this semester
  • Another is through iTunes
  • If you figure out another way, great
• Find at least one education-focused audio podcast that seems interesting to you
• Listen to a few of the podcasts
• In your blog, link to the podcast’s site and profile (describe) this podcast so your classmates can learn about it and see if it might one they’d want to check out

Option 2: Create a Podcast

• Since not all have the equipment or even possibly the time to do this, I’m just throwing it out there as option, but do not feel pressured to go this route. I just thought some of might like the opportunity to get the experience
• If you do go this route, I’d like you to create one segment of a podcast and make it available on one the public podcast distribution services (e.g. iTunes) or try using this service http://www.mypodcast.com/create.html
• Also, here’s a tutorial: http://radio.about.com/od/podcastin1/a/aa030805a.htm
• Provide a link to your podcast on your blog

Reflection

1. Related to Chapter 14, what are some ways the ideas/concepts/principles discussed in this chapter could be applied in your professional work? Do you see opportunities where these ideas could help you or your students?
2. As described above under Option 1, profile the podcast(s) you chose to subscribe and listen to (you don’t have to do this if you choose Option 2)
3. What added value might podcasting have in your professional setting (company, school, etc.)?

Deliverables

1. Post your Podcast profile (#2 above) or a link to the podcast you created in a new posting on your blog by Thursday night
2. Post your other reflections (#1, 2, 3 above) in Blackboard by Thursday night.
3. Post responses to at least two classmates’ posts in Blackboard by Sunday night.